I’m a Christian musician and filmmaker, and in a few days, I’ll be 19 years old.
As I look back, I realize my journey hasn’t just been about building skills… God has been building up my identity so that I can inspire others to make change.
So here are 19 things I’ve learned along the way so you can level up your art, build momentum, and become the artist God meant you to be.
Let’s get into it.
Lesson #1: Stop being offended by people’s opinions
Here’s the deal—when you get offended by someone’s opinion, you’re basically giving them the steering wheel. You’re giving them power over you and letting them drive your creative direction.
And here’s what I had to learn: If your identity is firmly set in Christ and his definition of you, then everyone else’s opinions don’t even faze you. This is a hard pill to swallow because we naturally want to please people with our art.
But one of my amazing friends–and I’ll never forget it–he told me, “If you live for people’s praise, you’ll die by their criticism.”
That blew my mind when I first saw that. At that moment, I realized that was exactly what I had been doing. If you aren’t offended by people’s opinions, you can focus your energy on what really matters.
Lesson #2: Comparison kills your momentum
Comparison isn’t just a thief of joy—it’s a creative assassin.
What you need to realize is that comparing yourself to other people is robbing you of improving yourself.
The solution is to put your blinders on. The difference between an artist who flops and someone who makes a lasting impact is focus.
Focus is defined by the amount of things you say no to, so you can focus on the one thing that will propel you forward. The truth is, you only need to say no to more things to be ahead of most people. So put your blinders on and block out the noise.
Lesson #3: Perfectionism is procrastination in disguise
Perfectionism feels noble, right? Like you’re just holding out for excellence. But really? It’s fear in a tuxedo.
The fantasy author Brandon Sanderson coined the term “Worldbuilding disease” which I think is a brilliant way to frame perfectionism.
I used to spend months building universes but never settling on something to actually film.
The key is to get 80% of the way, and then move on. Prioritize progress over perfection. You can always revise a draft, but you need to keep moving to build momentum.
Lesson #4: Overcome your fear of rejection
Rejection hits hard, especially when you’ve poured your heart and soul into a project. But here’s the hard truth: oftentimes we feel hurt by rejection because it targets a part of our identity.
This happens when we attach our identity to something someone is saying. But when I mess up or someone shuts down my work, I have to remind myself of the truth, that this person or situation does not define my identity; God does.
You’ve got to ask: “What lie am I believing right now?” That I’m not good enough? That I have to be perfect to be accepted?
Call it out and replace it with the truth God has given you.
Lesson #5: Small projects build momentum
I wish I had learned this earlier. I was working on enormous projects I couldn’t produce when I could’ve done a dozen small projects I could immediately film in my house.
Don’t wait for a big break. Don’t wait for someone or some circumstance to give you permission. Start where you are.
Creative momentum is like a muscle. The more you work it, the stronger you get.
Start with a short story, a microfilm, or a 1-minute reel. Every finished project is a brick laid in the foundation of your goals.
Lesson #6: Hardworking people beat talented and lazy people
This one’s straight from Dan Martell—and it’s stuck with me. If you work hard, you can beat someone who is talented but lazy. If you’re talented and you work hard, you’ll beat everyone else.
The truth is, waiting around for motivation is a trap. It comes and goes. You can’t depend on it. Your art is not just a passion—it’s a discipline. I’m an artist too, so I get how important inspiration is.
Treat it like working gout. You wouldn’t skip the gym just because you’re “not feeling it” that day. Sometimes being great at what you do means telling the inner critic to be quiet and put your nose to the grindstone.
If you want to grow, you’ve got to show up consistently.
Lesson #7: Be authentic to yourself instead of looking for approval
I used to be pretty ashamed to tell people I made Christian horror. I’d over-explain it, or water it down. I’d end up rambling and beating around the bush because I didn’t want to be misunderstood, or worse—rejected.
But freedom came when I decided to be authentic and forgo people-pleasing.
The funny thing is, more people started resonating with my work as a result. So you see, my fear was completely unfounded.
You don’t need to explain your art to everyone. Be bold with your passions and be authentic in your work.
Lesson #8: Be okay with being misunderstood
If you’re doing bold or unusual work—like horror with Christian themes—people may not “get it.” And that’s okay.
There have been so many times when I’ve been tempted to correct someone’s comment or write a long reply to explain what I really meant. But most of the time? It’s not worth it.
Not everyone’s going to understand you, and honestly, not everyone should. You’re not here to convince everyone—you’re here to be faithful to the mission God gave you.
Lesson #9: You become what you fear the most
If fear is guiding your decisions, it will shape your life. And not in a good way.
I’ve wrestled with this myself. Fear of failure. Fear of being judged. In fact, anxiety has been a huge one for me. And every time I gave in to fear, I would either stop creating or try to mould myself to whatever it was I was afraid of.
If you fear rejection, you’ll play it safe. If you fear being misunderstood, you’ll stay silent.
