I Actually Want to Be Seen Trying
Because effort isn’t embarrassing, it’s evidence of faith – Strat & Soul 001
Hey friend! How are you? Actually stop and answer. How is life? Next month is halfway through the year—how are you feeling about the year so far?
My year is just starting, honestly, and I’m not mad.Today’s letter is not very Temple-esque, but I felt to share it with you because it’s been a thought I’ve pondered a lot lately.
I’m calling it Strat & Soul because I work in marketing as a strategist—but that world can be a bit vain sometimes, so I’m adding some soul. As always, I hope it encourages and edifies you. Let’s dive in!
Soundtrack : if you’ve never followed this link before let today be the day you do because Elisa is a perfect picture of today’s letter. Someone trying, doing and serving with her gift. This is her first song, sounds like her 100th. Enjoy!
I want to be seen
A few months ago, my amazing friend Shulamite and I started creating TikTok videos around the Zambian creator economy. It was (and is) something new. We were genuinely just trying to share a passion of ours with a growing space. Shulie and I both love the creator economy, and our dream is to see the African creator economy grow and flourish.
Creating these videos was a bit cringe at first no, scratch that, what was cringe was the aftermath of it: putting it out for people to see and reading their responses, etc. That’s the part most of us are afraid of. In the last few weeks, Shulie and I hosted our first creator event, signed our first official client as a business, and are planning on doing so much more— simply because we tried.
So, try.
There’s been a whole discourse online about people not wanting to be seen trying. On one end of the spectrum are people vehemently encouraging and sharing the upsides of being seen. On the other end, there are people who would rather shrink than be seen trying.
And I am more inclined to the former than the latter.
I want to be seen trying.
I think stepping out to try something is honorable—to God, to people, and to the gift itself. Trying is showing up, and I want people to see me showing up for what I believe God has called me to do—even when I’m not perfect at it, even when I’m figuring it out publicly.
Because faith is trying. Obedience is effort.
And you cannot bear fruit from a seed you never had the courage to plant.
Why not you ?
There’s a way we have encouraged passivity in the body of Christ. How we have clothed fear and anxiety with words like “I’m waiting on God” or “I just don’t know if this is the season for it” or some other Christianese phrase.
Truth is, many of us are scared of trying. Many of us are scared of showing up.We delay. We play it cool. We act like effort (actually doing something) is a lack of trust—when in fact, it might be the purest expression of trust.
It’s taking God at His word.
Friend, the world doesn’t have this hesitation. People with no access to the Spirit of God—are out here showing up. Building businesses. Writing books. Monetizing their passions. Creating at scale. Taking up space. And yet many of us—the ones who are actually filled with the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead—are sitting on our gifts.
Being cautious. Doubting. Nonchalant.
But I believe God is raising up a new generation of builders—Christian creatives, founders, strategists, artists—who aren’t afraid to go hard. Who understand that being led by the Spirit doesn’t cancel out effort. It actually fuels it.
As Christians, we talk a lot about the “mountains of influence.” But those mountains are still dominated by people who simply had the audacity to try—not because God told them to, but because they wanted it, so they worked for it. Then there’s you and I—who have actually been called to this.
Why shouldn’t we?
Why shouldn’t Christian creators be mainstream? Why shouldn’t we experiment with formats, take creative risks, build multi-medium platforms? Why shouldn’t our excellence and consistency and authenticity earn us a seat at every table?
There’s room for us
As someone building an agency in the middle of the creator/brand space and who eats creator economy news for breakfast, I want to tell you: this is a space worth building a career in. But you actually have to try.
If you’ve been creating for a while, you may have to start thinking of ways to monetize your creation. And as I write this, I know there is someone cringing—thinking that for them, this is simply a passion, and that they don’t see it as a money-making venture. If that’s you, then I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to the one who, on the inside, knows that this is something they’d like to make a career—or at least make sustainable.
And friend, just so you know it’s not any less ministry just because someone paid for it.
The whole premise of Substack is for writers to get paid. And honestly, there are so many amazing writers I see here that I believe should one hundred percent get paid for it. Christian creators deserve to get paid just as much—if not more.
When we start to show up, God honors that.
I have seen Him do it in my own journey so far, and I am in awe of His mercy. How He shows us glimmers, little snippets of what’s ahead when we take Him at His word.
Consistency is an indicator that you trust God—and that you’re like God. I say this to you as much as I am saying it to myself. In my first year on Substack, I showed up every week. Life got crazy (as it often does), and I haven’t been able to get back into posting consistently and honoring my promise to you of showing up weekly. So today, I’m making that commitment again. Every Tuesday, you’ll hear from me.
Friend, I want to challenge you—especially as a fellow believer: Go all in on your calling. Whether it’s a business, a creative project, or just a skill God’s given you, stop hiding behind the idea that things should be “effortless. Your calling is meant to make an impact—but it takes action.
It takes trying.
It saddens me to see so many with incredible talent but no work behind it. I see people who are brilliant writers, designers, or entrepreneurs—but they’ve never tried to monetize those gifts. We have to take what God’s given us and run with it. The world is watching, and the playing field has been leveled—but many of us are standing on the sidelines, afraid to get in the game.
Remember : Trying doesn’t mean you lack faith, it means you’re walking in it.
So go on. Be seen trying. The world needs your yes.
TEMPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS 📣
I’m in the process of reviving Temple Accountability Group—an amazing inner community we started last year that unfortunately ended. This time, there’s a lot more intention behind it, so please stay on the lookout for that. I’m excited.
I am adding a link to my bio (and here) where you can support me monetarily. If my writing impacts you in any way and you have the capacity to, I’d love your support.
If you’re an African creator wanting to receive support from your community, reach out to the people at Lemon they are building an amazing tool that works for us.
Okay friend, that’s all from me.
I know this wasn’t very TC-like, but I wanted to share another part of my life with you guys.
Love you,
See you Tuesday!
Ruth Musang