© 2025 Sara Turnquist

Some of the brightest, most creative writers in history have fought deep internal battles. And many writers today do as well. In fact, a study found that roughly 80 percent of the creative population struggles with a depressive mood disorder. That’s huge! Especially considering that for the general population, the prevalence is only about 12 percent.

I am one of the 80 percent. Are you?

Writers throughout the ages have struggled, but for Christian writers, the problem is a little deeper, isn’t it? Often, Christians, in particular, feel that the verse stating “the joy of the Lord is my strength” means we shouldn’t be facing such darkness. Or that if we were walking closely with the Lord, we wouldn’t be struggling so. There is an outside pressure to appear content and victorious in all things as a believer. This only compounds the isolation of the depressed Christian writer.

Some of the pillars of our faith in Scripture also struggled with depression—David, Elijah, Jeremiah . . . just to name a few. All experienced deep despair. And yet the joy of the Lord was and is our strength. It does not eliminate pain and strife (including mental illness), but He is our strength in the midst of it.

Perhaps, as Scripture tells us, you were created for such a time as this. Think about it. Your struggle is not a surprise to God. He created your neurotransmitters. Perhaps, He intends to use that very struggle as part of your creativity. As part of your ministry. As part of your story—for Him. Weakness does not invalidate your work as a “paper missionary.” It may, in fact, deepen it!

In a more practical light, there are many tools that can come alongside you if you are struggling: counseling, medication, prayer, support groups, boundaries, being gentle with yourself, and more. You can even use your writing as a way of lamenting and healing.

The presence of shadows doesn’t disqualify the light you are to the world. In fact, it is in these places where He shines brightest through you. As God says by Paul’s pen in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’”

Just like the cracks in a jar are where the light shines through, let others see Him made perfect in your weakness.
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Sara Turnquist is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, clean Historical Romance author whose superpower is converting caffeine into novels. Starting in the traditional publishing world, she is now a fully indie author of 26 books and owns a small publishing company. Her books feature a wide range of time periods and locations—spanning from ancient Egypt to the American Wild West. Find out more about Sara on her website.