Start Here! An Introduction

The Story Behind Writing with Jesus: Gethsemane, The Place of Crushing

Yay you’re here! This post is an overview of what to expect on Writing with Jesus. If you already subscribe, thank you! Some of this will sound a little familiar, but a lot of it won’t. And if you’re new, hi! If you’re already turned off by my camp counselor vibes, don’t worry I am too. Let’s get started!

You have found me here, in this weird little world from your corner of it to mine. It’s nice to meet you.

First and foremost, thank you so much for stopping by, a reader, perhaps even a writer. Sometimes it feels we’re a dying breed. In the fast-paced world of social media, you’ve decided to slow down. The modern-day version of my father reading the newspaper at the kitchen table when I was a child, drinking black coffee or red wine depending on the time of day, ink staining his fingertips, pausing briefly to pet the dog.

I learned the hard way that just as life isn’t meant to be done alone, neither is writing. Jesus wanted to be part of it all along. That’s what Writing with Jesus is. A space for me, for you, to glorify God, to find time in the secret place¹, and to find a little digital community along the way.

In a world of filters, highlight reels, and small talk, I like to write about what’s real. Real heartache, real wrestling with God (It’s good for us. Breeds intimacy with Him, invites wisdom from Him, demands moving from glory to glory².), real unfiltered moments from pregnancy and motherhood that will either make you laugh or cringe. I’m also a flight attendant’s wife, a therapist, an ex-improv comedy performer that would love to get back on stage when I find the time. So, expect to see something funny because laughing is my favorite. Well, Jesus is my favorite, but you know what I mean.

Despite my “effervescent” personality, as one news reporter put it when I spoke at a mental health conference, Writing with Jesus was inspired by Gethsemane (and my previous blog on a different platform that didn’t glorify God nearly as much as I wish it did. Sanctification is slow. Our Lord is patient. Thank you, Jesus.)

Gethsemane is a place in the Mount of Olives (ehem, cue the picture in the WWJ logo). In Hebrew it means “oil press, the place of pressing, the place of crushing”. It is the place that Jesus himself wrestled with the Father, with His will versus the Father’s will.

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26: 38-39

He pleaded with His friends to stay awake and pray with Him. He asked His own Father to take His cup. Even Jesus, in His most human of moments, wished for different circumstances. We serve a God who understands.

Baptism

As a suicide survivor, a veteran in experiencing an array of mental health conditions for about 20 years (and I’m still in my 20’s), and as someone who has been saved, set free, completely delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit from all of them, and yet still found that after surrendering my life to Jesus that I could not escape the repercussions of this sin-cursed world, its trials and tragedies, writing has been a place of pressing, of crushing, of crying out to the Holy One “Why have you forsaken me!”

How many of us want the anointing, the oil, the aroma and fragrance of Christ,³ to be greeted at Heaven’s gates with, “Well done my good and faithful servant”,⁴ but we don’t want what it takes to get there. A hard truth the Lord taught me is He cares so much more about my faith, the transformation of my heart, mind, and soul, than He cares about my comfort. The Way is narrow.⁵ The farther we go into glory, the less we can bring with us. The Christian life is not easy. He’s coming for a pure bride.⁶ And He can handle all our kicking and screaming on the way there. He loves us too much to lose us.

I want Writing with Jesus to be the place you go to feel whimsy, to laugh, to relate, to feel understood. I want to flood you with film photos and with memes. To invite you into my Florida backyard, or wherever in the world I happen to be visiting. I want you to connect here with other creatives, readers, and believers. Poets and pilgrims (Oo, band name idea?) on their way to the Kingdom. I want to walk alongside you in your wrestling. I want to challenge you to write, to pray, and encourage you to find time with Him in the secret place.

So go grab your writer’s journal. C’mon, we’ve all got one. Your coffee or tea. Your Bible. From glory to glory! (Why did I hear that in my head like Peter’s battle cry from Chronicles of Narnia?)

With thanks, 2 Corinthians 13:14,

Katie Donohue Tona

P.S. If there’s something you’d like me to write about, a topic you’re interested in, a question you have etc., feel free to message me and let me know! Happy reading!

And for a little more about the person behind the screen, head over here! About Page

---

If you’d like to financially support my work for $5.00 USD per month, from the depths of me, thank you.

Everything pertaining to the sharing of the Gospel on Writing with Jesus is free. There are a handful of benefits as a paid subscriber, but all I truly have to give you in return is my sincere gratitude and giddy excitement that you decided to support financially.

For Paid Subscribers, here’s how I love to say thank you:

• Occasional paid subscriber ONLY posts

• (For Substack users with a publication) A special shout out in our international community chat showcasing your publication simply because we love writers supporting writers.

• For Annual Subscribers (SAVE $10.00 USD) and Founding Members ($51.00+ USD): lifetime access to a catalog of downloadable poster prints to decorate your home and Bible study workbooks (COMING SOON). Check out some examples here!

Feel free to access your paid subscription from the button below.

Or if you’d like to give just one time, feel free to click the button below.

1. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6

2. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

3. “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15

“But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” 1 John 2:27

4. “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” Matthew 25:23

5. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14

6. “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” Revelation 19:7-8