WorshipGTR and the War of Art
Overcoming Resistance
Resistance is an enemy that hinders creative progress, disguising itself as reason and realism. It opposes forward movement and achievement, as described in Steven Pressfield's book "The War of Art." Resistance targets our unique gifts and aims to kill our potential. It affects musicians, ministers, and creatives daily, manifesting as procrastination, distraction, and self-doubt. Overcoming Resistance is crucial for growth and fulfilling our God-designed destiny.
I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about the enemy. An enemy that most people don’t know is there. One that is camouflaged in our fast-paced, always on, distracted culture. This enemy disguises itself as reason, level-headedness and doubt. This enemy hates forward progress, upward momentum, movement toward change and anything that resembles achievement of any goal. As a long-time creative of sorts, I have known of this enemy, but I had forgotten its power until recently. The enemy I’m speaking of is called “Resistance,” according to a book called, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. While not a Christian book, it comes eerily close to describing the Christian concept of spiritual warfare and the power of sin. The book is all about overcoming our enemy, Resistance and putting your art out there because it matters. In it he explains all the ways that Resistance keeps you from living the life you were created to live. Maybe as a musician or person in ministry, you can relate. While I don’t agree with all the book’s concepts, there are some helpful nuggets. Here’s an excerpt from the book where Pressfield describes Resistance’s “job:”
The following is a list, in no particular order, of those activities that most commonly elicit Resistance:
The pursuit of any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance or any creative art, however marginal or unconventional. The launching of any entrepreneurial venture or enterprise, for profit or otherwise. Any diet or health regimen. Any program of spiritual advancement. Any activity whose aim is tighter abdominals. Any course or program designed to overcome an unwholesome habit or addiction. Education of every kind. Any act of political, moral, or ethical courage, including the decision to change for the better some unworthy pattern of thought or conduct in ourselves. The undertaking of any enterprise or endeavor whose aim is to help others. Any act that entails commitment of the heart. The decision to get married, have a child, to weather a rocky patch in a relationship. The taking of any principled stand in the face of adversity.
In other words, any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health or integrity.
We cannot take this enemy for granted. One thing we must know about Resistance, according to Pressfield, is,
Resistance plays for keeps. Resistance’s goal is not to wound or disable. Resistance aims to kill. Its target is the epicenter of our being: our genius, our soul, the unique and priceless gift we were put on earth to give and that no one else has but us. Resistance means business. When we fight it, we are in a war to the death.
This may seem overly severe, but any of us in business or ministry (or both), know what Pressfield is talking about. We’ve all felt it. Every day we feel it. And every day we have a choice: to overcome Resistance or let Resistance overcome us. This was the choice in front of us as we wrestled with the idea of an online publication dedicated to worship player stories.
Because of Resistance, this vision almost didn’t happen. For the past two years, Resistance has disguised itself by looking like priority, distraction, discouragement, procrastination and self-doubt. Then it hit us with relevance, timeliness and attacks about whether the idea had any merit at all. This was the very real enemy, Resistance.
It’s attacking you, too. If you are in worship ministry, if you are a musician, singer, song writer, producer, mixing engineer, worship leader or artist of any kind. You are likely fighting this enemy right now without knowing it. Is there a conversation you’re avoiding? Is there a song you haven’t written? Is there something you’re avoiding quitting because it’s easy to stay? Are you avoiding Divine assignment? Are you running from work or service you know is yours, but you don’t have “time?” This, my friend is Resistance. And it is your greatest enemy because on the other side of Resistance is growth, blessing, promise and your God-designed destiny - all things Resistance hates. “Resistance is a negative, repelling force. Its aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work.” I feel it now as I draw toward the finish line of writing a vulnerable post. Resistance hates it when we get close to seeing something all the way through. This post is a reminder to all of us to be alert, know that there is an ever-present enemy trying to destroy the life God intended for us. But take heart. We are more than overcomers.
If Resistance couldn’t be beaten, there would be no Fifth symphony, no Romeo and Juliet, no Golden Gate bridge.
Beating Resistance is simple. Not easy. But simple. Sit down and do your work. Hit ‘Publish’ on the article. Make the phone call. Sit down to the piano and write. Hit record. Let someone hear your song. Shoot the video. Grab your guitar and practice. You get the picture.
Just move forward in faith.
