When the Words Weigh Heavy: Writing Through the Drain

Pushing through tough times in the writing work

by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

From June 15, 2024 to March 15, 2025, I lived in a world of devotionals and chickens.

That sounds funny when I type it out, but it’s the truth. For months, I poured myself into two teen devotionals and one children’s book, Stella Star’s Chicken Farm. While the pages look clean and polished now, getting there took something out of me I wasn’t quite ready to experience.

The devotionals were long—and not just in page count. Every single day, every week, I asked the Holy Spirit to meet me there in my tiny house office. I asked Him to show me what young hearts needed to hear. Sometimes He whispered. Other times, He handed me words that felt too heavy for me to carry. Words of knowledge I didn’t fully understand at first– moments that felt more like memoir than ministry. I had to wrestle through them. I had to DIG through scripture. Pray. Cry. Ask again Holy Spirit for help again. Not for me—but for them. For the teen who feels unseen. For the girl questioning her worth. For the boy silently drowning in expectations.

It was more than a writing project. It was soul work, and it left me both full and emptied at once.

Then, in between all of that, there was Stella.

Stella Star’s Chicken Farm was supposed to be my lighthearted piece. My fun story. And it is… but writing it reopened a tender space in me. The character of Stella was inspired by a real little girl—my older niece. Writing about Stella reminded me of the little version of her I used to know so well. The one with curious eyes and a fearless spirit. The one who shined bright, even when she didn’t know it.

Now, she’s a teenager. Still shining—just in new, more grown-up ways. I love who she’s becoming, but in writing this book, I missed who she was. That ache caught me off guard. It was a grief and a celebration all at once.

This season has stretched me. Spiritually. Emotionally. Even physically, if I’m being honest.

But would I do it again?

Absolutely.

Because God met me in the writing, and I believe He’ll meet someone else in the reading of those books.

…I believe He’ll meet someone else in the reading of this blog as well.

Before I close, I want to share a word that’s been pressing on my heart—for someone out there who might be holding a dream in one hand and a white flag in the other.

You’ve thought about giving up. You’ve thought about walking away from what God placed inside you. Maybe it feels like there’s no fruit, no evidence that what you’re doing matters. But hear me:

There is a calling.
There is a purpose.
And the Lord is not finished with you.

He placed that dream in your heart—and He will be faithful to bring it to life. Wait a little longer. Push through a little harder. The waiting, the hidden place… it might not look like progress, but it’s where the roots grow deep in relationship with Him. It’s where intimacy with Jesus is forged. It’s where He prepares you for the harvest.

Don’t give up.
Abide in the Vine.
He will add the growth. And together, you and the Lord will reap what’s been sown in quiet faithfulness.

You’re not alone in this. I see you. He sees you. He’s not done writing your story.

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🌿 Scripture Application

John 15:5 (NIV):
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

The call isn’t to produce—it’s to abide. Remaining in Him is the key to fruitfulness. It might not look like anything is happening on the surface, but when you remain in Jesus, roots are growing deep. Growth is promised—it’s just not always visible in the moment.

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💬 Challenge

This week, take a few minutes to revisit the dream God planted in your heart. Dust off that notebook. Reopen that Word doc. Sketch the idea. Pray over it again. Instead of asking, “When will it happen?” ask, “Lord, how can I be faithful today in what You’ve asked me to carry?”

One small act of obedience can reignite your hope and renew your strength.

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🙏 Prayer

Jesus, I surrender the pressure I’ve felt to perform or produce. I bring You the dream that You planted in me. Help me to remain in You—when I feel tired, when I feel unseen, and when I feel unsure of the outcome. Remind me that faithfulness in the secret place matters deeply to You. Teach me how to wait well, trust deeply, and walk obediently. You are the Author of this story, and I choose to stay close to You as it unfolds. Let my life be rooted in You and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.