When Bible Reading Feels Hard: There’s Grace for the Dry Season
True confession: I’m having a hard time reading my Bible right now. I’m not sure why. I normally love opening the Word, but right now it doesn’t hold much joy. Which is a real bummer–especially the week after Easter when I feel like I should be feeling an intense spiritual high, deep gratitude, and unbridled joy in the Word of God.
What the heck is wrong with me?
Have you felt that way before? The guilt when you just can’t bring yourself to open the Bible. Going to church feels like a slog. The words to pray escape you. Your brain feels jumbled.
When Bible Reading Feels Hard, You’re Not Failing
Here’s what I’m telling myself this week when Bible reading feels hard and I’m spiritually dry.
There is more to faith than reading the Bible.
What to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Reading Your Bible
While I struggle to open the Bible, I’ve played “Worship with my morning coffee” Spotify playlist over me as I sit on my couch, and yes, drink my coffee.
I had a friend over and we had a beautiful discussion about how we become more like Jesus through postpartum experiences, being clear and kind, and the tension of waiting when you’re just ready to be in “what’s next”.
I’ve paused–while noticing the moon in the night sky, the sun setting over the lake, a bird call, and a million new things growing in my yard–grateful for a God who makes beautiful things that hold steady while the world feels shaky.
I’ve also acknowledged we are in the one year anniversary season of my husband’s cancer diagnosis. Our world fell apart hard this time last year. It’s bringing up all that trauma I packed away tightly so I could function for my family. Re-wrestling through everything cancer brought into our lives is leaving me emotionally spent. Knowing this, I’m gentle with myself. God has grace for me as I process at my own pace.
Give Yourself Permission to Sit Under Grace
Sometimes reading the Bible is challenging and involves digging and intention, but we can also simply “sit under the waterfall of grace” as my pastor likes to say. Reread Psalm 23. Recite the Lord’s prayer. Sometimes I even go through my Bible and read only the verses I’ve underlined and the notes I’ve made in the past–allowing myself to eat from the breadcrumbs I’ve left behind.
Faith Resources for Spiritually Dry Seasons
I’m thankful that I have a lot of tools in my toolbox of faith. If you are someone who struggles with Bible reading here are some resources that have helped me grow other areas of my faith.
- Spiritual Disciplines Toolkit – Incredibly transformative and helpful ways to live out your faith beyond church, “quiet time”, and prayer.
- The Pursuit of Holy Leisure – A new book by Cara Ray that explores the ancient practice of “odium sanctum”, I’m only a few chapters in but needing this refreshment and encouragement!
- Reading “easy” – For me this means soaking in familiar passages and books of the Bible like Ephesians, Philippians, John, and the Psalms. Are they my favorite books? Yes. Do I read them a lot? Also yes. Is that a bad thing? Not at all.
- A short devotional – My favorite for dry seasons is Jesus Calling. (Lots of other great options here!)
The Truth About Hard Seasons and God’s Grace
I don’t have to be knee-deep in historical context, literary devices, and challenging Bible passages to be pleasing to God. As His beloved daughter His love for me is constantly maxed out.
Hard is not a litmus test of good.
Jesus invites us to walk freely and lightly with Him.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” -Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
More reading about grace and faith practices…
- My Grace Is Sufficient for You: For When the Climb Feels Impossible
- What Surrendering to God Really Means: (It’s Smaller Than You Think)
- 30 Promises of God to Claim Everyday
- 10 Powerful Prayers of Strength for Hard Times
