Writing with God When Words Won’t Come

Embracing Creative Silence as a Sacred Invitation

I used to think writer’s block was a sign that something was broken.

That I was procrastinating.
That I wasn’t “called enough.”
That maybe God had stopped speaking.

I remember one particularly heavy season, sitting at my desk, hands over the keyboard, tears blurring the blinking cursor. The deadlines were looming, the journal pages were empty, and my once-vibrant creativity felt like ash in my mouth. I begged God for words, but only silence echoed back.

What I’ve since come to learn is that silence isn’t absence—it’s often invitation.

An invitation not to strive harder, but to sit longer.
Not to fill the page with noise, but to allow the quiet to recalibrate my soul.

In that slow, quiet season, God began gently whispering, “You don’t write for Me—you write with Me.”

Embracing the Silence, Not Escaping It

As Christian writers, we often feel pressure to be endlessly inspired. After all, we’re writing for the Kingdom. Shouldn’t the words just flow?

But even Jesus withdrew from the crowds to lonely places (Luke 5:16).
Even prophets like Elijah sat under trees and asked God to end it all (1 Kings 19:4).
Even David, the poetic psalmist, groaned about God feeling distant (Psalm 13:1, 22:1).

Creative silence is not failure—it’s formation. And more often than not, it’s how God slows us down to realign our writing with His heart.

In a world that glorifies productivity, choosing to be still feels like resistance. But sometimes, the most faithful thing a writer can do is to pause. To embrace—not run from—the silence and say: “Here I am, Lord, even without words.”

When You’re Burnt Out, Doubting, or Dry

Burnout doesn’t always feel dramatic. Sometimes it’s just numbness—the passion’s gone, the words don’t move you, and everything you write feels mechanical.
Doubt creeps in quietly, too.
Is this ministry even making a difference?
Who am I to be writing about faith when I feel so weak in mine?

Resistance comes in all forms: fear of rejection, perfectionism, comparison. You see someone else’s viral blog post and think, “Why bother?”

But Scripture reminds us:

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” —Galatians 6:9

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever.” —Psalm 138:8

If you’re reading this in the thick of creative exhaustion, know this:
You are not alone.
You are not disqualified.
And God has not stopped calling you to write—He may just be inviting you to write differently.

5 Steps to Write With God Again

Here are a few gentle, grace-filled practices to help you reconnect with God and rediscover your writing flow:

1. Step Away from the Page—on Purpose

Give yourself permission to take a break, not as a way of giving up but as an act of trust. Go for a walk. Sit with a psalm. Let your identity settle again—not as a writer, but as a child of God.

2. Pray Honest Prayers (Not Pretty Ones)

Your prayer doesn’t need to sound holy. God already knows. Try this:
“Lord, I feel dry. I feel stuck. I feel like I’ve lost my voice. But I know You haven’t left me. Speak again. I’m listening.”

3. Write One True Sentence

Don’t try to write the next big thing. Just write one sentence that is honest and true. It could be something like:

“Today was hard.”
“I miss hearing from You, God.”
“I want to love writing again.”

Let that sentence be the first stone in rebuilding the altar.

4. Remember Why You Started

Reread something that once stirred you—a journal entry, a reader’s comment, a Scripture that lit a fire in your bones. Ask God to breathe on it again.

5. Invite the Holy Spirit to Be Your Co-Writer

Don’t just ask Him to bless your work—ask Him to sit beside you as you create. Whisper before you write:
*“Holy Spirit, fill my mind, sanctify my thoughts, and use this pen to minister.”

Embracing the Call Beyond the Words

Sometimes, God calls us to minister not just through our writing—but through how we live when we can’t write.

Faithfulness isn’t measured in blog views or book deals.
It’s measured in obedience.
In surrender.
In still showing up when it’s hard, even if all you can offer Him is a blank page and a weary heart.

Let the blank page become an altar. Let the silence become sacred space.

Scripture Prayers for Writers in a Dry Season

• Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

• Isaiah 50:4 – “The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.”

• John 15:5 – “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”

• Habakkuk 2:2 – “Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets.”

• Psalm 45:1 – “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”

Final Word: You’re Still Called

You don’t need a bestseller or a perfect draft to be a faithful writer.
If all you do today is whisper, “Here I am, Lord,”
If all you write today is one sentence—
You are still walking in your calling.

And when the words do return, as they always do,
You’ll find they’ve been deepened in the quiet,
Humbled in the waiting,
And infused with the presence of the One who writes with you.

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Sharoon Jamil is a faith-driven writer with over three years of experience crafting meaningful content across topics like personal growth, faith, wellness, and creativity. With a heart for encouraging others through words, Sharoon writes to inspire connection, healing, and deeper trust in God—especially in seasons of silence or burnout. Whether exploring spiritual practices, creative struggles, or everyday discipleship, Sharoon offers a fresh and honest voice rooted in biblical truth. When not writing, Sharoon enjoys capturing life through photography, finding beauty in quiet moments and everyday details.