Journaling Her Life
By Constance Fink
Lynn woke up every morning for 10 years wishing she were dead. She lived in despondent depression as a teenager and into her 20’s. Though raised in a Christian home, she did not have a personal relationship with Christ. She even questioned God’s existence, which pulled her deeper into a lonely shell.
At age 25, Lynn heard the Gospel clearly presented and recognized her need for a Savior. The oppressive depression lifted almost immediately; she knew joy for the first time.
Shortly after she became a Christian, she had an abortion. Lynn never wanted to be a mother and had a morbid fear of dying in childbirth. When she discovered she was pregnant, she panicked and sought advice from her pastor. Instead of counseling from Scripture, he gave her the business card of a nearby abortion clinic.
JBU: What was your experience after the abortion?
LYNN: I felt no guilt, sadness, or regret—only relief from the nausea and paralyzing fear of the future. The following months were a blur of career-climbing, frenzied activities, and insatiable drinking. In retrospect, I realize I was burying my emotional pain.
JBU: How did you find your way back to God?
LYNN: God put a high school friend in my path who had found Jesus. Comparing my life with his, I felt ashamed. Desperate for God, I began to seek Him each morning. With journal and Bible in hand, I penned love letters to God. I longed for healing and restoration.
The Lord penetrated my catatonic armor. I started to experience sadness and guilt over the abortion, yet couldn’t receive His forgiveness or forgive myself. Ultimately, I experienced His love and pardon as I confessed my sin to God in my journal as well as publically.
JBU: What other times has journaling helped you?
LYNN: A co-worker was bent on getting me fired. At lunch, I would express my frustration in writing. The more I wrote, the better I felt. "Dear God, she did this; she did that. Dear God, what am I going to do?" Without realizing it, I was praying. Before then, I couldn't string together two sentences aloud. I either fell asleep or got tongue-tied trying to emulate the eloquent prayers of others. But when I wrote to God in my own words, about my personal situation, it freed me.
I was so excited about communicating with God that I awoke early every morning to meet Him alone on the front porch. When I said, "I love you, Lord," in writing, I felt close to Him for the very first time. He was real and He was listening. As I confided in Him, His peace consumed my fears. Journaling became foundational to my life and I have continued it for over 30 years.
JBU: How has your journaling changed over the years?
LYNN: I still write conversational love letters to God, as I would if I were writing a letter to my best friend. Though I journal the same way, I am not the same person. My journaling hasn't changed, but I have!
JBU: How have you changed?
LYNN: Because journaling takes time, I slow down and spend quality time with God. I am no longer suicidal and have not had a drink in 25 years. I no longer curse or wear provocative clothing. I am no longer debilitated by shyness or self-hatred. I am no longer a jealous, bitter, or angry woman. All those things melted away as I spent time with Him, pen in hand.
JBU: Do you re-read past journals?
LYNN: I read them regularly. When I see spiritual victory, I thank God He helped me obey. If I notice a repeated sin, I know I have not completed business with God. Even when I don't feel Him, my journals prove He has been working. They’re a visible yardstick by which to measure my growth.
JBU: What are other benefits of journaling and how does one start?
LYNN:
- Journaling is affordable –start today with an inexpensive notebook and pen.
- Journaling is portable – start by writing in small blocks of time: at lunch, in the waiting room, while doing laundry or bakingcookies.
- Journaling is easy – start with one sentence a day.
- Journaling is honest – start by expressing your emotions by rewriting a Psalm.
- Journaling isn’t limited to words – start by drawing a picture.
- Journaling is relevant – start by writing in good times or bad.
- Journaling is important – start by making an appointment with God and commit to it as any other important date.
JBU: What ministries has God given you?
LYNN: I write and speak. My signature book is Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer. My devotional books are: Seasons of a Woman’s Heart and Treasures of a Woman’s Heart. I conduct journaling seminars and speak around the country about God’s power to heal hearts.
Lynn’s Favorites:
- Favorite Scripture Verse(s): Romans 8:28 and the Psalms
- Favorite Music: Handel's Messiah
- Hobby: Singing
To contact Lynn D. Morrissey:
Email: words@brick.net
Weblog: http://setfreetoday.wordpress.com/author/lynnmorrissey/
Author : Lynn D. Morrissey Book titles:
Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer
Seasons of a Woman’s Heart
Treasures of a Woman’s Heart
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