Issue #019
We’ve all hit those creative ruts—the ones that make you doubt your instincts, question your talent, or feel like every brushstroke is a battle. But the truth is, those ruts don’t define you. They’re often just growing pains before a breakthrough.
This week, I want to encourage you to trust that small voice inside—the one that nudges you to try something new, to show up again, to keep going even when it feels uncertain. Because that voice? That’s the Holy Spirit reminding you who you are and who you belong to.
Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
When your creative instincts feel shaky, lean into the One who placed them there in the first place. Don’t be afraid to take bold steps—even messy ones. You’re not creating alone. The Creator is with you, guiding every line, every layer, every leap of faith.
May this week be filled with intentional reflection, creative breakthroughs, and meaningful connection with the Creator who put that beautiful imagination inside you.
I’m cheering you on always!
In His love and creativity,
Matt Tommey
PS – I’ve got a brand new resource below that’s going to help you stay on track with all God has planned for you this week… keep scrolling 🙂
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CONNECT
When Confidence Falters, God is Faithful
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)
When fear creeps in, it’s easy to doubt your direction, your voice, or your creative choices. But Scripture reminds us that God’s guidance isn’t based on your confidence—it’s rooted in His faithfulness. When you feel stuck or unsure, ask: “Lord, what do You want to create with me today?” That simple surrender opens the door for peace and clarity.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of creativity. Help me trust You more than my fear, more than the outcome, and more than my own understanding. Remind me that I don’t have to figure it all out—I just have to follow You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Spiritual Action Step:
Start your next creative session with 2 minutes of quiet prayer. Lay your fear at Jesus’ feet, then ask Him to fill your imagination with His peace and ideas.
CLARIFY
Where is God Leading This Week?
When fear creeps in, it often scatters our focus. We start second-guessing what we already knew God was leading us toward. That’s why clarity is so essential—it anchors us back into intentionality. Proverbs 3:6 reminds us to “seek His will in all you do,” and that includes your creative focus for this week.
So instead of spinning your wheels or getting distracted by the next shiny idea, take time to recalibrate. What did God highlight for you at the start of this 90-day season? Where have you been seeing grace, movement, or confirmation? This is the week to align your schedule with your assignment—not just with what feels urgent.
Reflection Prompt:
What is God already blessing in your creative life right now? What’s one goal from your current 90-day plan that He’s prompting you to prioritize?
Action Step:
Review your current 90-day goals. Circle the one that feels most pressing in the Spirit, not just on paper. Block 3 focused time slots this week to take clear, measurable steps forward on it.
Struggling to Stay Focused? The Core4 Focus Planner is Here to Help!
Finally, a daily planner for Spirit-led artists!
If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed in your creative journey, you’re not alone. That’s why I created the Core4 Focus Planner—a 90-day tool designed to help you clarify where God is leading you, focus your energy, and take consistent, intentional steps in your art, life, and business.
This isn’t just a planner—it’s a transformation tool grounded in the same framework I teach inside Created to Thrive.
🌀 Spiralbound or 📕 Hardbound available now:
👉 Get Your Core4 Focus Planner
“God won’t bless confusion. But He will always meet you in clarity and faithful action.” – Matt Tommey
CREATE
Trust the Flow
Creative ruts usually aren’t about a lack of ideas—they’re about fear of what might happen if we follow them. Trusting your creative instincts means leaning into experimentation, flow, and even a little risk. That’s where breakthroughs happen.
This week, choose to override perfectionism and take messy action. Whether it’s a color you wouldn’t normally use, a tool you haven’t touched in years, or an unfinished piece calling you back—go for it. God doesn’t need it to be perfect. He just needs your willingness.
Studio Action Step:
Choose one “half-finished” or “too weird” piece in your studio and work on it without judgment for 30 minutes. Let instinct—not insecurity—lead.
CULTIVATE
Share the Process, Not Just the Polish
People don’t just connect with your finished work—they connect with your process. When you share a behind-the-scenes moment, a creative struggle, or even a small breakthrough, you invite your audience into your journey. And that kind of authenticity builds real trust.
This week, take one step to show the real you—paint clothes, messy desk, unfinished sketch and all. You never know who’s waiting to be encouraged by your vulnerability.
Outreach Action Step:
Post a progress photo or “studio moment” on social media. In the caption, share one thing you’ve learned this week about trusting your creative instincts.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
You don’t have to do everything yourself. Fiverr lets you hire affordable professionals for those lingering tech or business tasks—like logo design, website fixes, or even help with social media graphics.
Freeing up your time from what drains you means you can pour more into what energizes you—creating.
Action Step:
Search “logo design” or “website audit” and hire a highly-rated freelancer to knock out a task you’ve been putting off.
