This is part 2 in the series called a Servant’s Pen. In part 1, we discussed being authentic to readers.

Honesty in writing is often marketed as a “brave” aesthetic, but for those of us behind the keyboard, it feels more like a sacrifice. When we transition from writing what sounds good to writing what is true, we move from performance to ministry.

The Trap of the “Polished” Testimony

We often feel pressured to present a finished product. We want to show the “after” photo where everything is resolved. However, the most profound healing happens in the “during.”

Readers don’t just need to know that you won; they need to know how you fought. I make no bones about still being in grief because that is the truth.

Instead of hiding the struggle to protect your image, share the struggle to offer a lifeline.

Strength in the Broken Places

The core of this transparency is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

If we wait until we are strong to start writing, we are essentially trying to bypass the very mechanism God uses to show His power. Our “weakness” – the parts we are tempted to hide – is actually the stage where grace performs its best work.

Practical Steps for Honest Writing

To move from hiding to healing, try these three adjustments in your next draft:

Identify the “Secret”

What is the one detail you are afraid to include because it makes you look “less than”? That is usually where the story actually begins.

Write for One Person

Don’t write for a “crowd.” Write for the one person who feels exactly like you do right now. This removes the need for grandiosity.

Use Simple Language

Complex jargon is often a shield. Use simple, direct words to describe your experience. Truth doesn’t need a thesaurus.

Actionable Advice

Go back to a draft you’ve been “fixing” for a while. Find one sentence where you were being vague to protect yourself and replace it with a specific, honest detail. Notice how the tone of the piece immediately shifts from a lecture to a conversation.