Restoring Your Creative Flow

You know that moment when you sit down to write, plan, or create, and the words—or ideas—just won’t come? I’ve been there. After Reggie’s death, my once-daily journaling practice became nothing more than lifeless scribbles—if I even managed that much. No matter how hard I tried, my creative flow was blocked, as if the inspiration had completely drained from me. Yet, just as the woman with the issue of blood kept reaching despite her pain, we, too, can push through the stress, grief, and everything else that’s stolen our creative spark. Restoring your creative flow isn’t about forcing the words to come; it’s about inviting God to heal us—deeply, from the inside out. 

Stress silently strangles our ability to create, express ourselves, and share the gifts we carry within.

Let’s face it: life can be tough. We all experience times of struggle and loss that leave us feeling drained and robbing us of our creative energy. These could be the death of a loved one, a difficult season in a relationship, or even the daily stressors of life that throw us off balance. 

For women, this happens so quietly that we often don’t even notice until it’s too late. We’re out here juggling careers, raising families, supporting our communities, showing up at church, and managing households—all while making it look effortless. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, stress silently strangles our ability to create, express ourselves, and share the gifts we carry within.

Your restoration begins the moment you pick up that pen, open that document, sketch that design, or speak that idea aloud. Share on X

That’s why I created this “Creative Current Crossing” roadmap—because I’ve been there, standing in that dry riverbed, wondering if the waters would ever return. When my husband Reggie passed, I found myself in the longest creative drought of my life. And I learned that sometimes, the path back to your creative flow isn’t what you’d expect. Sometimes, like the woman with the issue of blood, you have to reach for healing in unexpected ways.

A Time to Restore Your Creative Flow

Is it a coincidence we’re having this conversation in April—Stress Awareness Month.? Probably not. It’s the perfect moment to spotlight how stress silently drains our creative wells—especially for those juggling family, career, church, and community obligations. Often, we don’t realize our creative lifelines are thinning until we’re staring at an empty page, a blank canvas, or a silent keyboard, wondering where our spark went. 

Stress impacts not only our bodies but our spirits, too, creating an epidemic of blocked creativity among brilliant, dedicated women everywhere.

The tension in your shoulders, the brain fog when you try to write, paint, or simply dream? You’re not alone. Stress impacts not only our bodies but our spirits, too, creating an epidemic of blocked creativity among brilliant, dedicated women everywhere.

That’s why I’m carving out space here to talk openly about how stress affects us holistically. Because normalizing these conversations strips away their power to isolate us. There’s freedom in saying, “Girl, my creativity’s bone-dry,” and hearing, “Me too, Sis—me too.” But we’re not just naming the problem here; we’re reaching for solutions.

There’s freedom in saying, 'Girl, my creativity’s bone-dry,' and hearing, 'Me too, Sis—me too.' Share on X

By the time you finish reading, you’ll have practical, faith-filled steps to restore your creative flow. These aren’t empty words; they’re biblical strategies taken straight from that unstoppable sister who pushed through the crowd to touch Jesus’s hem. Her faith restored more than physical health—it rekindled her ability to participate fully in life again. To create again. To flow again.

The same restoration is available for you. As you follow this “Creative Current Crossing,” you’ll find your way back to that sacred place where ideas flow freely again, words finally come when you call them, and your gifts break free from the heavy blanket of stress smothering them.

Introducing “Creative Current Crossing”

When I talk about the “Creative Current Crossing,” I’m not just sharing another pretty phrase. I’m talking about a genuine Road to Rebuilding that will take you from creative stagnation to renewed flow. It’s that sacred journey from being stuck to being free, from drought to abundance, from blocked to brilliantly expressive.

Sometimes, what stifles our creative flow isn’t laziness or lack of talent—it’s unhealed wounds that need divine attention.

