Reflecting Our Creator by Jennifer Uhlarik

Reflecting Our Creator

by Jennifer Uhlarik

“In the beginning, God created…”

(Genesis 1:1, NKJV).

Do you ever struggle to get ideas flowing from your brain to the page? Maybe your mental picture won’t translate into words on the computer screen. You type a few sentences, delete them all, and start again—the modern equivalent of wadding up that notebook paper and starting fresh. If we’re honest, I think we all struggle with this at some point.

What if your family and friends aren’t supportive? They give you that sideways glance that intimates maybe you’re a little crazy for wanting to write. Perhaps they question your ability, or—if you write fiction—they question the value of writing made-up stories rather than something based in fact. The longer these obstacles remain in our lives, the more we might question whether we’re truly called to this writing life.

Have you ever considered that the first time we encounter God through Scripture, he shows up as Elohim, the mighty Creator? His very first act was to make something. As we read the rest of Genesis 1, we see he created the heavens and earth, the light and the darkness, the sun, moon, and stars, oceans and dry land, plants, birds, and animals.

But his crowning creation was humankind. Of all of God’s creations, humans are the ones that God made to carry his image. Not only do we bear his physical likeness, but into each person, he placed at least one facet of his character. Think of that. We each carry a piece of his personality within us. The law enforcement officer carries a spark of God’s justice. Doctors and nurses carry God’s mercy. Parents carry traits of God’s nurturing. And artists in every discipline carry a piece of God’s creativity. Every time we sit down to “paint with words,” we are reflecting the very nature of our loving Creator. We are doing what he called and gifted us to do.

Beloved, he chose you to reflect his first trait—creator. Yes, sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes those who don’t understand our creative minds try to squash our dreams. But remember the amazing things God has in store when we’ll say “yes” to his call to write what he lays on our hearts. Keep going! God’s waiting. Be creative.

Lord, I surrender my creative gift to You and ask to partner with You in every creative endeavor.

At twelve, Jennifer Uhlarik swiped a western novel from her brother’s bookshelf and fell in love with the genre.  Since attaining a B.A. in writing from University of Tampa, she has published multiple westerns, finaled in and won various writing competitions, and appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband and fur-children. www.jenniferuhlarik.com