“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15
"Repentance" is a word that is alien in our culture, averse as we are to admitting faults of any kind. No one states they lied, they only "misspoke". No one admits to drunkenness, they were only "partying," or to infidelity, that was "being true to themselves"..., or to lasciviousness —a King James word—that was "following their heart"....
No one declares absolutes of conduct without being shouted down.
We don't even blink at some behaviors today, which are so obviously grievous for our physical, emotional and spiritual health, that no prior generation would have condoned them! The shifting sands of opinion serves up a smorgasbord of seemingly pleasing options for behavior, ignoring God and His manual of absolutes—the Bible.
Even we, who are familiar with His standards, drag our heels when it comes to admitting our own faults or those of our culture. If confronted, we'd rather shy away than face them.
Yet guilt is a God-given emotion, intended to act as a trigger for reformation and restoration. We prefer, instead, to swiftly snuff out any twinges, which may disrupt our lives by encouraging change.
Becoming defensive or easily offended feels satisfying, but will leave us shackled in a perpetual state of discomfort. God intended it to be that way!
It helps to know that there are rewards for owning up and turning away from our mistakes! REST is promised. God also promises to divinely extricate us from our messes—that is "salvation", a rich, biblical word! The joyful blessing of repentance is one I'd like to linger on.
Instead of rushing to defend ourselves, maintaining a quiet attitude of repentance before a holy God will strengthen us—counter-intuitive, but true! And joy is His ultimate objective for us.
That is a stunning possibility—especially when you consider how repentance and joy fall on opposite ends of the spectrum of emotions! We dislike the former intensely and covet the latter. Human therapies cannot guarantee the outcome of joy, which God promises when we turn to Him in trust.
Remaining in the restless state of our unconfessed messes (or "sin" - another dinosaur word in contemporary vocabulary!) results in increased anxiety and suppressed creativity. Making art is an act of faith and hope, which can be sullied by guilt. With repentance the weight of guilt lifts and our relationship with Him is joyfully restored! Art can flow unrestrained.
Creativity thrives when our hearts are full of joy. Continual examination of our lives against the template of the Bible, with repentance as needed, is the secret for living vibrant, artistically fulfilled lives. God never intends to rob us of life, but to bless us with it in abundance. (John 10:10) Partnership with Him opens up areas of artistic exploration that were once out of reach.
Repentance may feel like vile tasting medicine—yet we must swallow to be freed from the continual malady of our fallen nature.
"Rejoice," an often repeated command in the Bible, is impossible to achieve if our lives are misaligned with God.
Joy is a spiritual force.
I was aware that the joy of the Lord was to be my strength. But how? And why? The verse below occurs in the book of Nehemiah in a chapter when the nation of Israel was at the point of repentance after decades of disobedience.
"Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”" Nehemiah 8:10
When the people were truly repentant they became suddenly aware of the gravity of their sin before God. They were now yielded to His purposes for their future. Yet, because they were overwhelmingly conscious of their shortcomings, all they felt was guilt and sorrow.
God's call to repentance was not intended to condemn them to a state of perpetual mourning. In keeping with His gracious nature, it was to bring them to a state of joy. So they were commanded to set aside grief and to rejoice, because their relationship with Him had been restored.
As an artist, I pray often for the anointing to create works that are pleasing to God. Staying joyful and creative before Him is easier if I am quick to repent when aware that I messed up. I trust the Holy Spirit to grant me that awareness along with His promised rest, salvation and joy, when I repent. He has done that for me so many times and He will for you also.
If you're hungry for the anointing to create artwork that is meaningful and satisfying, don’t run from repentance.
Grapple with it and surrender to its discomfort.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:23-24
See it as your opportunity to draw closer to God, allowing Him to examine your life to align it with His purposes. He promises then to refresh and honor us with His presence. As Christian artists, aren't we eager for His presence more than anything else?
In His presence is fulness of joy!
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