Our Guest: Allison Byxbe
Allison Byxbe is a certified journal facilitator, speaker, and author. She shepherds The Inky Collective, a contemplative journaling community in The Neighborhood. Allison earned a BA in English, an MA in Composition & Rhetoric, and certification in journal facilitation through the Therapeutic Writing Institute. With journal in hand, Allison loves to trace the lines of God’s grace in her life while guiding others to do the same. Her debut book Journaling as a Spiritual Practice released with Moody Publishers in March 2026. Allison and her husband Ben live in Columbia, SC, with their three children, and are always looking for an excuse to drive to the SC coast for a day at the beach.
Key Thoughts and Scriptures:
- In those tough moments trusting God becomes more than a phrase we say, it becomes a choice we make.
“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and you trust the engineer.” – Corrie Ten Boom
- Scripture reminds us that God’s work is often happening in ways we can’t yet see.
John 13:7 NIV Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
- Notice that God doesn’t ask us to understand everything. He asks us to trust Him.
“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” – Elisabeth Elliot
- So often we believe our peace would come if God changed our circumstances.
- But the gospel tells us our hope isn’t found in a different situation. It’s found in the presence of Christ with us in the middle of the situation we’re already living in.
Philippians 4:11-13 NIV I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances… I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
- True faith grows when we’re continuing to walk with God even when nothing makes sense.
- Allison has discovered firsthand that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our ability to understand His plan.
After experiencing turmoil in her home life, Allison encountered God in an incredibly powerful way.
- “If you’ll just come to Me and let Me carry that weariness and anger, you’ll find restoration.”
- God knew exactly where Allison’s pain was, and that’s exactly what He addressed.
- In her college years, she learned what it meant to follow Jesus daily.
- When we feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit to do something He is going to provide. And it may not always look like we think it will.
- But we can trust Him through that.
Revelation 3:7 NIV …What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open…
- Even when the naysayers say it’ll never happen, if it’s God’s plan, He can open those doors.
- What does God have to say about our grief?
John 11 NIV The Death of Lazarus
- Jesus was compassionate towards Mary and Martha in the loss of their brother.
- He sat with them in their grief.
- After their son was diagnosed with a genetic disorder, Allison and her husband no longer knew what to expect or what life might look like.
- At that time, she started to feel disconnected from God because she wasn’t sure that she trusted God or that she even liked Him.
- She spent a season not dealing with the emotional fallout. Instead it festered and built under the surface.
- To help a family with a special needs child simply be present and treat their child like any other child.
As important as community is, ultimately it was God who really carried Allison through those years, even the darkest seasons.
- God drew Allison back to Himself stitch by stitch.
- She realized she could choose the path of death and destruction or the path of life.
- The fact that she could still hear the voice of God woke her up to realize that she needed to start walking a different path than the one she had been on.
- Being part of a supportive community that was willing to walk alongside them through their hardships made a meaningful difference.
- Allison realized they would never have to face life’s challenges alone if they kept their eyes fixed on Him.
- As she journaled her thoughts, God met her there and helped her heal.
- If what she saw was a lie, God was gracious to bring to mind His truth.
1 Kings 19:11-13 NIV The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”…And after the fire came a gentle whisper…
John 7:38 NIV Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.
- If you want to be close to God, you have to know Him.
- God always wants to do something in us, then He wants to do something through us.
- It’s a real discipline to be still.
Psalm 46:10 NIV He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;…
- Journaling is one of those ways that help us be still.
The Samaritan Woman at the Well
- The Samaritan woman at the well had questions for Jesus and some pushback for the things that He asked about.
- But then they have this beautiful encounter where she feels seen.
- Her whole life changes because of that interaction with Jesus.
- Jesus says, I’m the living water and I’m the one who’s supposed to satisfy you.
- Our walk with God isn’t built on having all the answers.
- Some of the deepest growth in our faith comes when we’re faced with questions we can’t answer.
James 4:8 NKJV Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…
“God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it’s not there. There is no such thing.” – C.S. Lewis
- True peace and true happiness are not in a different set of circumstances. They’re found in the presence of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”…
Psalm 136:1-2 ESV Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever…
Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Links:
- Allison’s website
- Link to upcoming retreat Allison is co-hosting: https://theneighborhood.digital/plans/1984834?bundle_token=b65ade0cb9acb90b56a31fd289dee975&utm_source=manual
- Allison’s Instagram Link
- Facebook Link for Allison
- 49 Tetra XY
- Therapeutic Writing Institute
Books:
- Journaling as a Spiritual Practice by Allison Byxbe
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