Picture yourself standing on the banks of a wide, rushing river called “Creative Current Crossing.” On one side—where you are now—you’re weighed down by every stressor that’s drained your spirit—maybe it’s the grief you haven’t fully processed, the disappointment you rarely speak aloud, or the heartbreak that keeps your ideas hostage. The other shore? There’s a fertile field of new visions, books waiting to be written, businesses ready to be launched, ministries eager to be birthed—whatever God has planted in your heart. The crossing looks intimidating. The current is strong. But this river isn’t meant to drown you; it’s meant to carry you. 

I call this stretch of water “Creative Current Crossing.” It’s where spiritual dryness meets God’s invitation to rediscover your spark. This crossing isn’t about forcing creativity through sheer willpower. It’s about understanding that sometimes, what stifles our creative flow isn’t laziness or lack of talent—it’s unhealed wounds that need divine attention. Just like the woman with the issue of blood needed more than medical treatments, our creative blocks often need more than productivity hacks or writing prompts. They need healing at the source.

This river isn’t meant to drown you; it’s meant to carry you. Share on X

In my book When Your World Ends, I explain how God’s creative process works in our darkest moments. Remember, the first thing we learn about God in Scripture is that He creates—even in chaos, even in darkness, even when things seem formless and void. The same restoration of your creative flow is available when experiencing emotional or spiritual dryness. He specializes in bringing forth beauty from barren places.

Lessons from a Woman Who Kept Reaching

Have you ever really thought about the woman with the issue of blood’s story? Scripture tells us she bled for twelve years. Twelve. Years. That’s 4,380 days of constant draining. Every morning waking up weaker than the day before. Every treatment promising relief but delivering disappointment. Every doctor visit emptying her purse but never stopping her pain.

Hers wasn’t just a physical condition—it was spiritual and social, too. In her culture, her bleeding made her “unclean,”unable to worship in the temple, unable to be touched or fully participate in community life. Most devastating of all? Her condition meant she couldn’t create new life. Her ability to bring forth something new was literally bleeding away with each passing day.

Her ability to bring forth something new was literally bleeding away with each passing day.

Sound familiar? When grief or chronic stress blocks our creative current, it’s like we’re hemorrhaging hope, inspiration, and productivity drop by drop. Those journals that sit empty, those business plans gathering dust, those ministry visions that never materialize—they’re all symptoms of a deeper bleeding.

Her story shows us that restoring creative flow isn’t about flipping a switch. It’s about daring to acknowledge, like her, “I’m empty here—something’s gotta change.” Despite the crowd’s judgment, despite what society told her she deserved, she pushed through and touched Jesus’ hem. That single act of faith broke the cycle of loss and restored her to wholeness. If you ask me, that’s the posture we need when our creative outlets feel blocked: a fierce, unwavering determination to reach beyond the noise, the stress, and the shame, trusting that God can mend what feels permanently broken. So, Sis, if you’re in a dry season, let her courage remind you there’s still power in your reach.

She didn’t just wish for healing—she moved toward it. Share on X

But here’s where we need to pay attention. This woman did something revolutionary. Despite the crowd pressing against her, despite the social stigma, despite twelve years of disappointment, she determined in her heart: “If I can just touch the hem of His garment, I will be made whole.” That determined reach—pushing through obstacles, ignoring the voices that said she should just accept her condition, stretching beyond her comfort zone—that’s exactly the spirit we need to restore our own creative flow.

She didn’t just wish for healing—she moved toward it. She didn’t just pray about it—she positioned herself for it. When she felt Jesus passing by, she seized the moment that could change everything. And that’s what I’m inviting you to do today. Instead of accepting your creative drought as permanent, what if you reached—really reached—for restoration?

Practical Steps to Restore Your Creative Flow

So, how do we actually cross from blocked to blessed? How do we move from the shore of depletion to the land of expression—your Promised Lan? The woman with the issue of blood gives us a powerful blueprint—one that doesn’t require twelve years of waiting like she endured.

First, acknowledge the pain. This woman didn’t pretend she wasn’t bleeding. She didn’t smile through it or minimize what was happening to her body and spirit. She named it clearly: “I’m experiencing nonstop bleeding.” What’s draining your creative energy right now, Sis? Is it the grief you’re still carrying from losing someone you love? The exhaustion of raising children while building a career? The disappointment of a dream deferred? Or maybe it’s that subtle, constant stress of trying to be everything to everyone. Name it. Write it down. Speak it aloud in prayer. Acknowledging what’s blocking your flow isn’t weakness—it’s the first step toward healing.

