Sometimes the things we love most can actually get in the way of connecting with God. In today’s clip from the Lead Well Conference, I share a personal story about how even journaling—something I teach and cherish—was keeping me from spending time with the Lord the way I really wanted. Let’s talk about what might be getting in your way, too.
[Clip]
First, as we get started, I just want you to think about what is stopping you from spending time with the Lord. What is that right now?
It could be something on your schedule. Like, maybe you are—you’re booked back to back to back all day and you literally do not have time to catch your breath. Maybe that’s what your schedule looks like right now.
Maybe it’s an attitude or a perspective that you have. Maybe it’s a relationship. I don’t know.
Write that down in your notebook if you’ve got one. If you’re willing to, pop it into the chat so we can share with others, because I think sometimes we don’t know what’s bothering us unless maybe someone else mentions it too, and we’re like, Oh, that’s what it is. Right?
So let me share one of mine. So I’ve had to admit this past week that journaling is actually getting in the way of my spending time with God. Now, if you know me, I teach journaling. I teach how journaling can be the sacred space that we can meet with God, that we can listen for Him and chat with Him about what’s on our hearts, and I love it. It doesn’t mean I’m not practicing it.
But I discovered that journaling in this specific way was actually getting in my way because I wanted to do this Bible study, studying the book of 1 John. And I wanted to write it out, and I wanted to read it, and I wanted to listen to the sermon that was about it, but I wanted to take notes while I was doing it, right? And so I was waiting and putting it off and putting it off because I didn’t have time to listen to the sermon without taking my notes.
And so I would keep putting it off until the next day. Maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll have time to sit down and take my notes as I listen to the sermon.
I finally realized, no, that that’s getting in the way. Like, I just need to let go of that journaling/notetaking piece right now and I need to listen to the sermon as I’m going about my day—as I’m getting breakfast ready, as I’m putting laundry in, and I’m just going to listen to it in little chunks throughout the day so I can actually engage with God, right? That’s the whole point.
Journal Prompt
As you reflect on this, I want you to ask yourself: what is something you love or value that might actually be getting in the way of your time with God?
Don’t overthink it—just write it down, even in a short sentence. And then, ask God to show you one small shift you could make this week to simply be with Him, without the distractions. Your next step doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be real.
RELATED EPISODES:
- Episode 176: My Biggest Tip for Beating Perfectionism in Journaling
- Episode 144: How to Create Both a Short and Long Journaling Routine
- Episode 76: Have a Hard Time Sensing God’s Presence? Go Outside!
Coming close to your grief and entering into it can be scary. Overwhelming, even.
Journal Gently is an 8-week program designed to help you bring your hurt to God on the pages of your journal in a gentle and graceful way, whether your hurt includes grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, loneliness, and more.