But when you give fear that kind of authority, it becomes your master instead of God.
The only way out is to label the fear and expose it. People can affirm your identity, but they cannot define it. Only God can do that.
Lesson #10: Faithfulness in small things leads to bigger opportunities
Let me tell you a quick story: a few years ago, I had this idea for a series based on an internet legend. It wasn’t until this year, 2025, that I finally decided to stop procrastinating. I wrote, filmed, and edited my horror film Monochrome in four weeks.
It seems to me like God waited for me to be faithful with something small before opening new doors and opportunities. Don’t underestimate how God will use your faithfulness with small projects to make something big.
Lesson #11: Prioritize the story over the message
So many Christian creatives fall into this trap and end up preaching a Sunday sermon instead of telling a story. But if your story doesn’t move people, the message won’t either.
Jesus told parables. Why? Because people remember stories. We’re literally hard-wired to love stories. Truth told through narrative is way more powerful than a lecture alone. Don’t just preach—create something that resonates with your audience emotionally.
Lesson #12: Surround yourself with people who believe in your mission
2 Corinthians 6:14 says “Do not be unequally yoked,” and yes, that applies to relationships—but what people don’t know is it also applies to partnerships and collaborations.
Partnerships often fall through because of a misalignment of values. If you team up with someone who doesn’t get the mission, they’ll pull you in a different direction or even sabotage your work.
The lesson here is to surround yourself with people who celebrate your wins, mourn your losses, and keep you aligned with your calling.
Lesson #13: Learn to be decisive
I’ll be honest—this one is still a struggle for me. Indecision has cost me so much time. I’ve had entire projects sit on my computer for months because I delayed on one stupid detail.
But here’s something my mentors often say to me: the answers are on the other side of action. Not the other way around. You can’t steer a parked car. Making a choice—even the wrong one—builds momentum. Learn from your mistakes, adjust and try again.
Lesson #14: Learn how to market your work
This is one I’m still learning. But here’s something any seasoned entrepreneur will tell you: you can have the best product in the world, but if no one sees it, it won’t matter.
Some people shoot back with “My art isn’t related to business” but if we believe in the work God’s given us, we need to learn how to share it effectively, and that means learning how to get eyeballs on your work.
If you don’t know where to start, I’d recommend reading Doing Business God’s Way by Dennis Peacocke. It will transform the way you think about how to steward your work.
Lesson #15: When you know the ‘why,’ the ‘how’ falls into place
There’ve been moments when I didn’t feel motivated or clear about what to do next. And almost every time, it came back to this: I had lost track of why I was creating in the first place.
When your “why” is strong, the “how” becomes easier to navigate. When you have a clear mission statement, you’ll be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel no matter what.
I’ll be doing a more in-depth guide on this in the future, so make sure you subscribe and click the notification bell so you don’t miss the next upload.
Lesson #16: Be quick to kill habits that undermine your goals
Sometimes the only thing standing between where you are and where you want to be… is a habit. Habits are simply automated patterns we’ve learned over time, and it can be detrimental if it’s rooted in a faulty belief system.
Self-sabotage isn’t random. It happens when you hit a glass ceiling that is determined by faulty beliefs. You need to pinpoint the habits that are sabotaging your work and replace them with better ones.
Read books like Atomic Habits and be ruthless with the habits you allow in your life.
Lesson #17: Your struggles can empower other people
You don’t need to have it all figured out to help someone else. You just need to be a few steps ahead.
Whatever you’re going through right now, God can use it to help someone else. You want to have all your ducks in a row. Trust me, I get it. But you don’t need to be perfect to make an impact.
Something as simple as being authentic in your relationships will benefit you and those around you.
Lesson #18: Pursue meaningful relationships
To piggyback on the previous point, deep relationships will sharpen you. You can have all the skills in the world, but if you’re disconnected you will feel lonely and helpless.
The right people make your work better. The wrong ones pull you down. Meaningful relationships keep you grounded and encouraged.
Be intentional with your relationships. Being vulnerable with the right people will empower you to go further than you could alone.
Lesson #19: Act today like the person you want to be 10 years from now
I’ll be honest: this one still gets me sometimes. Sometimes I’ll beat myself up because I’m not yet the man I envision myself being.
But here’s what I’ve learned: I don’t have to wait. I can start acting like the man I want to be today.
That means taking responsibility, walking in obedience to the Lord, and making decisions based on where I want to be, not where I feel like I am.
You grow into the person you need to be by acting like it now. That’s walking by faith and not by sight.
Closing thoughts
So these are the 19 lessons that God has used–and still is using–to grow me, not just as an artist, but as a disciple of Christ.
So wherever you’re at in your journey, I hope this helps you take your next step.
Which of these lessons stuck out to you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Christian art shouldn’t suck, so let’s change that together. Let’s make art that mirrors the greatness of the God we serve.