Some people heal by talking. Some heal by praying. Jonathan Anthony Burkett, founder of Upstormed and author of the memoir Neglected But Undefeated: The Life Of A Boy Who Never Knew A Mother’s Love, found that God also used a pen.
His story, as he has published it, is not an easy one. He spent his early childhood happily with his grandparents in Jamaica. At six he moved back to the United States to live with his mother, and the home he found there was not a safe one. By fourteen he was homeless. On January 30, 2006, he faced brain surgery for a disorder that caused seizures, and the surgery was a success. Through all of it, he says, it was faith and writing that carried him to a place he once thought impossible: forgiving his mother and refusing to give up.
Why writing helps us heal
When pain stays locked inside, it can feel bigger than it is. Putting it into words does something important. It slows our racing thoughts. It lets us look at what happened instead of only feeling it. And for a believer, it can turn private hurt into honest prayer.
Jonathan’s memoir is the fruit of that work. It runs 294 pages, and its hardcover edition was released on February 1, 2013, his birthday. A boy who once had no one to tell his story to eventually told it to the world. His best-known words come from that book:
“You know my name, not my story. You’ve heard what I’ve done, but not what I’ve been through.”
Jonathan Anthony Burkett, Neglected But Undefeated
That line speaks for everyone who carries a story others cannot see. Writing is one way we finally see it ourselves.
From hurt to forgiveness
Forgiveness was not quick, and it did not mean pretending the past was fine. In Jonathan’s story, it came through faith and through the slow work of facing the truth on paper. That is a gift writing can give. Once a hurt is named, it can be handed to God. Once it is handed to God, the heart has room to breathe again.
Scripture shows us that God welcomes honest words. The psalms are full of them, written by people who poured out their fear, their grief and finally their praise.
“My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (Psalm 45:1, KJV)
Five ways to use your own pen this week
- Start with ten minutes. You do not need a fancy journal. A notebook or the notes app on your phone is enough. Write whatever is on your heart without fixing it.
- Write a letter you will not send. If someone has hurt you, write to them honestly. Then pray over it. Many people find that the anger softens once it has been said.
- End with a prayer. After you write about a hard thing, write one line to God: “Here it is, Lord. Help me carry this, or help me let it go.”
- Keep a “carried through” list. Write down the storms you have already survived. On hard days, read it again. It is proof that you are still standing.
- Invite your kids to write too. Children often find it easier to draw or write their feelings than to say them. A family journal on the kitchen table can open gentle conversations.
If your story includes deep trauma, writing can be a helpful companion, but it is not a replacement for support. A pastor, counselor or trusted friend can walk alongside you as you heal.
Your story is not finished
Jonathan did not stop at surviving. He went on to write more books, record music and build Upstormed, a family of businesses and publications with one message: through every storm, we rise together. It began with a young man who decided his pain would not have the last word, and who picked up a pen.
Your story is still being written too. The next chapter can be one of healing.
Has writing, journaling or prayer on paper ever helped you through a hard season? Tell us about it in the comments.
Learn more about Jonathan at www.jonathanburkett.com. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook, and find his memoir on Amazon and Goodreads.
Sources: Jonathan Anthony Burkett, Neglected But Undefeated (published facts); Goodreads author page and quotes; KJV Psalm 45:1.
Leave a Reply