Monday Motivator: Holding Tension Without Snapping!
5 Real Tensions Every Creative Leader Faces and How to Survive Them!
If you’re a creative leader, you know what it means to live in the in-between. You’re called to dream and deliver, to innovate and anchor, to lead with both open hands and a steady heart. The creative life, and the life of faith, isn’t actually about choosing one side or the other, but learning to hold tension with grace.
I’m about to start my master's class on 2 Corinthians in 2 weeks, and I can’t wait!
In that letter, Paul says;
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:7
The truth is, we are:
Fragile and filled with glory.
We carry vision and vulnerability.
We long for newness but also crave ancient truth and deep roots.
The creative journey is full of these paradoxes… spaces where we’re invited to trust God in the midst of uncertainty.
Creative leaders hold a crazy amount of tension; the juggle is real!
Here are 5 tensions I think many of us will wrestle with this week…
1️⃣ Structure vs. Spontaneity:
Planning is wise, but sometimes the Spirit interrupts our schedules. Do you actually have a real plan? And can you leave margin for holy surprises?
2️⃣ Excellence vs. Authenticity:
Pursue your craft with skill, but don’t let perfectionism choke out your true voice. Sometimes, the most powerful moments are our most unpolished.
3️⃣ Risk vs. Rest:
Step out and try new things, but remember that Sabbath is sacred (which can be tough in a creative world to work out where your Sabbath is). Creative fire burns brightest when it’s fueled by rest.
4️⃣ Community vs. Solitude:
Collaboration brings ideas to life, but solitude is where clarity is born. Make space for both.
5️⃣ Faithfulness vs. Fruitfulness:
God calls us to be faithful with our gifts, even when results aren’t immediate. Trust that your labor is not in vain and commit to the incremental flourishing.
This Monday, why not ask yourself:
Where am I feeling the pull between two good things?
What tension is God inviting me to hold, rather than resolve?
How can I lead my team to embrace both/and, instead of either/or?
Let’s be leaders who are comfortable in the messy middle, who trust that God does His best work in the places where clarity gives way to wonder.
Our prayer for you is that as you step into another week of leading, creating, and serving, you would find beauty not in the absence of tension, but in the art of holding it well. Amen.
If this post resonated with you, our next piece will delve even deeper.
We’re unpacking why creatives are often misunderstood and how to lead them with care, insight, and joy. You’ll discover:
What drives the creative temperament, backed by research and real stories.
Why creatives often get a bad rap, and why that’s only half the story.
How the changing world demands we embrace and empower creatives in ministry.
Practical tools for caring for creatives without exploiting their gifts.
A full toolkit including one-on-one templates, environment audits, and self-reflection guides.
If you’re serious about leading creative teams with wisdom and grace, you won’t want to miss this. Upgrade your subscription to get exclusive access to the full article and downloadable resources that will transform how you shepherd your creative leaders.
Until then, may you lead with courage, curiosity, and the confidence to hold tension well.
So good, so so good. Thank you!!!