by Chelsea Hurlburt

“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” (Habakkuk 1:1-3)

Over the last few years in Lebanon, the book of Habakkuk has especially drawn me in as it’s taught me how to relate to God in times of crisis. Habakkuk taught me about being honest with God, even when I’m angry and frustrated at the violence and injustice in the world. He taught me to bring my complaints straight to God without mincing words or trying to hide pain. He showed me that faith means trusting God even when hope feels distant.

I find the book of Habakkuk particularly endearing because it’s written as a real conversation. Habakkuk cries out asking God why He tolerates violence and injustice. God responds that He does have a plan: He’ll send the Babylonians to judge Judah. Horrified, Habakkuk protests the justice in this, but God answers that the righteous will live by faith, and that Babylon too will fall, till the earth is “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” (2:14).

Habakkuk’s blunt honesty but ultimate faith have always been instructive for me, but lately the book has been teaching me something new about facing crisis. In the final chapter, after hearing God’s terrifying plan, Habakkuk must decide how to respond, and his choice is surprising.

Habakkuk writes a song.

Who knows whether Habakkuk was a gifted songwriter or not. All we know is that after hearing the worst news of his life, Habakkuk sat down and decided to compose a song – complete with musical notes, a chorus, a bridge, and instructions for the choirmaster to perform it with stringed instruments.

In the face of crisis, Habakkuk responded with creativity. That detail is easy to overlook. We often describe Habakkuk’s response simply as prayer or worship. But such descriptions fail to fully capture the intentional creative process involved. An off-the-cuff prayer or singing along to a worship song does not engage the heart or mind in quite the same way as carefully crafting a poem, a song, or a piece of art by oneself.

Habakkuk’s song is far from the only example of creative expression in Scripture. Roughly one-third of the Old Testament is written in poetic verse. We may gloss over that fact because we’re so used to it, or dismiss it as merely a feature of ancient Hebrew writing with no further significance to us today. But I believe there’s something about the creative process that is profoundly important for the human soul that we each would benefit from remembering.

1. Creativity helps us wrestle with our deepest emotions in the presence of God.

What strikes me about Habakkuk’s song is that writing it did not mean he had totally overcome his fear. Near the end of the song, Habakkuk is still trembling: “I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound… yet I will wait patiently” (3:16). Yet creativity proves a powerful coping mechanism, as a few verses later Habakkuk confirms his faith, declaring, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord” (3:18).

The book of Psalms shows us a similar pattern of processing emotions through creativity. Many psalms are hard to label as “worship songs” by contemporary standards. Some are raw cries of grief, anger, and confusion. Psalm 88 ends in darkness. Psalm 137 is filled with the pain and rage of exile. These are not neatly resolved prayers or songs of praise. They are honest human cries offered to God.

Perhaps one reason why creativity aids in coping with crises is that it forces us to slow down. Writing a poem, composing a song, choreographing a dance, sculpting, or painting – these require time and attention, keeping us in God’s presence longer than we might naturally stay otherwise, providing the space needed for healing.

Creativity also pushes us to deeper reflection. In Bloom’s well-known taxonomy of learning, creative work is the pinnacle of cognitive activity. It requires us to process, synthesize, and wrestle with ideas and emotions at a level far beyond merely reading or casually meditating on Scripture. If we truly desire to connect with God and let His word sink into the deepest parts of our hearts, minds, and souls, creativity can be a powerful means of doing so – alongside the many other spiritual practices encouraged throughout Scripture.

2. Creativity helps us interpret events and find meaning in the face of crisis.

Whether we are anticipating a hard season, in the middle of one, or recovering from it, Scripture provides examples of how creativity can help us find perspective and meaning.

Habakkuk used creativity to make sense of what was coming. We see something similar in Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55. Anticipating the potential social consequences and challenges ahead of her, she chose to sing of God’s goodness, mercy, and power. It is difficult to separate whether this creative expression flowed out of deep faith or served as a means of strengthening her faith – likely a bit of both. Creativity was a way for Mary to anchor herself in the character and promises of God as she faced an uncertain future.

Creativity also can play a powerful role after crisis, especially in healing. After the crossing of the Red Sea, Moses led the people in song, and Miriam and the women took up tambourines to sing and dance. Together they used creative expression to commemorate what God had done for them. Deborah’s song in Judges 5 similarly recalled a story of suffering and deliverance, helping the community understand God’s saving work among them.

Even the Spirit-infused creative expression of the artisans building the tabernacle goes beyond mere technical work (Exodus 31:1-6). After God’s people have been delivered from generations of slavery, the artisans’ creative labor becomes a starting point for reshaping a new identity. Creative work again becomes part of collective healing.

3. Creativity edifies the church

Creativity is more than just self-expression; it builds up the people of God. It strengthens the church by evoking awe, hope, and conviction in ways that words alone simply cannot.

At its best, creativity brings beauty, and beauty offers a glimpse of redemption – the world being made new. Yet in many church contexts, art, dance, and certain forms of music are rejected because of their associations with things considered ungodly. Sometimes this includes popular cultural styles; other times even Christian art forms from other traditions are rejected for being entangled with idolatry.

Rather than rejecting these forms outright, a better question is whether they can be redeemed. Just as we offer our lives to God to be transformed, we must also offer our diverse forms of creative expression, so they too can be redeemed and restored for the purpose of glorifying Him.

Scripture also shows that creative expression is meant to be shared. Habakkuk’s song was not only for himself but for the community – for a people facing crisis together. In the same way, when we share our creative work, it can serve others. It can help people name their experiences and even guide them into deeper worship in the midst of struggle.

In sharing our creative expression with others, there’s an important caution to remember: it is not about audience approval or self-display. Above all, it must remain an act of worship offered to God. The goal is to bring glory to God, not ourselves. Even viewing creativity primarily as personal self-expression can be spiritually risky, as it may shift our focus toward satisfying ourselves rather than honoring God.

Artists often observe that creativity is fostered by constraint. Placing limits on ourselves drives us to become more inventive with what we have. In the same way, narrowing our creative focus to what glorifies God can open space for discovering new spiritual insights about God and our relationship with Him. And the discipline of limiting our creative expression this way doesn’t stay contained – it trains us toward a more single-minded pursuit of God’s glory in every area of life.

Offering our Creativity to God

Personally, remembering that creativity is primarily an offering to God has helped me set aside the fear and inhibition that my creative abilities aren’t good enough. Even though creative skills vary, each of us has the capacity to slow down in God’s presence, wrestle with the deepest truths of Scripture, and use creativity to present our thoughts and feelings before Him as an act of worship. The final product may never compare to what the best artists among us could produce, but that is not the point. We offer our creativity to God like a child proudly showing their latest crayon-colored drawing to a parent. And He receives it with love and delight, not fixating on imperfections, but seeing the heart behind it.

Finally, while creativity should be a part of our regular spiritual walk, it takes on a special role in times of crisis. It becomes a way of holding onto God when words alone are not enough. Through song, poetry, art, and dance, we can bring our deepest selves before God, finding meaning in the events around us, and holding on to faith that God meets us where we are with love, mercy, and wisdom for the road ahead.

Chelsea Hurlburt lives in Lebanon and serves on the faculty team at ABTS. She recently finished her PhD in Intercultural Studies, with a focus on women in mission.