-An exclusive excerpt from Allen’s new book-
We’ve been taking a journey through the first five Stages of Creativity—Curious, Converge, Commit, Create, and Connect. If you’ve missed any part of that, you can find all the readings here. Now, it’s time for the sixth and final stage: Release.
What happens after we create something of value and are sharing it with kindred spirits? It’s an important question, because “Whew, it’s done” can quickly lead to a sense of restless emptiness and uncertainty. For many, the temptation is to skip the last stage and immediately jump into what’s next.
The problem is...that’s not how God modeled the process of creation.
All who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. (Hebrews 4:10 NLT)
Creation has restoration built into it. God created. He made stars, oceans, light. He made time. And then he took time to enjoy all he’d brought to life. To celebrate it. Savor it. Rest in it.
In this stage, you need to temporarily cease from work. Savor what’s been done before doing more. Seek rest and restoration rather than the relief of applause or the distraction of what’s next.
You must be as intentional in releasing as you are in creating. You do so by giving your finished work to God as an offering. That releases its hold on you. You no longer own it…and it no longer owns you.
In the end, your art isn’t mostly about you. Yes, you play an essential role in its creation. But when you tie your validation to its performance or start to think you’re the focus, you put a burden on your art that it was never meant to carry.
Sometimes the hardest part of creating is letting it go.
(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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