Knowing When to Create and When to Be Still

Faith

Jul 15

Written By Regina

Hey, multi-passionate creative.

Yeah, you, the one writing, speaking, cooking, teaching, painting, teaching and all the other things.

I know, sis. You want to honor God with your gifts. You feel lit up by the thought of creating something meaningful…until you suddenly don’t.

And then you wonder:
Am I burned out or just lazy?
Is God calling me to push through or sit down?
What if I’m tired, but the ideas keep coming?

If you’ve ever wrestled with the tension between doing and being, this post is for you.

Let’s explore what Scripture says about the rhythm of rest and creation through the story of Elijah, a bold prophet who crashed hard under the weight of everything he carried. His story holds a gentle invitation for creatives like you and me: you don’t have to do it all, all the time. Sometimes, God’s greatest work begins in stillness.

Where I’m at right now

Let me start here.

Since December 2024, I’ve been on the move. I’m grateful for the doors He has opened and probably even more grateful for the ones He closed.

But now, I’m in a season of slowly applying the brakes.

For years, I said yes to everything that felt good, godly, or “on brand.” If an idea stirred my spirit, I took it as a sign. If a door opened, I walked through it and ashamedly, without always checking with God first.

But lately, I’ve felt the nudge to pause. To breathe. To be more intentional about the creative projects I say yes to and the ones I lovingly lay down.

I’ve begun asking:

Is this assignment for now… or next?
Am I creating from overflow or obligation?
What does obedience look like for this season—not the one I wish I were in?

I’ve come to learn: Being still isn’t the absence of creativity. It’s the space where creativity deepens, quietly, beneath the surface.

When the Fire Fades: Elijah’s Burnout Moment

We often talk about Elijah’s mountaintop moment, how he called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18. But we rarely sit with and notice what happened next.

In 1 Kings 19, Queen Jezebel threatens Elijah’s life, and he flees. This bold, fiery prophet who had just witnessed a miracle runs into the wilderness, collapses under a broom tree, and says:

“I have had enough, Lord... Take my life.” (1 Kings 19:4)

Whoa.

That hit me hard the first time I read it with fresh eyes.
“I have had enough.”

How many times have I whispered that in my spirit?
Enough ideas.
Enough pressure.
Enough running from task to task with no rest in sight.

Elijah’s honesty is real and it’s holy. It tells us we’re not alone when we feel emptied, even after success, even while doing God’s work.

What God Did Next Will Break Every “Hustle” Narrative

Here’s what God didn’t say to Elijah:

“Get back up and do more.”
“You shouldn’t feel this way.”
“You’re being ungrateful.”

Instead, our faithful, loving God sent rest.

“Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’” (1 Kings 19:5)

Elijah didn’t get a sermon. He got a snack and a nap. Yes!

This wasn’t indulgent. It was spiritual recovery.

Sometimes, before we can get back to creating, launching, or leading, God invites us to rest under the broom tree.

You’re Not Lazy

Let’s just name it: many of us (yep, me too) carry guilt when we stop.

We fear we’ll lose momentum. Be forgotten. Miss out on opportunities. Or worse, let God down.

But Elijah’s story reminds us that rest isn’t punishment or failure. It’s part of God’s rhythm.

If you’re feeling drained but deeply creative… tired but still full of dreams… maybe you need to rest before you rebuild.

How to Know If It’s Time to Create or Time to Be Still

If you’re unsure whether God is calling you to take action or pause, here are five reflection questions I use to listen for His direction:

1. Am I creating from calling or from striving?

Striving says, “I need to prove something.”
Calling says, “I’m responding to something.”

2. What is the fruit of this idea?

Does it bring peace or panic? Clarity or confusion?

3. Have I prayed or just planned?

Sometimes we build the blueprint before we even ask if God wants the house built.

4. Am I tired or am I meant to pivot?

There’s a difference between needing rest and needing redirection. Stillness helps you tell them apart.

5. Have I sat under the broom tree lately?

If it’s been a while since you let yourself rest without guilt, that may be your next faithful step.

What “Being Still” Can Look Like for Multi-Passionate Creatives

Don’t panic, friend. Being still doesn’t mean shutting down your gifts. It means quieting the noise so you can hear God's direction.

Here’s how I practice stillness in this current season:

Slow journaling: No prompts. Just “God, here’s what I’m feeling…”
Creative sabbath: One day a week where I don’t produce anything. I just play, read, listen, or rest
Prayer walks: No podcast. Just walking and whispering prayers
Saying no without a 3-paragraph explanation (anyone feel me on that one?)
Unsubscribing from voices that create pressure instead of peace - big one for me!

After Elijah rested and ate—twice—he walked to Mount Horeb. There, he experienced something incredible:

“The Lord was not in the wind… not in the earthquake… not in the fire. But after the fire came a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11–12)

God didn’t show up with fanfare. He showed up in the stillness.

This is what I want for my creative life:

Not just loud wins or viral posts. But the kind of whisper that leads me forward in holy obedience.

Because when God whispers, it usually means we’re finally still enough to hear.

After Elijah rested and heard God’s whisper, he didn’t go back to the same pace. He moved forward but from a place of renewal, not reaction.

When your rest is rooted in God:

You’ll start creating again but with peace as your guide.
You’ll choose projects not because you should, but because you’re called.
You’ll trade burnout for boldness.

For the Creative Woman Who Feels Torn

If you’re wondering whether to push or pause, start or stop, here’s what I want you to know:

First, you’re not alone.

God sees your gifts. He loves the way you dream and design and create. But do you know what else He sees?

He also sees your exhaustion. Your quiet fear of slowing down. Your longing for rest that doesn’t feel like giving up.

You don’t have to hustle for His approval. You already have His love.

So, if He’s calling you to rest, trust that it’s not wasted time.

Things to remember:

You can honor God just as much by resting as you can by producing.
Not every idea is a right-now idea.
Resting doesn’t mean quitting. It means surrendering the outcome.
Elijah needed a nap before he heard God’s whisper. So might you.
Creativity is a calling, not a race.

Final Prayer

God, thank You for wiring me with passion, gifts, and creativity. But thank You also for reminding me that I don’t have to run at full speed to be faithful. Help me know when to create and when to be still. Speak in the whisper. Meet me under the broom tree. And when it’s time to move again, show me how to create from rest, not from rush. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.