Called to Creativity

18 But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19, NLT)

We Get Stuck in Ruts

Ever been stuck in a rut? I know I have! Getting stuck in doing the same things, in mostly the same ways, can be complicated. On the one hand, it’s not a good feeling and it’s hard to break free. On the other hand, it can become a place of comfort and seeming ease. Ruts don’t require a lot of effort, prayer, or thinking.

The work we’re called to do - either in the church, corporate, nonprofit, or streets - requires a combination of tactics for success. We need strategy that helps us achieve outcomes. Operations is needed to help the work go smoothly. Financial acumen helps us be good stewards of resources. And creativity allows us to innovate, grow, and reach different (more) people.

However, we often get stuck in ruts in our work. When we’re stuck, we’ve become complacent in doing the same things in the same ways. Our work is busy, but without new achievements or growth. It’s as if we’re busy digging, day after day, without fail. But the results of our work show that we’ve only dug ourselves into a deeper rut.

That deep(er) rut is an indication that we’ve lost the creativity that we’re called to have in our work. Isaiah 43:22 shows us that this lack of creativity could be an indication of not calling upon God or growing weary with Him and the work He’s assigned to us.

“But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; And you have been weary of Me, O Israel.” (NKJV)

As we’ll see, God is a God of creativity and new things. And He invites us into that work with Him.

Embrace Creative Works

Father Thomas Keating wrote in The Mystery of Christ:

"A creative vision releases an enormous amount of energy and can transform society beyond our wildest dreams. … The power of the stars is nothing compared to the energy of the person whose will has been freed from the false-self system and who is thus enabled to co-create the cosmos together with God."

God is constantly creating new pathways, even when we feel stuck. He invites us to seek out those new pathways through prayer, creativity, and innovation. Having a creative vision engages us in a powerful work with God.

In our text for the week, God urges us to forget about all of the good stuff He has done in the past. We’re encouraged to forget about our former successes and His former miracles. (See verses 16-17 for the things He urged Israel to forget about). However, He makes this as an intentional exaggeration for emphasis, and not something we should permanently do.

God is emphasizing that the new things He is doing will far outweigh what He’s already done. In fact, His new things will cause His old works to seem insignificant! When we are not engaging in creative and new ways to do our work, we risk missing out on the greater, new, things that God has in store.

At one point, many of us heard God’s call to engage in our work. We were obedient, and God blessed the work of our hands. But we have to remain prayerful to ask if God has called that work to a close and if He’s ready to do something, creatively, new with us and for us. God speaks to this in Isaiah 42:9, NASB:

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

God’s plans will always come to pass, and He is already at work in the future He has designed (verse 19). Being open to creativity helps us to see the new work God has already started. Which, in turn, can re-energize us in our work and help draw us out of any ruts.

We should seek guidance from God to know when we should continue our work as it currently is, or when to move forward into doing something new. Proverbs 4:18, NASB, let’s us know that we’re not meant to remain still constantly. We should see our lives and our works as progressively moving forward and shining brighter in God’s timing.

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.

Complacency is a trap of the enemy. It makes ruts and doing our work in the same way seem comforting and safe. However, true safety comes from working under God’s wings which protect us while we engage in the creative work He calls for.

If we truly want change in our lives and in society, we must be creative. If we truly want success in the work we do, we must be creative. If we are committed to working with and for God, we must answer the call to creativity.

Listen to Tasha Cobbs Leonard sing about new things:

Weekly Power Shifts

Power Shift 1: From Rut to Renewal

Reflection Question: Where in your work have you settled for "the way we've always done it," even though the results haven't changed?

• Your Action Step: Set aside 15 minutes this week to sit in prayer and ask God to reveal one new pathway He wants to open in that area. Write down whatever comes to mind, even if it feels small or unfinished.

Power Shift 2: From Complacent to Creative

Reflection Question: What's one "safe" habit or approach you've been clinging to that may actually be keeping you from growth?

• Your Action Step: Identify one small, uncomfortable step of creativity or innovation you can take this week — in your work, ministry, or personal calling — and take it before the week ends.

Power Shift 3: From Former Things to New Things

Reflection Question: Is this a season to keep building on what God has already done, or a season to release it and build something new?

• Your Action Step: Bring this question directly to God in prayer this week. Ask Him for clarity, and commit to journaling whatever answer or peace He gives you by the weekend.

Download a free printable reflection with Power Shifts for the devotional: Called to Creativity - Reflection Download.pdf

Gracious Lord, I pray for the one who is reading this. As they think about the work you have called them to do, I pray that you will touch their hearts and minds. Lord, you know them. You know the purpose and plans you have for them. I pray that the enemy is unable to steal their creativity. And that you will restore what may have already been lost. I pray for a re-energized spirit and that their heart is encouraged to keep doing the work to which you have called. Lord, may they remember the former things you have done with gratitude. And may they look forward to the new things you are doing with and for them with faithful anticipation. Remove all worries, fears, and limits placed on them by themselves or others. May they experience freedom to create through the power of your Son, Jesus Christ, who enables us to do all things. In Jesus’ name, who is the Amen, I pray. Amen and Ashe.