Monday Memo 1227: Courage to Create

“Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.” — Genesis 2:19

You were made in the image of the Creator, which means you were made to create. Creativity isn’t limited to painting or poetry—it’s the divine impulse to bring order, beauty, and meaning out of chaos. When Adam named the animals, he wasn’t just labeling them; he was participating in God’s creative work. He was using imagination, intuition, and authority to give shape to something God had formed. From the very beginning, creativity has been a sacred partnership between humanity and heaven.

Many people disqualify themselves from creativity because they think it belongs to a select few—the gifted, the artistic, the inspired. For years, I thought the same. I considered myself an administrator who helped others release their creative ideas, never thinking of myself as creative. Then one day while I was in Zimbabwe, the Lord corrected me. He said, “You don’t make order; you create it.” That one word changed everything. I realized that bringing structure, clarity, and purpose into chaos was not a lesser skill—it was a creative act reflecting His nature in me.

Creativity isn’t about color or sound; it’s about courage. It’s about saying yes to the ideas that stir in your spirit even when they don’t make sense. It’s about taking what you have—a word, a plan, a resource—and shaping it into something that blesses others. Every time you solve a problem, write a lesson, decorate a room, or design a system that helps people thrive, you are echoing Genesis 1: “And God said … and it was so.”

I once learned this truth in an unexpected way. During a leadership retreat, participants were asked to draw three self-portraits—before, during, and after a missions trip. My first reaction was panic: “I can’t draw!” But I decided to try. What emerged surprised me.

My “before” picture was full of gray lines and heavy clouds. The “after” portrait overflowed with color and light. That simple creative act revealed what God had done in me on that trip far more vividly than words ever could. I realized creativity isn’t about artistic talent; it’s about vulnerability—the willingness to express what’s inside you, however imperfectly.

You may not realize it, but your purpose will always require creativity. God rarely gives you complete instructions; instead, He gives you pieces and invites you to build. That’s why faith and creativity are so closely linked. Faith imagines what could be; creativity makes it visible. Every creative idea is an act of faith—believing something unseen can become reality through God’s partnership with you.

The enemy of creativity is fear—fear of failure, judgment, or comparison. But God never asked you to be perfect; He asked you to be fruitful. When you create, you declare that you trust Him enough to take risks, to start before you’re ready, and to let Him shape the results. The most creative people are not those with the most talent but those with the most trust.

So take courage. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters of creation now dwells in you. Don’t wait for inspiration; begin where you are. Write that vision, plan that outreach, design that solution, or paint that canvas. Creation began when God spoke, and it continues when you act.

Reflection Questions

1. In what ways are you already expressing creativity that you may not have recognized before?

2. What fears or comparisons have kept you from stepping out in your creative gifts?

3. How could you use your creativity this week to serve others or glorify God in a practical way?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for making me in Your image—the Creator who made me to create. Forgive me for thinking creativity belongs only to others. Awaken my imagination and courage so I can express Your nature through my work, relationships, and ideas. Let my creativity be an act of worship and partnership with You. Amen.

Application

This week, identify one area of your life that needs a creative touch. It could be your workspace, your devotional routine, or a ministry project that’s grown stagnant. Ask God for one new idea, then act on it—no matter how small. Remember, creativity doesn’t begin with mastery; it begins with motion. God blesses movement, not hesitation.