Creative Exhaustion

These readings regularly touch on the beauty and power of our God-given creativity. But there’s an aspect of it that deserves more attention—creative exhaustion. 

Highly creative people are forerunners who wrestle with an unformed idea or deep emotion, often for years, before ultimately bringing it to life on the appropriate canvas. The stories, songs, movies, and art are above all an offering to God, but they also offer a new way to see ourselves, others, and God. 

This capacity to feel deeply, to see what could be, and to bring it to life is exhilarating—and exhausting. We worship God as we write. And we cry as we create. A real-life situation with an unknown outcome causes a hundred scenarios to race through our minds. No matter what actually happens, we’re worn out from imagining the infinite possibilities. But it goes even deeper. We long for what could be in this world—while carrying the heavy realization that most will not occur until the coming kingdom.  

This exhaustion doesn’t stop at the mental, emotional, physical, and creative levels. There’s also a spiritual component. In my book Chaos Can’t, I note that, from the beginning, the enemy has opposed the Creator and creation. Today, he has an intense hatred for all who choose to co-create with God in ways he will never experience again.   

Creative exhaustion is real but it doesn’t have to extinguish your art or your heart. Instead, look to Jesus for the rest that restores. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

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