Sometimes Creating Something Takes Awhile
Sometimes creating something takes awhile. The book isn’t finished in a year, the album takes two. Creating isn’t able to be scheduled sometimes, especially when you’re creating with Jesus. He’s never in a rush, and often works things out differently than we planned.
We think “I should publish a book this year”, He thinks, “I care so much about this book of hers, ten years is just the right amount of time to purify it”. We think “It’s been awhile since I released an album, I should make another one this month”, He thinks “I want to write something deeper with her, six months is perfect”.
And guess what? His timing is right every single time. It might not feel right, but when we look back, we can see that the Father is always faithful and always has our best in mind.
Taking the time to sit with Jesus and create
So we want to create something. What is our first instinct? Mine is usually rush ahead and just do it, just create the thing and get it into the world because I’m so excited about it. The Holy Spirit inspires me, and then I run off with the idea. I imagine Holy Spirit must think “man, I was so excited to create something with her, but now she’s run off and isn’t listening any more”.
I have learnt over time to wait when I want to run with it and ask Jesus what He thinks.
Stopping and asking what Jesus thinks about something is one of the most powerful and impactful things we can do.
Sometimes He says “I love what you’re thinking, go for it”, but other times it’s “I have something a bit different in mind, let me show you”. This little conversation can change everything.
Taking the time to ask Jesus some simple questions might just be the best thing you’ve done in weeks.
Stopping and asking what Jesus thinks about something is one of the most powerful and impactful things we can do.
When Impatience Arrives, Do What?
When that impatience arrives, it can be tempting to throw in the towel of waiting and just go for it! Chase the dream!
What helps me is taking a step back and seeing that outside of me and my idea is the whole world, and people who need to hear or listen to what I want to create. It’s worth it to take the time and deliver something I’m truly proud of. Something I know can change lives. Something I know Jesus loves every part of.
In life, I am going to spend so much more time creating than I am going to spend standing at the end of a project. So I want to learn how to ravish the creating part of the journey, not just the goals reached.
Trust in Him Changed My Creating Life
I used to see hold ups and the slowing down of the process a bad thing. While I don’t always have a right perspective, now I mostly see those things as simply part of the journey. Meant to happen. In His plan.
If I can trust wholly in Him, then things not going as I planned shouldn’t turn my world upside down. It should refocus my attention on perhaps something deeper that Jesus is trying to show me.
An Ironic Twist
Something that’s so ironic is that this very post has taken me multiple days over a week to write. I would have liked to write it in one sitting, have it done and posted. But that wasn’t how it went. I wrote it on lunch breaks, in the between moments that offered themselves up for creating.
As I finish it a day before the end of the week (and my deadline for posting) it feels like a full circle moment. Writing about things taking longer, and in the process, my post taking longer than perhaps any other post. God showing me how I’ve grown, as no feelings of stress of rush filled me this week. I just sat in the calm knowing that this is how this post’s writing was meant to go. This is exactly what God was planning. Because we know from the Word that nothing can stand against the plans of the LORD.
Lately, life has been hard. It has been dark and lonely, yet purifying. It has stripped away all my own agendas and plans and shown me the core desires God has given me. It has shown me a new way of life, a new way of creating. A slower way. A more intentional way.
The Path Ahead
To step forwards from here with intention and patience with creating is easier said than done.
It is also worth saying that it isn’t God’s will for everyone to have a slow journey. Some experience success with their first idea, publish a book before twenty, become a professional musician. Not everyone’s path is the same, and just because others are steaming ahead doesn’t mean you are failing.
A slower path doesn’t mean a worse path. In fact, I think there is the potential to learn and heal and create something so much deeper the longer it takes.
Step forwards with that calmness of knowing that God’s plans for you aren’t falling apart, they are coming together; maybe more slowly than others, but not less. When you truly know God is good and faithful, the stress of making everything work out yourself falls away. Set your eyes on the prize – Jesus – and all the rest will follow as it’s meant to. Perhaps not as you imagined, but as He planned it all along.
A slower path doesn’t mean a worse path. In fact, I think there is the potential to learn and heal and create something so much deeper the longer it takes.
If you would like to learn more about writing, following big dreams, and living life with Jesus, feel free to browse more blog posts here , or contact me if you have any questions. You can also find me on YouTube at The Windy Wildflower, or the podcast at The Windy Wildflower Podcast. We talk about writing, songwriting, and being a Christian creative in all these places. I also have a free writing resource you can grab on this website here! Join me on the journey of learning to glorify God with our creativity and making dreams a reality.
Till next time friends,
Nika