Filled with the Spirit to Create: What Bezalel’s Story Means for Artists Today

This week I was talking with a friend about something that’s been on my heart for a while: how often people overlook art as a real career.

If you’re a creative, you’ve probably heard things like:

“That’s such a fun hobby!”

“I wish I didn’t have to work so I could do something like that all day.”

“You’re so crafty!”

And while those comments might be well-meaning, they miss something important: creative businesses are still businesses.

Being a painter, potter, author, designer, or songwriter isn’t just “fun” (though we do love it!)—it’s work. It’s passion, yes, but also persistence. Planning. Marketing. Pricing. Late nights. Problem-solving. A lot of trial and error. And yes, plenty of prayer.

As I’ve been thinking about that tension, I keep coming back to Bezalel.

In Exodus 31, God doesn’t just use Bezalel. He calls him by name.

“See, I have chosen Bezalel...and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills…” (Exodus 31:2–3)

And what were those Spirit-filled skills?

Not preaching. Not leading an army.

Creating.

Bezalel was chosen to build the Tabernacle. He was a master craftsman—working with gold, bronze, wood, stone, and fabric. Every detail of the sacred space where God would dwell was designed and handcrafted with skill, precision, and beauty.

His work was holy.

And it still is.

Bezalel is the first person in Scripture who is explicitly described as being filled with the Spirit of God—and it was for the purpose of craftsmanship. That’s not a small detail. It’s a reminder that God cares deeply about beauty, design, and the hands that shape it.

Artists have always played a role in the story God is telling. Our work can create space for reflection, wonder, joy, and healing. It can build connection. It can wake people up to truth or bring comfort to those who need it most.

So if you’ve ever felt discouraged or dismissed because your work is “just creative,” remember this: God still fills people with His Spirit to create. He sees. He calls. He equips.

Your creativity isn’t a side note—it’s a calling, and it’s sacred.

See you out there!

Danielle