Too often in our lives, we come to the place where something no longer makes sense and we want to give up. Perhaps it is loss or injury or illness. But it takes the life “out of you” and you want no more.

I recently began something new, something different. In this case the casualty was my creativity. What I do has little opportunity for creativity or coloring outside the lines.

I recently took a test for career and it revealed creativity as my highest “output”. What I am doing puts that at the bottom of the list. (But how grateful am I for the work? Immensely thankful!) It’s like having a new sled and it doesn’t snow!

For me my creativity is often revealed in my writing or my ideas. Just writing a column gives me satisfaction.

Many years ago, I wrote this piece.

(March 1997)
Ephesians 5
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We do everything to prepare for battle against the enemy-and then we have a choice. (On so many levels what do we do? We rest!)

To run or to stand fast in the face of adversity.

As the urgency of the time comes upon us, I realize that many of us do not stand, perhaps because we do not know how. We look at our circumstances and say this can not be. We need to look at the word of God and what it says.

Each time we turn tail and run-there is the enemy saying to us in the next circumstance, “remember what happened last time”. Anybody can get dressed for battle, but will you stand?

Standing seems to be the area where many believers fail. First, we must remember that we serve an awesome God. And God does not want you destroyed. He loves you. Purpose in your heart that He loves you. And because of that love He does not want you to fail.

God is a deliverer. He will deliver you from the enemy. Believe on the name of Jesus and the power in that name. Pick your feet up and begin to walk in the walk of those who know God. He has promised He will never forsake you.

It is amazing to me, how so many believers will look to their boss to pay them, one, two weeks-even a month away. If you can believe on the works of man, how much more can you believe on the Almighty God Himself?

Stand. If you have done everything; checked for sin(My thoughts on this have changed.) , looked in the mirror and viewed yourself dressed in the armor of God, stand. Stand on the Word of God.

My creativity is part of my armor, part of God’s expression through me and definitely a weapon to be contended with. When we walk as God created us to, performing as He designed, we defeat darkness and overcome.

Last night I was able to spend a few hours with someone and express creativity. It was my “heaven on earth” moment. I felt energized, changed, transformed.

Right now, I like so many others, am in a season of change, a season perhaps fraught with difficulties and challenges. And yet, I also know others are watching. Including a “great cloud of witnesses” who are cheering me on. “Mary, Mary, quit contrary, how does your garden grow?” Does it bear fruit? Does it have legacy built in? This season is but a season. God trusted you on so many levels with it. He trusts His son and His expression of Him through you. This season can be more than you know.