Second, reach for Jesus intentionally. This woman didn’t just hope to get better someday. She formulated a plan: “If I can touch His clothes, I will be healed.” For you, this might look like setting aside fifteen minutes each morning before the house wakes up, journaling your heart’s cry to God. It could be creating a prayer corner in your home dedicated to reconnecting with your Creator. Remember, we serve a creative God who spoke the world into existence—and that same creative power dwells in you. Daily connection with Him unclogs the channels where inspiration flows.

Third, activate your gifts in small, consistent ways. After her healing, this woman didn’t remain silent. Scripture tells us she “told Him the whole truth”—she testified. She created a narrative from her pain. Your restoration begins the moment you pick up that pen, open that document, sketch that design, or speak that idea aloud. Don’t wait until you feel completely healed or until inspiration comes flooding back. Sometimes, we need to prime the pump with small acts of creativity. Write a paragraph—just one. Record that song idea humming in your heart while you drive. Jot down three bullet points for that ministry vision. Even if it feels rusty, do it anyway. Each small step is water returning to that dry riverbed—and before you know it, your creative current will flow again.

Dawn’s Path to Restoring Her Creative Flow

When I wrote When Your World Ends, I never imagined how deeply I’d have to live those words. God’s Creative Process isn’t just something I teach—it’s the lifeline I clung to when grief left me wordless. That process honors our barren seasons while promising renewal. Remember Genesis 1:2? “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” Even God started with acknowledging emptiness before speaking light into being.

Gradually, those small acts of reaching—for Scripture, community, and pen and paper even when nothing flowed—became the stones that formed my path across troubled waters.

My journey back to writing after Reggie’s passing didn’t happen overnight. Some days, all I could do was open my Bible and let tears fall on the pages. Other days, I’d call a sister-friend who would pray over me when I couldn’t find the words. Gradually, those small acts of reaching—for Scripture, community, and pen and paper even when nothing flowed—became the stones that formed my path across troubled waters.

We’re not just getting our words or ideas back; we’re reclaiming our divine identity as creators made in His image. Share on X

Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole” (Matthew 9:22). Notice He didn’t just acknowledge her physical healing but called her “Daughter”—restoring her identity and belonging. That’s what happens when we persistently reach for restoration of our creative gifts. We’re not just getting our words or ideas back; we’re reclaiming our divine identity as creators made in His image.

Conclusion

Sisters, we’ve walked through the “Creative Current Crossing” together, finding hope in the story of a woman who refused to accept her condition as permanent. Just as she pushed through the crowd with determination, you too can push through whatever has been blocking your creativity—be it grief, stress, disappointment, or exhaustion.

Your creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s necessary medicine for a broken world.

This journey isn’t just about productivity or accomplishment. It’s about wholeness. It’s about refusing to let your God-given gifts remain dormant when they could bring light to a world that desperately needs your voice, your vision, your art, your ministry, your business idea. Your creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s necessary medicine for a broken world.

As we recognize Stress Awareness Month, I invite you to take one brave step toward restoring your creative flow. If you’re serious about this journey, join me in the coming months for our virtual “Creative Current Crossing” workshop, where we’ll dig deeper into practical and spiritual strategies for unblocking your creativity. (Details coming soon to my newsletter subscribers!)

Your creative breakthrough might be just one determined stretch away. Share on X

Remember, the woman with the issue of blood didn’t reach once and give up. She kept pressing forward until she touched the hem of His garment. Your creative breakthrough might be just one determined stretch away. Like her, your twelve years of struggle—whether literal or figurative—don’t define your future.

The waters of your creativity are still there, waiting to flow again. And when they do, they’ll carry not just your gifts but your testimony as well—a testimony that will help another sister find her way back to her own creative current.

I’m reaching with you and for you…