Writing From Wounds, Not Just About Them
I have always used writing as a way to process what I am going through. When something heavy sits in my chest, I turn to the page. Writing helps me make sense of the chaos, name what I am feeling, and bring hidden fears into the light.
In many ways, I write about wounds as they happen because it is the only way I know how to breathe through them. I have stacks of journal entries, notes on my phone, even prayers half-typed in moments when I could not speak them out loud. Writing in the moment helps me survive the moment. But that is not always the writing I choose to share.
There is a difference between writing about our wounds and writing from them.
Writing about wounds captures the raw, unfiltered emotion. It is important. It is honest. But writing from our wounds invites reflection. It gives us a little space to step back, to see the broader picture, and to ask God what He might be doing in the healing, not just in the hurting.
When I write from my wounds, I am not trying to explain them away. I am simply writing from a place that has begun to soften. A place that may still ache but is no longer wide open. Writing from a wound allows me to tell the truth without bleeding all over the page. It makes room for others to sit with the story and find comfort, rather than be overwhelmed by my pain.
Some stories are meant to stay between me and God until I have had time to listen, grieve, process, and rest. Other stories, once tended to with care, can become words I share with grace, with intention, and with hope that they might help someone else feel less alone.
A Note For You
You do not owe anyone your pain while it is still fresh. It is okay to write through your wounds privately before you write from them publicly. Let the page be a place of honesty, but also a place of healing. You can return to your words later, when your heart has had time to breathe.
Two-Part Writing Check-In
Write About the Wound:
Spend 5 to 10 minutes writing about what hurts. Be honest. Do not edit. This is just for you.Pause, Pray, Reflect:
Wait a day or more. Then return to what you wrote and ask:What did I learn through this experience?
How did God meet me in this place?
What part of this story might help someone else one day?
This can help you tell your story from a place of restoration rather than reaction.
A Gentle Reminder
Not every story has to be told while it is still tender.
Some of your most meaningful words will come after time, prayer, and healing have done their quiet work.
You are allowed to write for your own heart before you ever write for anyone else's.