Paula @ Gracefilled Moments In December, I took a deliberate break from writing. A conscious effort to step away from the keyboard and embrace the quietude of the season. I thought I’d emerge refreshed, eager to get back to my writing for Jesus. Instead, I find myself in a writing funk.
My initial reaction was one of fluster. “But I rested!” I protested silently. “I took time off!” Yet, the words seem to be stale. The inspiration that usually flowed freely feels stagnant.
Then, a thought surfaced: perhaps this isn’t about a lack of inspiration but a deeper invitation. Maybe Jesus is gently urging me to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
It’s winter. The season of dormancy, of inward reflection. My Seasonal Affective Disorder, while present, is milder than usual. I’m not a fan of the cold, and my social outings have naturally dwindled because I’d rather not go out. Coffee with my friend Rich are down from four to two a week, and visits with my best friend Kim have lessened slightly. Yet, there’s a peace that settles over me.
I’ve been savoring quiet time in God’s presence, making my way through the New Testament as I usually do this time of year. A sense of tranquility has enveloped me, a deep contentment in simply being.
Could this be what He’s asking of me? To embrace the stillness? To relinquish the need to feel like I have to write all the time and just be?
Of course, the writing funk is a concern. But perhaps it’s a symptom of something deeper, a need to reconnect with God’s understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) offers a profound reminder:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6(NIV)
This verse speaks to the folly of relying solely on my own limited comprehension. My understanding, frankly, stinks sometimes. It’s clouded by different things.
This verse is a call to surrender. To acknowledge my own limitations and humbly seek His wisdom. To relinquish control and trust in His guidance.
Perhaps this writing funk is an opportunity to practice this surrender. To let go of the need to feel creative and instead, allow myself to be filled by His grace. To trust that in His stillness, new insights and fresh perspectives will emerge.
This writing funk may not be about a lack of inspiration but a deeper invitation to savor His presence, surrender, and seek His understanding.
What do you think? Do you have any suggestions for me?
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I do think all writers go through times like this. And sitting at the feet of Jesus is always the best use of our time.
But I also think it’s important to write something every day. It might not be something you publish but just something to keep juices flowing.
I’ve been in a season of editing; but I miss blogging and writing so much! I must dip my toe back into the stream of setting down words that are in my brain. It might not bless anyone else, but it will me!
Oh Paula, I feel like I’ve been in a funk too. Even when I do manage to start, I struggle to continue. I agree, at times I think God wants us to slow down, even be still. We don’t have to fill he page with words, sometimes we just need to allow ourselves a gentle break!
Dear friend – Go ahead and write when you have something of value to say. Write when you can’t not write. Write when there’s a fire in your bones that just can’t be extinguished. And enjoy the fallow times, the still times as little seasons of refreshment and refueling. All will be well!
Paula, I think we all go through stretches much like this. We think we need to come up with something clever or new. I am finding lately, my writing comes from time spent reading God’s Word and asking Him to apply it to my life. As I do, I learn and long to share what I have learned. May the Lord bless you in this quiet time!
I have been meditating on the Scripture, “Be still and know that I am God,” too, Paula. It is an invitation to draw near and know Him.