So I
have been, I suppose, summering a bit this week. Less
inside and staring at screens (Amen!) and
more outside, relaxing in shade! (Hallelujah!)
Still,
the Lord is always speaking and while we have been experiencing large gaps of
silence -He and I--, one of the things He has been whispering soft to me is about
how we see Success and Failure, and how that often puts a stop to our
creativity!
In classic
Five Minute Friday form... (Even though I am almost a week late!) We’ll start this post like this, raw and unedited:
{GO}
I have had The
Undoing by Steffany Gretzinger on repeat for weeks now.
You know how there are
some songs or entire albums that seem to release a sound or a message that is
so needed in certain seasons? Well... that.
Specifically, it has
been (Come) "Out of Hiding"...
This song, y'all. It lives up to the album title because
truly, it undoes me, every. single. time.
It has me at the first line:
"Come out of hiding. You're safe here with Me..."
***
The other day while
sitting on the patio and just drinking in a bit of summery silence, I heard the
Lord whisper close,
"If you will try, you will succeed."
Here's the thing... I don't even know what I
was contemplating in that moment. A new
idea for a painting? Carving out time to sit and write new poetry? Redecorating
a room? Trying, again, to lose weight?
You
know... fill in the blank, right?
We all have our things...
Whatever it was, it was bathed in hesitation and doubt!
I don't
remember what I was considering but immediately the Lord wanted to
shift my perspective and attitude from negative to positive... from failure to
success.
I
leaned in closer and waited.
He went
on...
"Success and Failure, remember though, look differently to Me.
When you see your failure, I see your Trust! I see how you hoped and trusted and took a risk in trying, and that, to Me, is always Success!
For you were formed and fashioned for New... for Change... for Adventure and the Unknown.
This drive for knowing ahead of time, --for assurance and guarantees-- it goes against your very nature and it will never satisfy like embracing the not knowing and jumping anyway!"
Hmm...
Well
that feels a bit freeing now, doesn't it?
I think our constant
fear of failure stops up the flow of creativity that we are called to live and
we forget that we were created by a creative God to live out loud a creative
life that shines and loves and spreads joy.
We forget that what we count
as failure
--He rarely ever does!
{STOP}
When we give in to a
fear of failure it stops up our creativity, but when we are willing to take a
risk and try, that opens up doors to success.
We may not
always see it on this side of things but in His eyes and from His perspective, we are always succeeding if we are willing to
try!
I don't
know about you, but for me? That realization opens up a whole new
level of possibilities! I look back over my life and see the things that
I count as failures and when I look from His perspective, I can see clearly now
- after the fact... you know, because hindsight is 20/20 - that I learned so
much and grew so deep and while I may not create the same thing in the same way
if I had a do-over, I can see that through that situation or circumstance,
success did come.
It may not have been the result or kind of success I
was anticipating, but success showed up anyway! I
believe it does that because TRYING opens the door to creativity,
and creativity is what we are called to do.
And the
best way to create is to let it flow freely from a place of trust, not fear.
Another
lyric from that song...
"Oh as you run, what hindered love will only become part of the story!"
Failure may hinder love, but it doesn't bring an end to the story. Keep trying... keep writing... keep living the story that God has created just for you to live.
Trust
that He truly does make all things beautiful in His time...
that He really can use all things together for good.
Instead
of giving in to fear, let's try something new... let's trust...
instead of assuming failure, let's assume success.
Let's
decree and declare from heaven's view...
So
whether you paint or build or sell or write... whether you counsel or teach or
cook or pray... let's remember that you are creating things
with your words and your hands. Let's remember that you were
created to create and how we live beyond the fear of failure is to trust... to
create... to jump into the unknown and try anyway!
With
God, all things are possible!
So do not hesitate... instead, just jump!
He'll catch you!
How we live beyond the fear of failure is to, say it with me now...
