Three Ways Journaling Can Help You Draw Closer to God

If you choose one habit for the new year, make it journaling. I know I’m biased in this exhortation, as writing expressively comes naturally for me. Words are my playground, and almost nothing brings me greater joy than stitching words across a page. Through every season of life, journaling has been not just a natural outlet but a necessary one, a buoy when life is difficult to manage.

For me, writing is a personal practice, but it’s also my profession. I teach academic and expressive writing for a living. I inhabit the world of words—or, more precisely, words inhabit every fiber of my life. However, you do not have to be a good writer or a professional writer to benefit from the habit of journaling. Anyone can do it and reap the rich benefits.

Perhaps, though, it would be helpful to dispel some of the preconceived notions around journaling. Let’s do an exercise to help with this. When I say the word journal, what comes to mind? For some, it’s the picture of their preteen self, sprawled on their bed, dreamily writing about their middle school crush. For others, it invokes the image of furious scribbling, “rage on the page,” a convenient way to dump all their conflicting emotions. Still others think of it as a luxury only for artistic souls.

While journaling can be all those things, it’s not just for the daydreamer, the emotional wreck, or the artist. Journaling is for the person who wants to make progress in their professional life. Journaling is for the person who wants to leave a written legacy for their family. Journaling is for the person who wants to explore the inner workings of their life. Journaling is for the person who craves creative expression without having to worry about if it’s good enough. Journaling is for the one who wants to connect more richly and more deeply with God.

Even when people intuitively understand the goodness of journaling, they may struggle with finding the time or the know-how. Journaling can happen in as little as three minutes (try a cluster diagram; it’s great for super short spurts) or it can fill thirty minutes of quiet reflection. The beauty of journaling is you can tailor it to exactly the time and needs you have. No expensive tools are necessary. You only need a notebook and something to write with (or your digital device, if that’s more your style). If you’ve never really journaled, I encourage you to pick one day of the week to set aside five minutes and then build from there as you flex that writing muscle. If all that stares back at you is a blank page, that’s where a little know-how comes in, like some of the suggestions offered here.

The richest payoff from journaling is a deeper connection with God, and that has become my heartbeat for teaching others how to journal. When journaling is done with purpose and intention and just a little bit of know-how, you can make visible the internal work of the Spirit within you. The noise of the world easily crowds out the gentle whisper of God to our souls. But even with just five or ten minutes of journaling, you can find quiet at the end of another long, busy day. Journaling is not about good writing or good grammar; it’s about getting honest with yourself and intentional with God.

How does journaling draw us closer to God? Here are three simple ways:

It helps us remember where we’ve been, what we’ve done, how we felt, and how God moved. The Psalmist declares “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” ( 77:11, NIV).
Because journaling gives you a record, you can discern patterns in your thinking that may be unhealthy or even a distorted version of the truth. As Paul exhorts, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” ( 12:2, NIV).
Journaling is a discipline that teaches us how to quiet the soul. In a world gone mad with noise and distraction, putting pen to paper brings focus and clarity, creating a space where you can listen for God’s voice. God instructs our hearts to “Be still, and know that I am God” ( 46:10, NIV).

My favorite part of journaling is that there are no rules—you cannot do it wrong. You cannot fail at it. You can always pick up right where you left off. Are you ready to put pen to paper? To try this time-tested practice? You don’t need anything fancy—just you, your journal, and a pen. Your journal will become a reflection of the unique person God made you and the intimate relationship you share with him. I pray that your journal becomes a green pasture beside quiet waters where you breathe in the life and peace of his spirit as he makes visible to you the holy work he is doing within your soul.

Allison Byxbe, a writer and certified journaling instructor, lives with her husband, three kids, a few dogs, and some chickens in South Carolina. When she’s not pondering words, she enjoys nature, deep conversations, and at least two cups of coffee a day. She loves to connect with others about family, special needs parenting, mental health, grief, and faith. You can find more of her writing on her blog Writing Is Cheaper Than Therapy.