Unlike a written prayer journal, where conversations with God are captured in words, an art journal offers something different. When emotions run deep, scriptural art journaling can help guide prayers when speaking or writing out a prayer feels impossible. 

I love words, and I take great delight in finding the right words for any situation. Poet T.S. Eliot once described the “right” sentence as one in which “every word is at home / Taking its place to support the others” (“Little Gidding”). That, to me, is a thing of beauty, when you know you’ve found the right words—whether it is for a poem, a text message, a conversation, a sermon, or even a prayer. However, there are times in life when the “right” words don’t come, or maybe no words come. There was one period in my life that I can reflect on now using words, but at that moment, all my attempts at grasping the “right words” failed me. 

Tears, hands, light. This is what I remember. One hand clenched around my shoulder, another stroking lightly down my hair. The light from the high sanctuary windows catching on the dust before splashing across the floor. And hot tears that wouldn’t stop as I processed the news of my cancer diagnosis in the presence of friends. I don’t remember what was said. 

Tears, hands, light. This is what I remember. Hands pressing down on my shoulders. Weighty, containing, enveloping as my ordination was prayed over and my church surrounded me. Morning light fell across my face from those same sanctuary windows. Almost blinding. And tears, just a few in my eyes and the eyes of my mentor as I was blessed for ministry. I don’t remember what was said.

Sometimes words fall short.

Praying Like Hannah

Spoken words might be ill-chosen or absent when they are most needed. Written words can lack clarity or deliberately mislead. Or, words can merely be insufficient for the emotions of a moment. Whatever the reason, few of us go through life without saying something like, “I was speechless!” or “There are no words for what I felt.” This can also happen to us in our relationship with God. 

Consider Hannah in the temple, pouring out her cries to God over her infertility: “[H]er lips were moving, but her voice was not heard” (1 Samuel 1:13). Hannah’s “great anguish and grief” kept words from coming out of her mouth, but they did not keep her away from God. What I hope to offer in this blog is one tool for prayer when words are falling short: art journaling.

What is art journaling? 

When I do art journaling as a spiritual practice, my process begins in the Word and ends up as an image. I begin with a time of thoughtful engagement with a Scripture passage, and I allow it to settle into an image or impression. My focal point might be a sentence, phrase, or even a single word. I then spend some time creating in a journal while meditating on the passage. The time of creation may take many forms, such as sketching, doodling, watercolors, or collage.

The experience is like that of a child sitting on the living room floor playing while God’s parental presence lounges on a nearby sofa. I don’t speak to God in words, but I feel the comfort of God’s presence, and know I can turn at any time and hold up what I’ve done and say, “Look! I made this for you!”

Five principles of art journaling

If the idea of art journaling intrigues you, I’ve put together five basic principles for art journaling that can help anyone get started on this spiritual practice:

1. Time and place: We want to make these as regular as possible. I have a space in my house dedicated to art journaling. I also have a portable kit for when I want to art journal in a different location. My goal is to minimize effort in setting up so I can slip easily into journaling. As with any habit formation, setting aside regular time is key to its success. Try to start with thirty minutes (and be gentle with yourself if you find it hard to concentrate on your first few attempts). 
2. Prompts: Think about where you will get your journaling prompts. If you have a regular devotional practice, you can use that to find prompts. For example, many find the Today devotional meaningful; it includes a Scripture verse, a short reflection, and a prayer. Alternatively, the Revised Common Lectionary provides daily Scripture readings from which you can choose. Whatever your source, while reading, consider your emotional response and any striking images that come to your mind. What lingers with you after reading? 
3. Medium: If you like working in different mediums (for example, I like watercolor, pencil, collage, and gel printing), choose one that seems best suited for the image, emotion, or word that you will be trying to capture. Each medium has its own planning considerations.
4. Plan: Since this is journaling, don’t spend too much time planning. However, you will want to figure out what steps you’ll need to take to get to where you want to go. If you are working in watercolor, for example, you might want to do a quick pencil sketch so you know which areas will be filled with a background wash and where you plan to locate the focal point on the page. 
5. Create: Consider putting on music while you work. Or, if your life feels too filled with noise, let it be a time of holy silence. Turn the word, phrase, image, or emotion around in your mind while you create. Work towards God rather than towards yourself. Work in God’s presence. The product matters far less than the process. If you can, set aside your insecurities about making art. This isn’t about the perfect representation of forms or the ideal color combinations; instead, this is about growing closer to God and the mysteries of faith.

Journaling through treatment

Processing my cancer diagnosis, I journaled through some Scripture passages about creation and new creation. When I look back on my journal entries from that time, the verses about God’s providential care for creation and the bounty of the earth are reflected in muted colors, in dreary browns and dirty oranges. What I had to offer to God at that time was a question mark, but of a question I could not have articulated. I didn’t want the crisis of faith that might come from asking outright, “God, how could you let this happen to me?” I didn’t have the energy to wrestle with the problem of evil and the broken world we inhabit. Not in words, anyway. But I could paint in gray and black and brown.

A few weeks later, I felt ready to journal my way into hope. My entries on the new creation are blue and silver and gold with the occasional blush of pink. I began to look forward to the “earth [being] filled with the knowledge of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:9), to “the new heaven and new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). All was not well with me yet, nor would it be for a very long time. But when I couldn’t speak about my anger, fears, or hopes, I found space at the feet of God for me to be present with them. Art journaling helped me get there.

Giving attention to God 

Set words aside, or rather, set the Word free to play with images, with color, and with texture. Let the Word of God dwell in you. Pray with your brush strokes or pencil shading, as you cut and glue, as you roll paint on a gel pad. God has never needed words to know our hearts. But God does love our time and attention. I pray that this practice might allow you to give attention to God. 

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