It Begins Within
-An exclusive excerpt from Allen’s new book-
Something is glitching—not just in what we do, but within us. Whatever it is, it’s tainting our efforts as we try to create, build, and grow. Our plans aren’t coming together. More troubling, it feels like we’re coming apart.
Consider your current project and the turbulence you feel as you pursue it. Where are you struggling? These stress points help reveal our glitches. I’ve listed some possibilities. Circle the ones that most resonate.
Too little time, money, or hope? Stress of constant deadlines? Feeling alone as you create? Doubting you are creative? Questioning if what you do matters? Chasing popularity over purpose? Relying on AI for answers? Being stuck instead of moving forward?
Any one of these can derail our creative potential. Together, they can cause us to lose hope, forget why our efforts matter, and even quit trying. In those moments, we can feel discouraged. Or in other words, without courage.
Did you know the word “courage” comes from the Latin cor—which means heart? So being discouraged is without heart. Friends, when your heart goes numb, not much else is possible. Which is why Scripture tells us to protect our heart above all else, for everything we do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).
Our creativity has clearly been compromised. But the answer isn’t just to do more. We’ve already tried that. There is a glitch within us that goes deeper than we’ve realized. Not because our creativity is irrelevant or optional. It is the opposite. It matters far more than we imagine. And it is opposed far more than we’ve dared believe.
We’ve been exploring what the Creativity Glitch is and how it occurs both around and within us. You might be wondering how it began. There is an origin story...and it’s wilder than most imagine. The first glitch wasn’t random. It was a malicious, intentional breach.
(From The Creativity Glitch: How to Stop Being Stuck, Find Your Groove, & Create with God. Copyright © 2026 Allen Arnold.)
This reading was crafted to encourage your pursuit of story and creativity with God. Your donation makes this crowd-funded initiative possible. You can support it via PAYPAL (or by check to Allen Arnold at PO Box 62841, Colorado Springs, CO 80962).
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