Journaling Through Your Journey

Life can feel overwhelming because of a lot of different reasons: job transitions, the loss of a loved one, depression, anxiety, major life change, or caring for someone who is sick. Journaling is a powerful way for us to process the mix of emotions that come along with such a journey. It also helps us remember what God has shared with us along the way. 

Invite God into Your Journaling

Did you know your journal can be a sacred space where you meet with God? It’s true! It has become one of my favorite ways to talk with Him and hear what’s on His heart.

You can invite God into your journaling practice by offering a short prayer as you start, pausing to listen for His wisdom, or praying at the end of your journaling session, thanking God for what He has revealed or asking for His help in a certain area.

Write in Small Chunks

When life is hectic, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Consider journaling in shorter chunks. Even five minutes can make a huge difference! 

In fact, sometimes when you write for too long, it can be easy to get stuck in that place of hurt instead of moving through it. So set a timer if you need to. Write for three to five minutes, then continue about your day.

Write When It Works

Myth has it that first thing in the morning is the best time to journal, but really, that will depend on your personality and lifestyle. You might very well like to wake up in the morning and spend a few moments journaling, but you might also like to do it before you go to bed, on your lunch break, or in little moments throughout the day.

Don’t look at what others are doing. Look at what works best for you. This might mean you need to experiment a little! Try it one way for a few days and make adjustments as needed.

Choose Your Journal Process

There are huge benefits to journaling by hand. There’s just something about holding a pen and crafting words on the page that blesses the heart, mind, body, and soul. 

If this is you, find a notebook that you like. Be sure to consider size, paper type, and if it is lined or not. If you’ll carry your journal around with you, you don’t want it to be heavy or awkward. If it’s so nice that you won’t want to write in it, grab a more ordinary notebook instead.

However, if you are unable to write by hand or don’t find it comfortable, don’t let that stop you from journaling. You can easily pull out the notes app on your phone, type in a document on your computer, send emails to yourself, or use a voice-to-text app.

Consider Other Journal Formats

If words are hard to come by, there are other ways you can express what is going on inside of you. 

Quote journals allow you to copy down the words of others that are meaningful to you. In essence, you are borrowing their words. Maybe they express what you cannot, or they offer words of hope and encouragement. These quotes can come from books, notes from friends, podcast episodes, the Bible, or songs.

Photo journals are collections of pictures that resonate with you. You can take pictures on your phone or use the ones you find in magazines or books. When something speaks to you, find a way to save it so you can look back at it. You can even caption it with a short phrase or verse.

Art journals incorporate some sort of creative element, from mixed media to doodling to painting to collage. These journals allow us to express what’s going on inside of us using colors and lines—which can sometimes feel easier than trying to put something into words. 

Journal Through Your Journey

As you journey through life, your journal can be a friend that helps you process what is going on around you. It can help you put a name to those murky emotions stirring inside. It can also serve as a way to bring these things before the Lord and see what He has to say in response.

So start small. Test and see what works best for you. And find a way to incorporate journaling into your life. You might be surprised at what God might say to you as you meet with Him there.