by Allen Arnold, @TheStoryofWith

Imagine writing something with God that is beyond your wildest dreams.

You can’t wait to show others. To launch it. To watch it accelerate as readers discover it.

And then God whispers to you, “That was just for the two of us. It’s not something to share with the world. Go ahead and put it in the drawer.”

If it stopped there, would it be enough?

After all, it’s something you created with the Creator of the universe. He stirred the idea and the two of you actively and intimately pursued it together. Through a hundred thousand words, you spent time breathing worlds and characters into existence. Now there’s a story brimming with life, danger, romance, and hope.

That’s huge. But is it enough?

There’s something in us that wants to push back and say, “No, it’s not enough. That can’t be all there is.”

Try and identify what this question raises in you. Rather than dismiss the question by saying God would never ask such a thing or your deadline doesn’t allow for such a luxury, step into this. Ask God to interpret why the possibility of putting your work in a drawer would be so hard.

It’s a heart question. Because God cares more for your heart than your art.

Perhaps you see God as an efficient teacher and you’ve become a student of efficiency. Does creating a story with God that no one else will read seem like the ultimate waste of time? Maybe you’ve tied your validation as an artist to how others respond. Or you’re driven by the belief that others need what you are creating. But your art was never intended to bear the burden of another’s praise or rescue. God didn’t primarily create us so we would do things for him – or for others. He created us first so we can know him and be known by him intimately.

So much of this comes down to how we define success for our creativity.

When we enter into our art WITH God, success happens as we create – not later based on external events. That means the manuscript you are writing with God is successful before anyone sees it. It is successful even if no one ever sees it. Believing this allows you to create from a place of success rather than in pursuit of success.

The life you have with God while creating determines the power your art will have. That is because true art is first relational. Not between you and a canvas but between you and God. Creation was never meant to happen in isolation or a void. Creation transforms the void. Relational creativity is transformational creativity. As you spend time in God’s presence, first you are changed. Then your art changes.

But we misstep if we demand the transformational always be functional. The art you create with God may or may not be meant for others. When it is, that’s a bonus. But it’s never a promise. We overcome when we stop worrying about the outcome. Before your art can capture the hearts of others, it must first be set free from expectations. Your art doesn’t make you. You make your art. Your art doesn’t validate you. Only God has the power to do that.

You’ll be amazed how high your creations will fly when they no longer have to carry you.

Which brings me back to my original question. Imagine that you and God create something together and God whispers, “That was just for the two of us. It’s not something to share with the world. Go ahead and put it in the drawer.”

If it stopped there, would it be enough?

PS – This is my last blog post for a season. I’m writing my second allegory and sense God inviting me to do less so I can focus more on that creation. I’ll close with Psalm 27:14: “Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.” (The Message).

The Story of With: A Better Way to Live, Love, & Create

“Unique and powerful, The Story of With will take readers deep into the discovery of their own identity. “Bravo! This fascinating blend of storytelling and teaching will shift the thinking of all who take this journey.” New York Times Bestselling Author, TED DEKKER

“Through allegory and invitation, Allen Arnold ushers us into a journey of imagination, insight, wonder, and wisdom…Read The Story of With!” New York Times Bestselling Co-Author of Captivating, STASI ELDREDGE

“This is your invitation into deeper identity, intimacy, and imagination with God. Like finding the place you’ve always longed to be. The moment you finish this book, you’ll race to grab one for a friend. Highest Recommendation!” Bestselling Author of The Long Journey to Jake Palmer, JAMES L. RUBART

“Allen has written a roadmap for dreaming with God. The Story of With is a beautiful, revelatory parable, filled with wonder, mystery, and adventure.” Author of Prone to Love & Untamed, JASON CLARK

– From the Foreword –

“You are not alone. Whether you’re a free spirit, an office exec, a writer, musician, college student, or tired parent—your soul, like mine, knows life is meant to go beyond rat races and rare applause. This book speaks to that belief. And if you’re not careful, you may find tears warming your eyes as you read because finally someone is naming your weariness, your striving, your questions of why you just can’t quite make it, or the emptiness that hit because maybe you did. It is into those places The Story of With reaches—fusing allegory with application—to offer fresh perspective, restored hope, and a rebirth of creativity.”

—From the Foreword by Mary Weber, Christy & Carol Award-Winning, Scholastic Pick Author of the Storm Siren Trilogy.

Allen Arnold is the author of The Story of With, an allegory that reveals a better way to live and create through the doorway of identity, imagination, and intimacy. His mission is to help people actively pursue and transform their talent by discovering how to pursue it with God. As the founding Fiction Publisher for one of the world’s largest Christian publishing houses, Allen oversaw the development of more than five hundred novels. He knows first-hand how common it is for creators to become disheartened, overwhelmed or burnt-out–as well as what it takes to help the dreams of writers become reality. In his current role at Ransomed Heart, he oversees content from the mountains of Colorado for the ministry. Before becoming a Board Member for ACFW, he was awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 for his substantial contributions to the world of Christian Fiction.