Writing Through the Pain

“Write about it. Trust me, you’ll feel better.” My good friend said these words to me and I’ll never forget them. How could I? That conversation launched a series of events which ultimately led to the start of my next book, and a long, difficult healing journey.

Do you journal? I’ve never been one to keep a diary or a journal—that is, until adulthood. And even then, I used it for jotting down Bible verses that stuck out to me or little things I felt God was telling me. So when I experienced a very difficult time and my friend made this suggestion, I cringed. My first response was, “But if I write it down, that would make it real.” Sometimes it’s easier to push those hurts and negative feelings deep down to a place where we think they’ve disappeared, right? It may seem easier at first, but over time, like an eaten apple wasting away in a garbage can, they will fester, turn black, rot, grow mold, stink something awful….well, you get the picture.

Not only that, I wondered if I really would feel better. What was the purpose of writing it down, anyways? I always lived by the “put the past behind you” rule, so why did I want to bring it back to life? I didn’t know until God showed me three reasons.

The first reason is found in a book called Lamentations. Now, truth be told, this isn’t one of those books of the Bible that I run to when I’m searching for help. But God, in His mercy, led me to this passage from chapter 3 and it’s become one that I cling to.

“I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.

²¹ Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.’” (NIV)

As I remember the pain and suffering, it turns to hope. It’s like the verse that says He has turned our mourning into joy. The only real way to heal from a painful experience is to go through it. God didn’t lead the Israelites around the sea, right? He led them through it—providing a way. One of the ways to go through our healing is to write down the painful experiences or thoughts, and let God change our heart and create new thoughts and memories from the painful.

The second reason for writing about our hurts is so that we can help others. Our word is our testimony. Someone once told me that for every person’s pain and suffering, there is at least one other person who will need to hear it, and will need to know how we made it through.

Finally, it also helps us to see and remember the goodness of God. Write about the pain, and as you write, ask God to show you specific Bible verses that you can write to go with it. Promises to fight against the pain. Then as you heal, write what God shows you or speaks to you, so later you can go back and praise Him as you read about where you were and where He brought you to!

The the next time you go through something difficult, write it down somewhere and watch how God uses it!

What about you? Are there specific hurts or pains you’ve written down that have helped you or someone else get through a tough time? I’d love to hear about them.