Artists: Artists not only love beauty and see it in places others don’t, they’re uniquely gifted to create it. They express their individuality in bold ways that enrich us all. They bring colour and flair to a world that would otherwise be mundane and dull. Whether it’s through music, art, dance or words, artists find ways to express things that the rest of us might struggle to express. They can create things that speak to our hearts and souls. But we can’t live in the ideal world of our imagination, so if we’re artists we can sometimes find ourselves ill-equipped to live in the real world with its problems and pressures. The same sensitivity that makes us creative often leads us to have emotions that we struggle to control. This can make our relationships with others tricky, and can cause us to struggle in our perception of ourselves. King David was artistic. He was a gifted poet, dancer, and composer of many songs. But his inability to control his desires led him to have an affair that led to murder and the devastation of his family (read the whole story in 2 Samuel 11). We need to understand that every strength God gives us has a corresponding weakness that must be identified and handled in the right way. The more talented we are, the more disciplined we must be. Paul was wise enough to recognise his own struggles: ‘But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.’ Where there is great talent – there is great temptation. Sheep are safest when they’re close to the shepherd. And that’s how we can find safety from temptation and struggle too. We can stay close to our Shepherd – Jesus.

What Now?

If you’re an artist, ask God to help you cope with your emotions and that your creative imagination would not lead you into temptation. If you’re not, pray for those who are. Ask God to help them break free from their pattern sins.