It’s Okay to Enjoy Your Gifts
This may only be speaking to a few creatives out there, but as someone who has to actively fight this tendency, I suspect there are others that have felt it, too. That weird sort of emotion where you actively avoid engaging in the gifts that God has given you because, well, you enjoy them. You delight in spinning up new sentences, or weaving new tapestries, or putting pen to paper and bringing beauty into the world. You have fun with knitting needles clicking in your hand or half-finished music filling the room because you can’t wait for the next part of the project. You feel your gifts and talents are simply too much fun to actively take part of.
I am going to say this in the sweetest, most encouraging tone that I can: that is silly. And I promise I am saying this as much to myself as I am saying it to you.
There may be an underlying reason behind it. Perhaps you simply fell out of the habit of using your gift and now the idea of getting back to it is entirely too overwhelming. Perhaps you were told that your precious, God-given gift was useless, worthless, or otherwise something to be avoided (if that is the case, I am so sorry you had to deal with that). Perhaps the enjoyment of your gift feels wrong somehow; like it has to be sinful or idolatrous to delight in something so much. Perhaps engaging in your gifts simply does not feel productive enough.
Whatever the reason, it is still silly. Like clown shoes on an emu ridiculous (although, with their big feet, they might actually fit…). Yes, God sometimes gives us gifts we’d prefer not to have, gifts that pull us out of our comfort zones and force us to rely on Him. Gifts that, to be perfectly honest, we do not enjoy. However, most of the gifts He gives us we will enjoy for the simple reason that He made us to do it.
Think for a moment about telling a sparrow that he is not allowed to sing in the morning because he enjoys it too much. God created the sparrow to sing, He gave it a beautiful voice, set a little song in his little bird mind, and he ultimately glorifies his Creator by belting out that tiny tune every morning. He is doing exactly what he was designed to do and is enjoying it. “No, little one, you can’t sing because you are having too much fun.” That is what you tell yourself — or the enemy is telling you, remember last week’s article! — each time you avoid your gift because it is enjoyable to you.
Now, if this cuts a bit deep, if you feel suddenly burdened or guilt-ridden because of all this, have grace and mercy on yourself. Being a Christian is a constant, uphill battle in this world. We are always striving and correcting and adjusting our behaviors to align more with Christ’s and it will be okay when you accidentally tell the sparrow he can’t sing. Bad habits are some of the last to die, and the little sparrow can sing again tomorrow.
Remember: you got this! And, if you don’t, God does!
Putting it into Action
If you struggle with the idea that you are allowed to enjoy your gift — for whatever reason, whatever bad habit, whatever past experience — spend time this week thanking God for that gift. Spend time in prayer, even if you aren’t engaged in any creative thing, thanking God for how He made you, and what He has called you to do. Thank Him for the blessings He has given us in the harsh, cruel life. Thank Him for the fact that He is not a stoic God, who demands only productivity, but that He is the God of Life and that He has filled this world with good, wholesome, and sinless things that we are allowed to enjoy and delight in.
“This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.”
“The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.”
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”
