Why Journaling Matters for Women of Faith(Especially in Midlife)

Do you ever feel like you misplaced a part of yourself somewhere between car-line drop-offs and pick-ups, careers, grocery lists, and growing kids?

That quiet voice that used to dream, create, and delight?

You’re not alone.
As women of faith navigating midlife, it’s easy to shelve our stories while caring for everyone else’s. That’s one reason journaling has become such a sacred, transformational part of my life.

Let me tell you why it matters—and how it might bless you, too.

My First Journal (and What It Taught Me)

I got my first journal when I was 9 years old on a trip to Oklahoma City to visit my dad. He had just moved there to pursue sobriety. We stopped at a Hallmark store in Penn Square Mall, and I picked out a Snoopy journal.

Since then, for over 40 years, I’ve written through every season—joy, loss, change, and celebration. Journaling has become my way of thinking on paper, praying with clarity, and anchoring myself when life feels messy.

The Sacred Practice of Putting Pen to Paper

Journaling isn’t just a spiritual habit; it’s a place to have an honest conversation with God, a space to hold the hard and the holy together, and a tool for healing, clarity, and rediscovery.

Here’s what journaling offers women of faith—especially in midlife:

+ It deepens your prayer life.
When your brain feels full and your prayers feel scattered, journaling helps you focus. It gives your thoughts a place to land and gives God room to speak.

+ It reveals God’s faithfulness.
Flip back through your old pages, and you’ll find a breadcrumb trail of grace. Answered prayers. Quiet nudges. Patterns of God’s presence you didn’t see at the time.

+ It provides clarity in transition.
As your roles shift—motherhood, ministry, marriage, career—journaling becomes a safe space to process change and listen for God’s direction.

What the Science Says

Even the research agrees:
Journaling isn’t just good for your soul; it’s good for your health.

Studies show that just 15–20 minutes of expressive writing can reduce stress and improve immune function. One study found that journaling before bed helped participants fall asleep faster by “offloading” the thoughts swirling in their heads.

In other words, it’s not just you.
We all need a place to set down what we’re carrying.

A Gentle Invitation

I get it if journaling feels intimidating or you don’t know where to start. I still stare at blank pages, too.

But here’s the truth that always helps me begin:

“God doesn’t need perfectly crafted prayers.
He just needs our honest hearts.
Start with ‘Here I am, Lord.’ That’s enough.”

You don’t have to write every day.
You don’t have to write anything profound.
Just begin.

Try This

Here are two reflection questions you can take into your quiet moment this week:

What might God want to show you through journaling?
What forgotten parts of yourself might be waiting to be rediscovered?

Next week, I’ll be sharing practical ways to get started with journaling—even when your schedule is full and your energy is low.

Until then, may you notice moments of delight… and the gentle way God is always working.