Ink with Intention: Writing as a Path to Purpose and Healing
- Nov 21
- 3 min read
By Michele Gunn
There is something sacred about putting pen to paper or in my case, tapping the keys of my laptop. Each word carries the weight of experience, emotion, and revelation. Writing is more than an expression. It’s a transformation. For me, it has been both a calling and a classroom, teaching lessons about faith, resilience, and purpose with every page I write and re-write.
When I first began writing, it wasn’t with the goal of publishing. It was to process and to share. It helped me to find peace and encouragement as I encouraged others through my social media posts. Over time, the words that filled my posts became seeds of inspiration for others. What started as sharing with a few people grew into public purpose as I started my column, Graceful Awakening, where I share stories of faith, life, and growth. I’ve learned that when we write from authenticity, our words reach hearts we may never meet.
Fro Healing to Purpose
My upcoming book, Rise. Align. Shine. Living Boldly in Faith, Purpose, and Joy, was born during a season of both deep healing and divine redirection. I felt God nudging me to gather the wisdom I’d learned through coaching and personal experience into something that could help others rise from self-doubt, align with God’s truth, and shine with joy. Writing that book wasn’t easy; it demanded vulnerability and trust. But in surrendering my story, I found new strength. Each chapter became a reminder that God can use even our broken pieces to build something beautiful.
In one of my anthology contributions, Steeped in Strength: Embracing Your Unique Blend, I compared life to coffee. Each bean is distinct and each brew is unique. Writing that piece reminded me how our individuality reflects God’s creativity.
We are not meant to blend in but to flavor the world with our gifts. Putting that message into words helped me see that storytelling is a form of ministry. Through writing, I wasn’t just sharing my perspective; I was sharing His light.
Lessons from the Journey
The greatest lesson I’ve learned as a writer is that stories are living testimonies. They evolve as we do. I’ve discovered that writing is not about perfection but progression and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape our words as He shapes our lives. Creativity flows most freely when we release control and let God guide the pen.
I’ve also learned the importance of discipline and grace. Some days the words pour out like a rushing river; other days, they feel like drops from a leaky faucet. But even in the slow moments, purpose is forming. Writing teaches patience and persistence, strengthening spiritual muscles far beyond the page.
Encouragement for Aspiring Authors
If you feel a message stirring in your heart, don’t wait for perfect conditions to begin. Start with what you have. Start with your experiences, your faith, your unique voice. God equips those He calls, and if He has placed a story within you, it’s meant to be shared. Your words may become someone else’s answered prayer.
Writing is not just about crafting sentences; it’s about cultivating souls. We cultivate our own and those who read our work. Each sentence can inspire, heal, or ignite a spark of hope. Words truly hold power when guided by purpose.
So pick up your pen (or tap the keys), open your heart, and let your story flow. You never know whose life it might touch or how it might transform your own!
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