There are some seasons of life when deep, regular Bible study isn’t feasible.
Now, as someone who believes that studying Scripture is vital to our growth in Christ, even writing that statement feels awkward to me. Ten or fifteen years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it, But the deeper I go into my forties, and the further I’ve gotten from the young years of parenting, the more firmly I stand by my opening statement. Some seasons are not suited for deep study. Note a key word here, though: seasons.
I can remember a few times in my life when I was unable to dig as deeply as I’d have liked to under normal circumstances. Finding the time and mental fortitude to study in depth felt impossible when I had babies that were up all night. I often sat on my couch with my Bible open in my lap and a notebook next to me empty of words when I endured long bouts of chronic pain that robbed me of sleep and clear thinking. While I strongly encourage digging into God’s Word regularly, I also know that there are times in our lives when that feels—and may in fact be—completely out of reach.
Our natural inclination might be to lean away from our spiritual disciplines when we’re overly tired, when caregiving takes our energy and time, or when illness forces us to throw out our schedules. But I have learned that I won’t survive suffering or spiritually dry seasons if I don’t drink from the living water. If I sever myself from the true vine, I’ll wither up and die.
I can’t expect to endure in Christ if I leave His Word out of my endurance.
So how do we persevere through hard seasons when our lack of time and availability precludes us from regular habits of Bible reading and study? Do we step away from Scripture until life calms down? No! Instead, we learn to get God’s Word into our minds and hearts in different ways.
Here are four ways to absorb and think deeply on God’s Word when you can’t hold on to your normal rhythms.
- Scripture Memorization. While I am a big proponent of long form memorization, this might be the time to focus on some individual verses or short passages that you can work on in short bursts. Choose some verses or passages that focus on the attributes of God. Write them out on notecards and place them where you’ll see them often. Pause throughout your day and work on memorizing a phrase at a time, thinking about the words. Ask yourself questions as your rehearse and recite. Why this adjective or that verb? What am I learning about God in this description? How does this help me remember the gospel? Do not underestimate what God can do with His Word, even in small portions.
- Open Your Bible. Are you walking the floors with a baby? Caring for an elderly parent? Keep your Bible out on your kitchen counter or table and open to a passage. Every time you walk by, pause and read the passage. Repetitive reading throughout the day is doing more to shape you than you might think.
- Listen. No one in the history of the world has had as much access to Scripture as we do in the West in the 21st century. There are so many ways to listen to God’s Word! So, if you’re commuting to work, rocking a baby, lying in bed with a migraine, or holding vigil in a hospital room, open the Bible app on your phone and let it read God’s Word to you. Personally, I have loved both the Dwell Bible app and the Crossway ESV Bible app for this purpose. There’s something different about hearing Scripture read to you, which is how many of the saints of old would have taken it in as they listened in the local church gathering. Personally, I love to listen to a chapter on repeat several times in a row, which works a little like repetitive reading.
- Write. Have you ever tried copying Scripture by hand? This is something I do when I’m having a particularly bad bout of insomnia. I pull out a notebook and pen, and I copy passages of Scripture. It’s simple but effective! But this practice isn’t just for insomniacs. If you struggle to focus on deep study because of illness or lack of sleep due to caregiving, try writing out Scripture a little at a time. I’d recommend starting at the beginning of 1 John and working your way through. The practice of writing down the words helps your mind to settle on Scripture, which is helpful if your thoughts feel anxious or scattered. And in copying the words, you end up thinking about them, which works like memorization as a way to mediate deeply on God’s Word.
Remember, seasons are seasons and though they might last a while, they don’t last forever. So, when you’re able, return to your daily habits of study and prayer for they will serve to bolster your faith during future trials.
But if you’re in the thick of it now, don’t lean away. Hold on to God’s gifts of Scripture, prayer, and the church. He has given you what you need to endure because He loves you and is invested in your faithfulness. As Christians, we survive trials differently from the world. So we don’t step away from our spiritual disciplines. We might employ them a little differently, but we hold fast because we know that Jesus is our survival and our rest.
Photo by Roth Melinda on Unsplash
