Nothing is Wasted: An Encouragement for the Discouraged Storyteller

By Taylen Hippolyte

Discouragement, doubt, uncertainty. Unfortunate yet common experiences of humanity since the fall in the Garden of Eden. It doesn’t come from God, yet it deeply impacts everyone at some point – and when paired with fear or shame, it can be crippling to a person’s spirit.

It shows up at a final exam, when you’re clueless on how to answer the first ten questions; or when you were just a kid on the playground, picked last to play on the dodgeball team. It shows up when you were faced with an important dilemma and knew you had to decide: to follow the way of Jesus and His assignment for your life, or to listen to the voices of unbelief and skepticism around you (and even in you).

For the creative, it can look like the moment you openly shared your heart – your “big dream” or next creative idea – with someone who, although they may love you, lacked the same faith and vision God placed in you. Closed doors, failed auditions, an injured knee, repeated rejections, loss of friendships, layoffs, and failed businesses. Any of these, or a combination thereof, can bring a great sense of discouragement in any person.

For a moment, consider the testimony of Joshua. God repeatedly warns Joshua not to be “afraid or dismayed” (discouragement), but instead to “take courage” as he was appointed after Moses to lead the new generation of Israel into the promised land. Joshua, having seen his mentor lose access to this place through his own discouragement and disobedience (see Numbers 20) – was being encouraged and instructed by the LORD Himself, before being commissioned to do a very difficult task of leading Israel into the promised land. Given that Israel had spent 40 years in the wilderness (due to prior disobedience) and experienced the death of Moses, encouragement was certainly necessary for Joshua to effectively lead God’s nation through preparation, consecration and literal warfare (remember the Canaanites, Amorites and Hivites?).

Discouragement may be a common human experience; however, it was never in God’s mind, nor heart, for His children to receive or walk in doubt and discouragement. Rather, it’s the Father’s desire for us to rely on Him for everything, in all things – to be strong in Him and in the strength of His might. As children of God and faith-based storytellers, we have a mandate to be steadfast and immovable; to wait abundantly in the presence of our Father and rely on His direction and His strength for endurance. Because while Psalm 88 does exist, so does Proverbs 3, Psalm 42, and the book of Hebrews.

There was a season in my life where I felt as if I had “lost the dream” - the assignment and “calling” God placed in my heart in the early days of my walk, due to my own sins and mistakes, trials and doubts, etc. Because of this lie, I found it greatly discouraging to move forward in life, and difficult to create new things with God and with others. It kept me from exploring new ideas and endeavors; venturing out and meeting new people; or simply “stepping out in faith” by allowing my own creative work to be visible again.

I say the word, “lie” because essentially, that is what doubt and discouragement is – a lie. There is a major difference, creatives, between the pivoting and redirection of the Lord from a choice or an opportunity; and being completely dissuaded in the pursuit of an assignment because of our own shortcomings, sins, mistakes, and/or fear. 

Listen, and read very closely: it is never in the will of God for any of His children to remain (or to walk) in discouragement.

The LORD is resourceful; He wastes nothing. All our trials, creative pursuits, even educational degrees, are used for His Glory and our good. So, I say it again: Nothing is wasted with God. Just as we were once lost due to sin and yet redeemed through the death & resurrection of Jesus Christ, so it can be with all the gifts, skills and dreams the Lord has provided us (God-given dreams, that is).

In other words:

That failed business experience? Not wasted.

That rejection from a Grad program? Not wasted.

That opportunity to pitch a personal project to a creative agency, only for it to fall through suddenly? Not. Wasted.

If our Redeemer truly lives, then He must be the Redeemer of everything in our life, provided we surrender it to Him. As there is beauty in restoration, there is beauty in the call to perseverance as well, much like what is spoken in James 1.

Now (arguably more than ever), it is much more possible (and accessible!) to receive the Gospel through visual translations in a variety of media. People are not always going to receive a new bible randomly on the street – but they are much more likely to hear, see, and (still) read the Word of God through beautiful visual imagery that resembles more like the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the beauty of the Garden of Eden than this present world. Children of the LORD are called to be new royal priests in the family of God, led by the Great High Priest of all; therefore, we now have the freedom and Spirit-filled grace to minister the Gospel – and in doing so, salvation – through works of art.

Therefore, use what He gives you – according to the measure of grace given, that is – to do what He’s assigned to you, even when it costs you. Continue to walk in a manner worthy of the calling He has given you (as part of the Body) and continue to be the light on a hill which cannot be hidden.

Storyteller, consider this a call to persevere – an encouragement to not grow weary of doing good, and to continue reflecting the image of the Father in our being, and by creating new things.

Scripture References:

• Numbers 20

• Joshua 1

• James 1

• Hebrews 12

• Lamentations 3:22-23

• Romans 12

• 1 Corinthians 15

• Ephesians 6