Whatever your endeavour, whatever well you are digging, it will take time. The breakthrough you seek, that overnight success the world will applaud, usually will come after many a dark and stormy night of lonely making, testing, crying and hoping. But the breakthrough will come, the morning will dawn and your dreams will realise. If you stay the course.
Our inner man has a compass, an internal GPS that points the way. You know what you are called to, how it aligns with the person God has made you. Inwardly there is not a doubt. Your core is not confused. Its the long journey from the spirit, the subconscious if you like, to the conscious, that muffles the message sometimes. We reason ourselves out of identity. Think that normality is somehow normal and desirable.
Let me tell you, strange is fine. Unusual is ordinary in Heaven. Just take a look at the creatures God chooses to frequent His throne room.
Normal is not the order of the day in Heaven, and Papa never meant for it to be the go to here on earth either.
We have heard it again and again in user-friendly sermons week to week; God has a plan for your life. You are special and precious in His eyes. He loves you, and created you with unique giftings. There is no one else like you and no one else can take your place.
Of course, these are just one side of the gospel coin, but in our familiarity with the message we forget to remember that these somewhat overused platitudes are actually TRUE!
GOD has a plan for YOUR life.
YOU are SPECIAL and PRECIOUS in His eyes.
He LOVES you.
You are endued with UNIQUE GIFTS.
NO ONE can take your place.
There’s a path and a creative calling shaped especially for you. It is not the same old same old, and certainly not the same as. It is exciting, challenging, fearful and wonderful just like the One who planned it.
And it’s a path that must be found and followed with two firm feet striding together in unison: Faith and Patience.
“…do not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:12
It takes spiritual courage to accept a call, and resilient dedication to follow it.
Your creative identity will be a constant discovery as you act on ideas planted by Papa. Act, and the next layer or page will turn revealing your next steps.
Don’t be sluggish. Don’t drag your slimy feet or get bogged down in reasons why it is not possible. Since when did God ever expect His kids to settle for possible?
The Bible doesn’t teach that we serve a God of the possible. If possible is what you want and you are satisfied with the status quo that’s fantastic. But if you are looking for undiscovered country, seeking a city whose builder and maker is not of this world, you better strap your boots on tight; Faith on one foot, patience on the other.
Why patience? Otherwise translated in good ole’ King James English as “longsuffering”? Patience is the backbone that will keep you standing when circumstances come to knock you down. Creative life is gloriously satisfying but painfully real!
Patience is the pick me up that scrapes you from the canvas, sits you in your corner and wipes the blood from your eyes.
Patience is the one who will agree with faith and vision when all the world is mocking your efforts.
Patience is the one who will drag your weary feet to the prayer closet and keep your ears open to the Father’s whispers amidst the shouts of a nervous world who seek to shut you down before you turn over the proverbial apple cart with your ‘radical’ ideas.
God has designed you for such adversity:
“knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:3–4 NKJV)
It’s the pushing against the resistance that builds the muscle required to carry your creative call.
Seriously, if God gave you all you know you are called and capable to carry in an instant, it would crush you. You would crumble under the weight of responsibility and revelation.
That’s why the land is taken little by little…
“I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.” Exodus 23:29–30 NKJV
In fact, in God’s mercy He deliberately designs obstacles so we develop as men and women of God, and don’t stay as spiritual infants all our lives…
“So the Lord left those nations, without driving them out at once, nor had He delivered them into Joshua’s power. Now these are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not previously experienced war in Canaan; It was only that the generations of the Israelites might know and be taught war, at least those who previously knew nothing of it.” Judges 2:23–3:2 AMPLIFIED
There is a battle for your inheritance that must be waged.
Your creative journey will not be without challenges.
But patience will carry you over.
Patience will purify your motives.
Patience will shape your character, forming within you the man or woman you need to become to stand in the Promise.
Don’t give up, dear creative friend!
Keep on keeping on. The blessing you seek, and the blessing you are becoming for the world, is underway and inevitable if you don’t give up.
Her work is perfect, and patience has her own rewards reserved only for those who embrace her.
featured image by Elias Sch.
