We forget more than we realize. Whether it’s wondering if we closed the garage door or turned off the curling iron, our minds move fast. And in the rush of daily life, we don’t just forget tasks—we forget Truth.
We forget what God has already shown us. What He’s walked us through. What felt clear for a moment but then got buried by distraction or fatigue. That’s why rereading your journal entries should be part of how you walk with God.
When you take time to look back, you’re not just remembering your past. You’re opening your heart and mind to what God has already revealed and often to another layer of revelation. That kind of clarity helps tune out distractions and refocus your attention on where He’s leading you next. It’s a way to keep your spiritual footing strong and your path well-lit.
Here are five powerful reasons to make rereading part of your journaling practice:
1. You’ll be encouraged by God’s presence in your story
When you reread your journal entries, you begin to see what you couldn’t see in the moment. God’s presence was working, guiding, comforting, and strengthening you even when life felt uncertain or unclear.
As I reread some journal entries from a hard season of my life I thought, Wow, she (me!) is so strong! Then I recalled how I felt at that time: scared and unsure about everything. What I saw on my journal page struck me with awe: I had been showing up, calling out to God, and choosing to walk in Truth every day. I didn’t feel strong then, but looking back, I realized God had been walking with me step by step giving me strength to persevere.
It reminded me: He guided me then, and He’ll guide me now.
That kind of remembering brings deep encouragement for whatever you’re facing today.
Reflection question:
Where do you now see God’s presence in a situation you once felt unsure about?
2. You’ll feel gratitude for the prayers God has already answered
Looking back allows you to spot the prayers God has answered, sometimes in ways so subtle you didn’t even realize it at the time.
It shifts your heart from asking to appreciating. Gratitude begins to grow, not just for what God has done, but for how faithfully He’s been present.
“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.” ~ 1 Samuel 1:27
Even if your answered prayer wasn’t about a child, this verse reminds us that God sees the desires of our hearts. And sometimes, it’s only in hindsight that we realize just how personally He responded.
Reflection question:
What answered prayer stands out to you now that you may have missed in the moment?
3. You’ll recognize patterns of God’s faithfulness
Over time, certain themes begin to emerge: how God tends to speak to you, the Truths He brings back around, the ways He invites you into growth.
I remember a season when I was having vivid dreams. As I recorded them in my journal and brought the images to God in prayer, I began to see a pattern forming. He was revealing things—areas where I needed to become healthier, choices I needed to make, and places where healing was beginning. It didn’t all make sense at once. But looking back helped me recognize His steady, faithful hand guiding that process.
These patterns aren’t coincidence. They’re personal reminders that God is involved and active in your growth even though you may not understand right away.
Reflection question:
What repeated themes or gentle nudges do you see in your journal that show how God is faithfully leading you?
4. You’ll gain clarity through God’s layered guidance
Sometimes, God reveals His plans in pieces. It’s only when we look back that we start to see how each part was connected—how He was teaching us, shaping us, and preparing us for something ahead.
I walked through a season where I held several different jobs—something that felt frustrating and out of character for me. I’m usually someone who settles in and grows in tenure.
Looking back now, I can see that each of those roles taught me something I needed. Every one of them prepared me for a future opportunity I wouldn’t have recognized, or been ready for, without those experiences.
And while some of those transitions were about my growth, others were about circumstances outside of me. People, timing, environments, world events—things I couldn’t control. God was working through all of it.
Rereading gave me the clarity I couldn’t see in that moment. It reminded me that God’s guidance is often layered, and He’s always in the process of forming something deeper in us.
Reflection question:
Where do you now see that God was layering growth and direction in a way you couldn’t see at the time?
5. You’ll grow in spiritual confidence
The more time you spend with God—the more you write, reread, reflect, and respond—the more confident you become in who He is and how He leads you.
Over my years of journaling, I’ve grown bolder because I’ve seen again and again how faithful God is. I’ve watched Him lead me, redirect me, and speak to me in ways that are both personal and powerful.
It’s given me confidence. . . not just to believe in His goodness, but to take action, to move forward, and to trust that He will lead and course-correct if needed.
That’s what spiritual confidence looks like: knowing who God is, remembering who you are, and trusting that He’s in this with you every single day.
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” ~ Luke 1:45
Reflection question:
How has your journey with God—through journaling—helped you grow in trust, boldness, or clarity about your next step?
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never taken time to reread your journal entries—or it’s been a while—I encourage you to start. Not to analyze, but to pay attention. To listen again. Because God rarely says something just once.
If you’d like to go deeper into journaling for clarity and learn how the Express & Reflect method can help quiet the noise and create space to hear God more clearly, read my blog post Journaling Practice for Clarity: Quiet the Noise and Hear God.
Ready to take this even deeper?
If you’re curious about what God might still be saying through your past journal entries, I created the Rereading Journal Entries Companion Journal for this very purpose. It offers thoughtful prompts, room to reflect, and space to notice the layers of God’s voice woven throughout your story. . . a simple invitation to revisit, re-listen, and realign your heart with God.
I’d love to hear from you. . .
What’s one thing you’ve discovered when rereading your own journal entries? Let’s encourage each other in the comments below.
