In the Bible, the first people mentioned to be filled with the Spirit of God were artisans. I wish I had known sooner how blessed I am to be a creative person just like them. Before I encountered God, I misused the talent He gave me for the sake of money. It has become my idol. Money became my source of security, and I relied solely on my own creativity as if it were something to boast about. For years, I sacrificed my own health and refused to get enough sleep just to "build my own empire and make a name for myself."

When Jesus called me back to Him, everything changed. Everything I possessed and built was taken away from me. My customers abandoned me because of my faith, my savings were gone, and my business crumbled like the walls of Jericho. I didn't know how to recover from it. It was overwhelming, scary, and lonely. It seemed like a hopeless downfall, and it was truly painful for me at the time. But when he made known his plans and purpose for me, I finally rested on him. My old ways and every stain in my past had to be washed away so that I could have a new beginning with him and learn how to rely solely on Him instead of myself.

It is hard to explain to a non-believer, but by losing everything, I gained everything. People may call me crazy, but now that the old me has passed away and Jesus has become the center of my life, I finally know what real joy, peace, and satisfaction feel like. Something money could never truly provide for me. I may not know the future of my art and the course of my new business, but I will keep on trusting God.

 

I was once a lost sheep. But because my Shepherd called me by my name, it is only right for me to rededicate the talent he gave me back to him. From now on, everything I create is to glorify the name of Jesus.