Can we all agree that the personal, quiet practice of journaling (and, yes, keeping a diary) was made for us introverted souls?
We live in a noisy (and broken) world, and it can be hectic to find a quiet place to connect with God, gather our thoughts, lay out all our emotions, and simply be. For many of us single older introverted Christian women, journaling is the key to unlocking a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.
Distinctions are often made between journaling and keeping a diary. Personally, I think they’re the same thing or at least similar. For the sake of this post, I will use the term journaling to refer to both.
Why Journaling is Especially Powerful for Us Single, Older, Introverted Christian Women
As introverts, you and I know that we think a lot, with a tendency to overthink things. And we process things internally. Journaling naturally fits our need for quiet solitude, deep reflection, and introspection.
Journaling suits our reflective nature. And as private people, our journals are our sacred, peaceful space where we can reflect on God’s love for us, and write out our thoughts and prayers. It also serves to mark our spiritual growth and progress.
Journaling can boost our spiritual life by helping us gain spiritual clarity, heal emotionally, and it can provide us with a more structured way to deepen our faith.
Journaling or keeping a diary helps your spiritual growth in solitude because it gives you a private, uninterrupted space to engage with God on a personal level. This is important for us introverts because we often prefer one-on-one or intimate settings, and journaling allows for that connection without the need for external socialization.
Our personal quiet time with God is vital as we grow older, and when we take the time to quiet our busy mind, write down our anxious emotions, it can help us heal and grow while in solitude.
When we know that we’re the only ones, apart from God, who will see and read our journal entries, it helps us to be vulnerable with God. We’re free to express our deepest thoughts and feelings, whether it’s about loneliness, joy, or struggles in faith, in a safe, non-judgmental way. This freedom helps foster emotional and spiritual healing.
I struggle with group sharing; in fact, I struggle with group anything. My journaling practice has helped me to express myself better, if only in the pages of my diary, and helps me to be more honest with God because my diary is my safe space.
See your journal as your private sanctuary for honest dialogue with God. It’s where you can express your doubts, fears, and joys without judgment, and as you continue, you’ll find that your prayers become more intimate and more authentic. I can testify to that.
How Journaling Deepens Your Spiritual Life & Heals Your Emotions
Our written prayers are extensions of our spoken ones. When we write them down, we’re able to articulate them, and in the process, we’re able to work through whatever questions and doubts the Holy Spirit brings to our minds. Writing our prayers in the pages of our journals keeps them all in one place and provides a record that we can refer to of how God works in our lives and answers our prayers.
Journaling is a pathway to reflect on areas of our lives that we’re struggling with, for self-discovery, healing, and growth.
It’s how we can process and navigate through the challenges of not only being single but of being single, aging women. Our journals become a trusted place to grieve our losses, and confide our fears and our loneliness to God. Writing about our struggles and seeking God’s comfort through our journals can be a means of emotional healing.
Not only that, but it’s also where we write out our letters and words of praise and gratitude to God. This further increases our gratitude and allows the Holy Spirit to guide us and clearly show us our next steps, especially when dealing with decisions about career, ministry, or personal life goals.
Through introspection and journaling, we can reflect on our unique gifts and calling. Journaling helps us reaffirm our self-worth as a cherished child of God, independent of marital status or career, reinforcing our purpose within the Christian faith. Journaling allows for a clearer perspective on where God is leading us. We can celebrate our dependence on God and explore our purpose and identity in Christ.
Through the structure and routine of journaling, accompanied by prayer and reading the Bible daily, we stay consistent in our walk with God. It’s a way to commit to a daily or weekly practice of spiritual reflection, even during busy or emotionally challenging times.
We can use journaling as a tool for Bible Study and meditation. Record insights from your scripture readings, explore how verses apply to you and to your specific life stage, and use the pages to meditate on God’s word, turning study into a personal written conversation with the Holy Spirit.
Practice recognizing God’s presence by regularly writing down answered prayers, daily blessings, and moments of grace; this way, you train your heart to recognize God’s hand in your everyday life, cultivating a deep sense of gratitude and awareness of His constant presence.
If you’re confident and want to leave your journals for others to read, it can become your legacy of faith. As you continue to record God’s blessings, favours, and teachings in your journal, you transform it into a spiritual legacy. It can serve as a testament to your enduring faith, a record of God’s faithfulness throughout your life, that could potentially inspire your descendants or whomever you decide to leave your journals to.
