Quiet Time for Busy Days: How I Use My Sketchbook to Reflect on Scripture

For a long time, I thought quiet time had to look a certain way.

It meant reading a full chapter.

Sometimes multiple chapters.

Looking up bible commentaries.

Taking notes that felt thoughtful and serious.

Writing my reflections and a long prayer.

And sometimes… I really do enjoy that.

But there are other days… especially when my thoughts feel overwhelming… where that kind of quiet time feels like too much.

Too many words.

Too much to process.

Too much pressure to do it properly.

On those days, I don’t actually need more input.

I just need something that helps me stay close to God.

I’m slowly letting go of the thought that quiet time has to look a certain way to be meaningful.

In those seasons, it looks like choosing just one verse.

Not to analyze.

Not to unpack.

Not to turn into a lesson.

Just to sit with.

Sometimes it’s the same verse for a few days in a row.

Sometimes it’s a single word within that verse.

I’ve found that staying with one small piece of Scripture often helps me remember it better than trying to get through more.

This is where my sketchbook comes in.

When I don’t have the energy to read a lot, drawing or lettering helps me stay present.

I might write the verse in my own handwriting.

I might circle the word that stands out.

I might add a few simple lines, shapes, or easy doodles as I sit with it.

Nothing polished.

The movement of my hands gives my restlessness somewhere to go. And without trying too hard, my attention shifts back toward God.

The verse starts to feel less distant… less like something I need to understand…

And more like something I’m allowed to rest in.

What I love about this approach is how it helps me remember God’s Word.

Not just mentally, but physically… through time spent with it.

Some days, that looks like five quiet minutes.

Some days, it’s one unfinished page.

And often, those are the moments when Scripture feels the most alive to me.

Most of these pages are just for me.

They’re not polished.

They’re not consistent.

And they’re not always something I’d post online.

I’ve come to appreciate that.

Not every moment with God needs to be documented or explained.

Some things are allowed to stay quiet and personal.

Even an unfinished page can feel meaningful, simply because I showed up.

What I love about this way of journaling is that it doesn’t ask much of me.

I don’t need a long block of time.

I don’t need creative energy.

I don’t need to feel inspired.

I just need a few minutes and a willingness to sit with God as I am.

And that’s made it something I can return to… in busy seasons, tired seasons, and uncertain seasons.

If you’re longing for a creative way to spend time with God – one that’s simple, relaxing, and allows space for your own rhythm, I share a free weekly faith-based creative reflection.

Each week, it’s just one verse, one small prompt, one gentle invitation to slow down and sit with God.

It’s meant to feel supportive, not perfect or pressured… especially on days when quiet time feels heavy or overwhelming.

You’re welcome to join if it feels like something that would encourage you – the link’s just right below this post!

Sometimes, staying close to God’s Word just looks like one verse.

One page.

One small moment of presence.

– Nicole