INSPIRE
Detroit’s Arts Alleys Bring Color & Connection to Neighborhoods
This spring, Detroit launched the Arts Alleys Initiative, teaming up with 43 local artists to transform 9 alleyways into vibrant, community-driven art corridors. Murals celebrate Detroit’s music, culture, and spirit—and residents are using these spaces for picnics, photos, and neighborhood gatherings.
It’s a reminder that creativity, when rooted in place and people, has the power to renew communities and hearts.
Takeaway:
Look around your town. Is there a wall, fence, or quiet corner that could use some color? Gather friends, cast vision, and start something together.
DO YOU HAVE AN INSPIRING STORY of God doing something incredible in your life and art? We’d love to hear it! Just email us here on the website with your God-story, and who knows, we just might feature it right here!
WATCH & LISTEN
Episode Title: Overcoming Fear to Trust Your Creative Instincts
What if the creative ruts you keep experiencing aren’t just “part of the process” but actually fear-based barriers preventing you from fulfilling your God-given purpose as an artist?
Fear whispers that you’re not talented enough, that it’s too late, that your work doesn’t matter—but these whispers aren’t coming from your Creator. God has empowered you with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear. When you understand this truth, everything about your creative process can transform.
Your brain naturally protects you from perceived danger, and unless you’ve intentionally trained it according to God’s Word, it will raise red flags when you try something new creatively. That’s why 95% of what we do daily is controlled by our subconscious mind—creating an internal framework that either empowers or limits your artistic expression.
The creative instincts inside you—your attraction to certain media, techniques, colors, or subjects—aren’t random. They’re divine clues about your unique creative voice and purpose. As a believer, you’re in union with Christ, not separated from His creative power. This means you can trust those instincts as the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your artistic journey.
Every brushstroke, poem, dance movement, or musical note you create is an act of faith that can become a catalyst for transformation in someone’s life. The difference between artists who thrive and those who remain stuck isn’t talent or training—it’s their willingness to show up consistently despite fear, trusting that “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.”
The only qualification you need to step into your artistic calling is your “yes” to God. The only disqualification is giving in to fear. When you choose to create even when you feel inadequate or uninspired, you’re declaring victory over fear and opening the door to supernatural creativity that flows through your art in ways you never imagined possible.
FEATURED ARTIST: Ginny Worsley
Painting Everyday Beauty with Purpose and Joy
📍 Website | 📱 Instagram
For Ginny Worsley, painting isn’t just a practice—it’s a calling. Her winsome, illustrative style invites viewers into a world of quiet wonder, where everyday life, nostalgia, and fleeting moments take center stage. From heirloom objects and ordinary places to familiar corners of home, each piece carries a deeper story—sometimes hers, often yours.
“Every scene I paint has a story behind it,” Ginny shares. “But my hope is that others will find their own story within each painting.”
After years of setting painting aside, Ginny recently made the courageous decision to pursue it full-time.
“God gave me this desire to paint, and now I’m fully committed to the calling,” she says. “I’m seeking His guidance daily—growing not only as a painter, but as a business owner too.”
That surrender is already bearing fruit. This year alone, Ginny has been featured on her favorite podcast and accepted into a dream show at the top of her list. Doors are opening, and her obedience is creating new pathways for creativity, community, and connection.
Ginny is especially inspired by the beauty of the everyday—the things that most people might pass by, but that she sees with spiritual eyes.
“I’m drawn to simpler times and meaningful details. I love creating visual joy, and it means everything when someone sees a piece and is reminded of a cherished memory or meaningful moment from their own life.”
Her creative and spiritual rhythms are grounded in prayer, journaling, and sketching. She records ideas constantly, using words and quick drawings to process and discern what to pursue next.
“This is God’s business, too,” she says. “I work for Him. I want to please Him with everything I create and put into the world.”
Ginny’s encouragement for other artists?
🎨 “Keep showing up—for yourself and for God. Especially on the days when you don’t feel like it. Just keep creating.”
With consistency and courage, Ginny continues to step outside her comfort zone—applying for shows, galleries, and podcasts—while building a life and business that honors her gift and her God.
Through every brushstroke, Ginny Worsley is faithfully telling stories that reflect the quiet beauty of the everyday—and reminding us all that those small, sacred moments are often where God speaks the loudest.
Apply to Be a Featured Artist
Would you like to be considered for one of our artist features? We love sharing the work from our friends around the world who create unique, beautiful and inspired art, regardless of creative medium. And just a reminder, your work does NOT have to be overtly faith-based to be considered. Interested? Just complete this application: https://forms.gle/vmtyk6wg3hSuUAhi9
Resources for Christian Artists
If you’re ready to grow as an artist in your faith, art and even business, then check out these affordable resources for artists just like you.