Practical Tips for Journaling as a Single, Older Introverted Christian Woman
- Pick a Notebook and Pen:
If you’re like me and get intimidated by fancy journals, pick a simple exercise (school composition) book. I prefer ruled pages, so school exercise books work well for me. I cover them with gift wrapping paper with colourful prints, or sometimes I cover them with a simple brown paper cover and decorate it with collages. Buy whatever pens you’re comfortable using. Don’t journal with pencils; however, if you’re into sketching and drawing, pencils are okay. But if you want what you’ve written to last and not fade, then I’d recommend pens. Use different coloured pens, or stick to one colour, whatever works for you. I use black pens exclusively, and blue when I’m writing down Bible verses and quotes. I highlight things I want to stand out. - Create a Peaceful Environment:
You can journal anywhere as long as people aren’t looking over your shoulder and reading what you’ve written. When journaling at home, you can create a calm space for journaling, such as choosing a quiet spot, lighting a candle, or listening to calming instrumental worship music. This helps make the practice feel like a sacred ritual. If your home is noisy, like mine, praying before you sit down to write definitely helps. I often pick a time when everyone has settled in for the night, say a little prayer, and write. - Set Realistic Goals for Your Journaling Practice:
I suggest setting goals for a few minutes a day, a specific number of pages, or a certain number of times a week. Or just write down as the Holy Spirit leads you. It doesn’t have to be perfect or lengthy—just consistent. - Incorporate Bible Verses and Reflections:
Journaling is richer and deeper when accompanied by your daily spiritual practice of prayer and reading the Bible. Write a Bible verse that stood out to you in your journal, reflect on it and then journal your thoughts and prayers related to it. This helps you connect Scripture with your written words and helps you clarify your personal insights, and encourages and enhances spiritual growth. - Use Prompts to Get Started:
You can visit some of the blogs and posts I’ve included in the resources below for prompts to help you if you’re stuck. Or, you can simply search the Web using the following phrases: “journaling prompts for Christian women,” or “introverted Christian women journaling ideas.”- Here are a few examples of journaling prompts:
- “What is one area of my life where I need God’s guidance today?”
- “How have I seen God’s faithfulness in my life recently?”
- “What is a prayer I feel led to write out today?”
- “What am I grateful for in this season of my life?”
- Here are a few examples of journaling prompts:
How to Stay Consistent in Your Journaling Practice
- Make It a Habit:
You’ve got to create a system where you make journaling part of your daily or weekly routine. If you have a mobile phone, you can set an alarm for a certain time each day, or every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It doesn’t have to be a specific time each time. It just has to be a time when you know you won’t be disturbed. - Be Graceful with Yourself:
Don’t be discouraged if you miss a day or don’t have the words to write. Life happens. Journaling is a personal and grace-filled practice, and there’s no wrong way to do it. Keep up with your daily prayer and Bible reading practice, and tell God honestly about how you’re struggling to find time to journal, and you’ll be surprised by how He allows you free time to write.
Top Christian Journaling Blogs & Resources
Here are a few Christian and faith-journaling blogs (or blog-style resources) that focus substantially on journaling — prayer journaling, Bible journaling, spiritual formation through writing, etc. Some are more creative, some more disciplined — but all are good models or sources to draw from.
• Journal Keeping by Luann Budd
Spiritual-formation blog by Luann Budd with decades of experience. Her site is very journaling-centric and deeply reflective.
• Well-Watered Women – “Journal the Word”
Gretchen Saffles writes about journaling Scripture, prayers, and praises as a way to know God more intimately.
• Well-Watered Women – “20 Journaling Prompts for Spiritual Growth”
A great prompt list for journaling with God-focused reflection.
• LivingPraying.com – “Spiritual Journaling for the Christian”
A practical guide to what spiritual journaling is and how to begin.
• Rebekah R. Jones – Bible Art Journaling
Tutorials, devotions, and creative Bible journaling.
• Christian Art Journaling by Bev Jessup
Community + blog for creative journaling, prophetic art, and faith through art.
• Godsy Girl – “How to Journal as a Christian Woman”
A warm, structured approach to journaling faith, examining life, and hearing God.
• The Daily Grace Co. – “Reflecting on God Through Journaling”
Encourages combining Scripture study + journaling + reflection.
• My Top 7 Christian Journaling Practices (RJ Christian Coaching)
Practical journaling practices: prayer, reflection, praise, Scripture, etc.
• Tirzah Magazine – “Journal Prompts for Christian Women”
A post full of 30+ journaling prompts tailored for Christian women.
• Nicole O’Meara – “Journaling God’s Faithfulness”
10 prompts for remembering God’s faithfulness, building trust, and creating a faith “memorial.”
• Cathy McIntosh – “Spiritual Journals — A 4-Step Formula”
A more structured, self-examination-oriented journaling method for Christians.
• Hispalette – “Creative Worship 101: Bible Journaling for Beginners”
A gentle, creative intro to Bible journaling that emphasizes relationship over perfection.
• Adorned in Armor – “These 5 Journaling Secrets Transformed My Relationship With God”
Personal reflections on how journaling became a safe space for prayer, healing, and growth.
• Saving Grace Blog – “Journaling Your Faith”
Ideas for integrating Bible study and journaling into a devotional rhythm.
• BibleJournalingMadeSimple.com
Blog with approachable Bible-journaling content and decision-making reflections.
Your Turn
I particularly encourage you, my fellow single, older, introverted Christian woman, to view journaling as a tool and a safe space for self-reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth. Ultimately, journaling provides a structured and deeply personal avenue for self-reflection and spiritual growth, perfectly suited for us introverted women who find strength and solace in quiet contemplation and private devotion.
Take a moment to reflect: How can journaling bring you closer to God today? Start small, but start today, and watch your spiritual life grow. Journaling doesn’t need to be intimidating. It’s simply a personal, quiet way to engage with our faith and with God.
Used prayerfully, journaling can be a transformative practice.
Leave a comment with your thoughts or share your favourite journaling prompts.
Credit: Photos by Andreea Popa and Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash, edited on Canva
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