It’s been quite awhile since I shared anything related to Bible Journaling in awhile, so I thought you might like an update.
I purchased a second Bible some time last year, but it only had a few entries until recently. I found it on sale and snatched it up, but only used it when a page I wanted to journal had already been filled in the Bible I was already using. I called it my backup Bible and aside from an occasional glance, it sat mostly unused on the bookshelf near my desk. I had planned all along to be working in two Bibles (these will be gifts for my daughters one day), but I wasn’t sure how to decide when to abandon the “original” in favor of the “new.” Lucky for me, God made it pretty clear.
I started journaling in my Bible in February of last year and I honestly had no idea what I was doing. In the very beginning, I used only black pens and crayola colored pencils, so my entries were very simple and didn’t obscure any of the text. The more I journaled myself, the more time I spent scrolling through Instagram looking at images of other people’s Bibles. What I found were bright colors, saturated paints and all sorts of embellishments. I don’t think my decision to emulate their pages was an intentional one, but you know what they say: “what goes in, must come out.” I found myself heavily influenced by the pages I was viewing, even though they were directly opposed to what came naturally for me.
There were so many times when I would really enjoy the process of creating, but was so overwhelmed with how the page looked at the end. It’s hard for me to be critical of those early pages, knowing how many people were inspired by what I was sharing, but I often felt embarrassed and disconnected from the finished product. Weeks would go by without creating and I felt lost. There was this huge part of me that felt responsible to the followers asking for more, but a bigger part of me felt responsible to my Father for the gift I had been given. I’ve gone back and forth with how often I feel I should be journaling and, ultimately, I’ve learned a lot about who I am as an artist and how God has called me to be a part of this community.
First I need you to know that I was devastated when I wasn’t called to serve as a part of the creative team for Illustrated Faith. I’ve kept that sentiment pretty close to the vest, but it’s something I should be willing to share. I had this idea in my head that I was the “next best thing” and that surely God was calling me to share my artwork and my opinion with thousands of people. I had a chip on my shoulder and a strong sense of entitlement and the fall from my self-erected pedestal was a long one. I realized that just because I wasn’t the posterchild for Bible Journaling didn’t make my experience any less important. I’m embarrassed at how hurt and bitter I felt, mostly because I was second-guessing God’s actual calling on my life.
At the beginning of this year, I cracked open my second Bible. Aside from a handful of pages, it was mostly empty. A fresh start. I debated challenging myself to daily images or a regular schedule, but I knew that would put me right back into the place of creating for other people instead of for God. Instead, I committed to spending more time in the word and creating when I felt called to. I haven’t shared every single image on Instagram and those I have shared have been less frequent. Sometimes the audience over there makes you feel responsible to them and if you aren’t producing enough pages they give you the boot. They forget we are real people with families and lives outside of our artwork and that all of those pieces and parts of us are just as valuable. I’ve found freedom this year: freedom from creating pages using other artist’s techniques, freedom from posting on anyone else’s schedule, freedom from paying attention to the follower count or the number of likes or the recognition (or lack thereof) that comes with my sharing.
Instead, I’m enjoying my time in the Word again. I’m enjoying reading passages I’ve never read. I’m enjoying writing scripture in a notebook on a daily basis. I’m enjoying simpler entries and fewer supplies. I’m enjoying renewed time in a beautiful Bible study I abandoned earlier this year. I’m listening more and talking less. I find myself sharing less frequently because I recognize that I don’t know it all. I may or may not have anything to share that is helpful to you and I never want to leave you feeling the way I found myself last year. These pages and my techniques are just that: mine. I’m not aiming to replicate something I saw on the internet and I’m not doing Bible study the way some girl on my feed told me to. I’m leaning into the Holy Spirit and begging for Him to reveal something new every day.
This Bible is so different than the first one I carried around. Do you want to know why?
- The pages are inspired by what I read and what God said, not a pretty picture I found on the internet.
- As beautiful as my previous Bible covers were, they were fabric patterns created by someone else and I never could get comfortable with either of them. This pretty thing was hand-painted by me and in all of its imperfections, I see me when I look at it.
- I don’t care that my pages are wrinkled and crinkly. I don’t see imperfections, I see time spent together with Jesus. The texture just reminds me I’ve been there before.
- I stopped trying to make scrapbooking happen. As amazing as some of the hybrid journalers are, I cannot figure out how to make it work for me. Embellishments I create or draw myself? Sure, that works every time. Digital designs that I downloaded from the internet? Notsomuch. I understand how to make it work in concept, but it never looks as pretty on my pages as it did in my head.
- I’ve abandoned pricey supplies and frequent Hobby Lobby runs for black pens and cheap watercolors. Most of my favorite girls use fancy paints these days and as pretty as they are, I just can’t quit my Artist’s Loft pallette. I’ve learned to make it work for me, I’m comfortable with the colors and most importantly, I’m comfortable with the price. I might get adventurous with stickers or washi tape from time to time, but by limiting my options I find that I love my pages all the more.
- I’m not filling the pages for the sake of something pretty or something to post, I’m marking passages that leap out from the page or keep me thinking for days on end.
Journaling is so personal and I hope if you do it, that you are learning beautiful things about your Savior and about yourself. I hope you’ll realize that you don’t have to be perfect and your pages don’t have to look exactly like mine. Find the freedom to connect with the Word of God whether it’s in ball point pen scribbles or fancy watercolors. Let’s learn from each other without feeling like we need to measure up. Okay?
I probably included way too many photos in this post, but once I pulled out my camera, I couldn’t stop. Keep on scrolling for many more examples of my own Bible and a few additional resources at the end of the post.
For tutorials and free downloads to use in your Bible, visit the Bible Journaling page to see thumbnails of my favorite posts. A few of my favorites are: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Bible Journaling | Handlettering Demo | My Favorite Journaling Supplies | What Do I Do? | Bible Process Photos | Kids in the Word | Navigating Inspiration.
Warning: The banner below contains an affiliate link. Although shopping the Illustrated Faith site won’t cost you any additional dollars, it might contribute to new art supplies for me. IF has tons of amazing resources, including inexpensive printables, journaling kits, stamps and more!
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