From Facing Fears to Wrapping in Love
Seen and Unseen
There’s a far greater portion of God’s creation that is unseen, than seen.
Woah. This blew my mind as I was listening to nobigdyl’s Creative Control podcast with Trip Lee the other day. nobigdyl mentioned how if God created everything - that means there are vast areas of space, and land, and sea, that has never been seen by us. And yet—He made them. Not for visibility. Not for applause. Simply because creating is who He is. He exists and creates for His glory alone.
What this means for artists
This truth hit me deeply. Because as artists, it’s easy to believe that the value of what we make lies in how widely it’s seen or appreciated. But what if the creative act itself—seen or unseen—is sacred? What if our unseen work is still worship?
There’s such beauty in sharing art with others, and I believe many of us could challenge ourselves more to summon the stomach-twisting courage required to put our ideas out into the world. Vulnerably. Boldly. And then follow through.
The First Frontier - Facing Fears of Sharing with People
At first this was my first creative frontier as a singer-songwriter: facing the fear of taking my ideas and sending them into the world to be perceived and absorbed by others where they are subject to various interpretations, criticisms, and even being misunderstood. Certainly, fear of man should not be what holds us back from sharing our creative works, so I pushed forward.
That momentum has led me here: to my first show with an hour set where I will share music in the quaint upstairs of a local coffee shop in DC. Come through if you can! If you're in the area, I’d love to have you there. Tickets are available!
My excitement outweighs my nerves, but on the pursuit to keep taking on “the next scary thing,” I’ve found myself here. I am committed to pressing on in developing, sharing, and stewarding my gift not just because I want to, but out of obedience to God.
Part of that obedience is chasing and crushing fears to ground myself in the reality that the only thing I am to fear is the Lord. It is the beginning of wisdom, and whenever I find myself fearing something else - I must face it. Courage is one of my deepest values. It’s a muscle I must constantly work out to grow.
The Second Frontier - Creating Completely with and for the Lord
I can’t wait to step into this new experience, so that I cast out fears that must leave, and so I can peer out around the corner to what… you guessed it… the next scary thing might be. But, this cannot be my end all goal. I have to pause and ask myself—am I chasing fear-crushing experiences just to prove I’m brave? Is this an attempt to self-heal insecurity through hustle? Am I summoning my own strength, or the courage only the Lord can provide?
On the other end of the spectrum, how can we be sure we are not creating solely for humans to receive? What are the creative works we are meant to make that will never be charted by the eyes, minds, and hearts of others? In this day and age, it feels like we have to output so much to the point we are run dry and tempted to give it all away so it feels like enough.
Not everything needs to be shared and seen. Not everything should be.
Instead of adrenaline chasing experiences and calculating how everyone will receive you on your creative journey, seek the Lord and his love. Let His perfect love cast out fear, not your own effort.
Saturate yourself in the Holy Spirit when summoning courage. Abide in His ultimate Love, that it may be what steers your ship.
Final reflection questions
How can I move forward in my creative journey with my eyes fixed more fully on the Lord?
What would happen if I wrapped myself in His love, instead of chasing away fear on my own?
How can I better discern when to share and when to hold sacred space?
Is God truly the source and motivation behind my creating?
