Four Reasons Why Reading Your Bible is Imperative During Difficult Times
Have you ever gone through a dry spell of reading your Bible? A time where you just don’t feel like it or don’t feel like you are getting anything out of it? We have all been there at one time at another. Even those we consider spiritual giants have faced this. Sometimes it is easy to think, “Why bother if I’m not getting anything out of it?” However, it is important to stay in the Word even when we don’t feel compelled to read it. Reading your Bible during difficult times is imperative to your spiritual health as a believer.
I have been through some very dark times in my spiritual walk. As I continued to remain faithful to reading His Word, eventually the needed breakthrough came. There are ways we can grow during these times even though we may not realize it.
God’s Word is based upon truth not our feelings. Just because we don’t “feel” it working in our hearts, doesn’t mean it isn’t.
Today I am going to share with you four reasons why reading your Bible is imperative during difficult times:
God’s Word is a Living Book
Philippians 2:16, “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
God’s Word is a living book and it breathes life into our very souls. If you have ever gone through a period of deep depression, you may have felt a strong desire to die. Elijah went through this. He felt as if he was the only one left serving God and wanted to give up and die. God’s Word can breathe life back into your fainting heart.
The Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 119:28,50,116 “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word…This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me…Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.“
Reading the Psalms during difficult times, will encourage, strengthen, and breathe life into your heart.
God’s Word Provides Spiritual Nourishment
I Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
II Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Jeremiah 15:16, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”
Battling pregnancy sickness right now, most of the time I really don’t feel like eating. However, I know that food is necessary for my own nourishment and the nourishment of the little one growing within me. Not eating would be detrimental to his or her health as well as my own.
Failing to eat (except for planned periods of fasting) will eventually result in death. In the same way, failing to take part in spiritual food will result in spiritual death. Even though we don’t have an inclination to eat, the food we put into our bodies will still nourish us. Putting spiritual nourishment in our souls will nourish us spiritually even when we don’t feel like it is accomplishing anything.
God’s Word Sustains Us
Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Psalm 119:116, “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.”
Christ desires a deep, intimate relationship with His followers. This relationship is pictured in the metaphor of the Vine described in John 15. When the branch remains connected to the Vine, the branch will be sustained. This is not a matter of feelings or emotions. As long as the branch is connected, the life-giving sap can flow through the Vine into the branch.
As we remain connected to the Lord through His Word, we will receive a continual supply of spiritual food and nourishment.
God’s Word Does Not Return Void
Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
God’s purposes will always be accomplished through His Word. His Word will never leave us with feelings of hopelessness and despair. Rather, it provides comfort, peace, and hope when we face feelings of despair and insufficiency.
Even when we don’t feel like it, it is vital to stay in God’s Word.
A few things that may help:
- Read the Psalms – The Psalms are wonderful expressions of man’s emotions during difficult times and a biblical response to them.
- Change up your reading plan – If you are feeling stuck, change pace and read a different portion of the Bible. You can always come back to where you were later.
- Do a topical study – I think reading in context is critical, but sometimes it helps to do a topical study based upon what we are going through at that moment. Just be sure to read verses within their context so as not to distort the meaning.
- Read a devotional or Christian growth book – Ok, so I think too many people these days are using devotional books as a cop out for reading and studying God’s Word. Don’t do that! However, a good book on Christian growth can sometimes be the shot in the arm we need. Just be sure to read authors that are Biblically based!
As you are faithful to read God’s Word, may your heart be sustained and strengthen through the trials of life!