Linking up with Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today. Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts! Click HERE to read what others have to say about: "CREATE"
The FMF lowdown: The gathering happens on Twitter on Thursday nights & then we write our hearts out & hit publish all over the interwebs on Thursday & Friday (& sometimes on Tuesdays!) It's where we encourage & uplift... where we share prayer requests & praise reports... where we talk food & friends & we find support & kindred hearts. It's where we are reminded that life is good & God is good & we're not alone... & then we all write for five minutes flat, a flash mob of wordsmiths letting our hearts & our fingers do the talking tapping & we hit publish before we can second guess it all away. We'd love to have you join us!I'm also linking up with the lovely writers and communities listed and linked below:
#FreshMarketFriday... how adorable is that?
Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp
Holley Gerth for #CoffeeForYourHeart
In case you have yet to hear this song... #YoureWelcome #OutofHiding by Steffany Gretzinger:
Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp
Holley Gerth for #CoffeeForYourHeart
Love! And thank you. I needed to read this post. So much THIS: " I think our constant fear of failure stops up the flow of creativity that we are called to live and we forget that we were created by a creative God to live out loud a creative life that shines and loves and spreads joy." I've been inside a lot this week...94 today but felt like 111. Yuck! I'm in the 51 spot this week.
ReplyDeleteHey there, my friend! It's so nice to see you! I think realizing that if I am feeling a block creatively, it simply could be that I am giving over to fear more than trust is helpful! Instead of just getting frustrated, I can get to work to find the root of my fear and jump anyway! ;)
DeleteKarrillee, I so needed this at this moment!! "the best way to create is to let it flow freely from a place of trust, not fear"...and this creativity does not go out void when we trust God to be a part of it! Loved reading such encouragement and challenge to step out:) Crystal~
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love it when God has your number and sends you a message at the perfect timing? So glad you found yourself here, at such a moment! Praying for creativity to flow freely for you, my friend!
DeleteThis is awesome. I know that when I was children's director the more I created the more creative I became.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that so true? The more we create, the more creative we become! Thanks so much for stopping by, Amanda!
DeleteOh to be like a child, who naturally wants to try all things creative just for the joy of creating without fear of the outcome!
ReplyDeleteAmen and Amen! I think we tend to Adult too much and forget that feeling of creating for the joy of it... may we all tap into that once again! (and again... and again... and again!)
DeleteNever late, but obviously right on time by reading those comments. Always good to come over and visit with my special friend!!! xo
ReplyDelete"Like stop-eating-the-paste special?" (Gilmore Girls quote... I know, I know... it's lost on you - but still!) ;) I love you, friend! And I think you are pretty special, too!
DeleteKarrilee, Oh what wonderful insights you shared in this post!
ReplyDeleteIt made me realize how many things I sabotage because I've pre-determined that they are going to fail.
I loved your "looking back perspective" and how you could see that "failures" were actually times of great growth, and indeed, everyone learns from their "failures" and their "mistakes".
Thank you for the reminder that God redeems everything and that we can step out in Faith and trust as we seek to create in His name.
Blessings.
Right? Even just as I sat there on the patio as He whispered truth soft, I reflected over the things before me here and now that I have been a bit hesitant to jump into. I am declaring success and speaking things that may not be... as though they are... I read about that somewhere! ;) (Jesus does this... and He truly DOES use all things together for good!)
DeletePraying creativity and trust rise up from within you, friend!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hi Karrilee,
ReplyDelete"And the best way to create is to let it flow freely from a place of trust, not fear." I love that! Such truth. We need to trust in our God Who will equip us, functioning out of trust and not fear! You inspire me each week, my friend! Thank you so much for joining me at #MomentsofHope! I appreciate you so much!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Aw... right back at you, Lori! So thankful He crossed our paths, friend!
Delete"We are always succeeding if we are willing to try." - Love this!! Thanks for this encouraging and inspiring post today! I needed it! I even have a post on "If You Have Ever Feared Failure" because that was me for years, even growing up in the church. Sometimes I would feel more comfortable out of the church because the enemy whispered lies of people's expectation in my ears and I listened. I have learned a lot since then but daily have to keep on guard as we all do. God bless you!! Your #TellHisStory neighbor xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteMeg, Thanks so much for stopping by and for joining in on the conversation! Oh yes... fear of failing - that stopped me for year. And then, surprisingly, God whispered that I was also stuck for fear of succeeding but that is a whole different post! ;) Either way - it really does just all come down to Trust! So thankful that we can trust Him with all things... blessings to you, neighbor! Stop by any time!
Delete