Have you ever gone through a season where inspiration just… vanished? I used to write all the time — devotionals, reflections, thoughts God placed on my heart. But lately, the words have gone quiet. Moving across the country changed more than my surroundings — it changed how I felt connected to God’s inspiration. In this post, I share what He’s teaching me about contentment, identity, and learning to bloom where He plants us, even when the creative fire feels dim.

When Inspiration Fades: Blooming Where God Plants You

I used to write all the time—devotionals, reflections, thoughts inspired by life around me. Inspiration would hit me anywhere: on a morning commute, in the colors of a sunset, through a Scripture verse, a song lyric, or even a random license plate. It felt like God was constantly planting ideas in my heart.

But now? This is the first thing I’ve written in over three and a half years.

I always believed inspiration was the spark that fueled any creative work—whether writing, painting, or music. But the last time I truly felt inspired, I lived across the country. Strangely enough, the first inkling of inspiration I’ve felt in years is about my lack of inspiration.

What Causes Us to Lose Inspiration?

At first, I thought it was just writer’s block, but writer’s block assumes there’s inspiration simmering beneath the surface, waiting to break through. This feels different. It feels empty. It made me ask questions like:

• Why did I once have so much to say, and now I don’t?

• What makes us, as humans, lose inspiration?

• Is it because we’ve lost joy in where we are?

• Are we afraid to reveal too much of our true selves in our work?

• Is it even wise to let people see us that deeply?

Psychologists suggest that the loss of inspiration can stem from:

• Feelings of emptiness

• Fear of vulnerability

• Fatigue or stress

• Perfectionism

• Overthinking

Maybe it’s one of these. Or maybe it’s all of them woven together.

For me, it’s definitely a combination.
I like my new home. I’m not empty. But I struggle to be authentic, to let people here truly see me. God’s still working on that.

Blooming Where God Plants Us

Whether we notice it or not, we adapt to our surroundings. While our core identity is rooted in who God created us to be, the way we express that identity is influenced by where we are. As holistic beings—biological, psychological, spiritual, and social—our environments shape us.

It’s natural to change depending on where life takes us. In fact, adapting is how we grow and thrive—how we bloom where we’re planted.

But it’s also okay to grieve who you used to be.

I’ll admit it: I’m in a season of grieving.
I miss the version of myself from my last home. That doesn’t make who I am now any less valuable, but I’m learning to be at peace with the change—to not just accept it, but to embrace it.

Lessons in Contentment from Paul

Philippians always humbles me.
Paul wrote about joy, faith, and perseverance while in prison! He even thanked God for his hardships because they advanced the Gospel.

In Philippians 4, he says:

“I’m not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
— Philippians 4:11–13 (NIV)

Paul didn’t pretend prison was easy or pleasant. He didn’t deny his struggles. But he found joy in knowing that furthering the Gospel mattered more than his own comfort.

If prison was where God wanted him, then he chose to be content there—and bloom where God planted him.

Finding Peace in the Unknown

Will I ever stop missing my last home? Probably not.
Will I ever write as much as I used to? I can’t say.
Will I find joy in writing again? I think so.

Whether I write or not is my choice—but what God does with my writing? That’s entirely up to Him.

God places us where He knows we need to be, even when we don’t understand why. And the truth is, we don’t have to understand. That’s His role, not ours.

There’s beauty in the mystery of how He works. Our job is simple: trust Him, obey Him, and glorify Him through it all.

It’s not about what we desire.
It’s about Him.

So whether inspiration flows freely or seems absent, remember this: the Source matters more than the spark. Let God guide your steps, your ideas, and your obedience.

Because no matter where we are or what season we’re in, we can find contentment when He is our source.