How Journal Writing Can Help You to Heal, Hope, and Grow
Journaling can allow you to express your feelings in a productive manner. You can be your authentic self. You can be raw with God.
Welcome to the 30th issue of The Aim and Soar Life, a weekly Christian personal growth and lifestyle newsletter that provides actionable, relatable, biblically rooted content to help you live abundantly and GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Hey Fam!
If you have ever said, “Lord, this ain’t the life I ordered!” journal writing is for you!
Most of us want to feel like we are growing, living better lives, and experiencing happiness. If you truly want to embrace a season of new beginnings, you must heal from the past. Doing so will help you to have hope for your future and mature spiritually. Journaling is an excellent way to increase your personal and spiritual growth.
Benefits of Journaling
When you think of writing in a journal, it may bring to mind a teenager with a diary. You may be thinking, “I’m too old to write in a journal.” But did you know journaling can be a stress reliever? Did you also know that it can improve your mental health?
I’ve consistently kept a journal since 1999, and it has been a blessing. Every year on New Year’s Eve, I review my journal for lessons: mistakes I made, areas I need to grow in, and successes God blessed me with. This introspection helps me to create goals for myself for the upcoming year. It allows me to see what I need to pray about up close and personal and see where I have grown.
Journaling to Heal
Some experiences are either too painful or too personal to share with anyone else but God. Journaling can allow you to express your feelings in a productive manner. You can be your authentic self. You can be raw with God.
He already knows everything you were saying in your mind during the meeting with your boss, and the not-so-kind words you shouldn’t have said to your spouse. Writing your innermost thoughts and feelings can help you to release frustration and tension.
The healing process starts with honesty. In most 12-step programs, admitting where you are is a part of the process. God wants us to bring our burdens to Him. In last week’s newsletter, “ How to Let Go of Letting Go,” I talked about releasing hurts so that we can move past them. Having a good writing session with a good cry is cathartic. It creates a path for you to turn your pain into prayer.
How does this help you to heal?
When you release your thoughts, feelings, and emotions to God, you are acknowledging that you are relinquishing your will to “control” the outcomes of situations in your life, and instead, you are giving your problems to God to resolve. You can’t heal yourself, only God can. Your prayer life will be centered on surrendering.
It is such a relief not to carry a burden you weren’t meant to carry in the first place. Ask me, I know.
Journaling to Hope
Keeping a record of your prayers and God’s response to your prayers will increase your faith and trust in God. Your spiritual health will flourish because you will learn to trust God more fully with every part of your life. Your mental health will be strengthened as well because the anxiety and angst that come along with holding on to things you have no control over will be gone.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful Hebrews 10:23, NKJV
Here are some ways to use journaling to anchor your hope in God:
1. Use your journal to write down scriptures that encourage you.
2. Return to your journal every day to review the scriptures and write your reflections
3. Write the things the Holy Spirit lays on your heart when you review the scriptures.
4. Write the lessons you experience as a result of focusing on the scriptures
Let your journal be a place where you can talk to God and write what He reveals to you. Allow it to be a quiet place you can come and experience God. Let your journal serve as your love letter to God.
You will find that some of your reflections (ones that you feel comfortable sharing) can be helpful to other Christians. You will be able to encourage other believers in their walk with God. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit may even prompt you to share something that’s a little uncomfortable sharing. In these situations, He will give you courage and direction. Follow His lead.
Journaling to Grow
Has God laid a business or ministry idea on your heart? A movie or book? Write these ideas down in your journal and pray about them. When focusing on personal growth, be intentional about accomplishing the things God has given you the gifts, talent, and unction to do.
Use your journal to map out your plan (with much prayer), list the names of people who are skilled or knowledgeable in the area you are pursuing, and write notes from classes you may take or from interviews with those who can support you on your journey.
Your journal can serve as a think-tank. One of my favorite scriptures that encourages my creativity for Christ is Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, which reminds us to invest in many ventures.
Ship your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.
Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land, Ecclesiastes 11:1-2, NIV
Use your journal to set personal goals. These can include weight loss, financial freedom, going back to school to further your education, or taking a certificate program. Chart your progress. Write your praise reports!
God cares about every aspect of our lives, so it’s only fitting that we submit every aspect of our lives to Him. I pray that this edition has helped you on the journey to healing, hoping, and growing in Christ!
Until Next Time,
GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Sherrhonda 😍
P.S.
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