Chapter Four, Forgiving, went deeper into our creative soul. God used it to lovingly bring up some hurts from the past that trip us up and showed us how to overcome them in time.

Can you name the discouragers in your creative life whose actions still hold you back in some way today? On page fifty-four Elsheimer writes, "Forgiveness is not just something we grant another person. It is a gift we give ourselves." So true. We have all been trapped in resentment over an offense and weighed down by the cyclical pain it causes. How much better to be set free to pursue our own creative potential unhindered? It takes time, of course. It can't be rushed. Nor does it mean we allow ourselves to be creative victims again. With a bit of pain, then forgiveness and healing, wisdom and strength begin to take root and flourish. I shared that an experience I had taught me to use wisdom in friendships, forgive myself for mistakes, trust God's sovereignty and gave me fortitude in the Lord I never thought possible. In fact, it has been instrumental in running this ministry.

 
We had some fun with the exercise on page fifty-seven by coming up with confident retorts to discouraging statements. Jump in and give us a comeback to one or all! I know some of you have a sharp wit!
 
Try this when you feel insignificant artistically. Read Exodus 35:30-35 but use your name instead of the names listed for the craftsmen and let God blow you away with his feelings and validation for creatives (page 59).
 
Elsheimer points out that, if the Lord validated creatives back then, He must today as well. Why should we let selected people trip us up with discouragement when our Heavenly Dad who gave us the gift, calls us by name and is our constant Encourger (page 60)? Next, she had us list our heroes; those who encouraged us along the way (page 61). Would you like to share about yours?
 
She writes that for each discourager there is a hero, or a group of them, to help us along our path. Ultimately, she writes, God Himself is our greatest Encourager. (page 60) "Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:5-7 NIV. Once we understand who our greatest Encourager is, "they" can't stop us! How does this change or confirm things for you?
  
Sometimes we are getting in our own way. Sometimes a Mountain of Me gets on my road to productivity and won't budge! An encourger can help us get out of our own way. She stresses the importance of forgiving ourselves when we do (pages 62, 63).
 
Here are some of the gems of that we uncovered in these two chapers, then tucked away in our hearts.  Which one means the most to you?
1. Our creativity takes many forms. Caregiving, blogging, cooking, coordinating projects and more are all creative problem solving. Just because we aren't practicing a particular artistic hobby doesn't mean we aren't using our time creatively.
2. We don't need to let past events determine our present or future productivity or influence. Through repentance, forgiveness and healing, barriers to our artistic progress are destroyed and our shackles drop off.
3. We have the power of God at our disposal. Got a mountain? Not a problem! Whether it moves all at once or starts to move with one shovel's worth, mountains can and do move out of our way by His might.
4. We can trust the One who called us to our craft. He is our primary Encourager who sticks closer than a brother or earthly friend.
 
Madeleinge L'Engle's words about our journey are a perfect way to wrap this up: "Inspiration far more often comes during the work than before it because the largest part of the job of the artist is to listen to the work and go where it tells him to go." (page 49) If that work is inspired, infused and influenced by the Holy Spirit, then we can relax and discover it as we go. Nothing will be able to stand in our way! I wonder what adventures await us as the Master Creator, the Craftsman at His side and the Holy Spirit of inspiration, lead us toward further revelation about ourselves and our creative lives.