Like most people, I have struggled in the past with being consistent in being in God’s Word. What helped me to finally develop a daily habit of reading the Bible was doing the Bible in 90 Days back in 2012. Because I needed to be reading it every day to keep pace with the large chunks of reading, it developed the habit of reading every day. Now it has become a normal part of my routine.
As I currently am going through a transition time of moving from Michigan to Pennsylvania, my life has drastically changed. While in the process of joining a new church and new ministries, I’m not currently involved in any local ministries. I miss my church and friends in Michigan, as well as the ministries that I was involved with there. I struggle with loneliness as I begin making new friends here. Depression will set in as I struggle with my life not being what I want it to be right now. I am learning again the importance of trusting God, for His way is best, even when I don’t see it and can’t understand. I must also develop patience, waiting on God’s timing and the right ministries that He has for me.
One of the current Bible studies I am doing is a study for those struggling with depression. It has been a huge encouragement and help to me as I struggle through this transition. This has been a reminder to me that it is important to continue being in God’s Word, even when our feelings and emotions aren’t wanting to. Many have said when they aren’t in the Word because they are struggling emotionally that they don’t want to “just go through the motions” or feel like they are just checking off a to-do item. However, if we don’t read the Bible because the feelings aren’t there, we will continue to struggle with the feelings and we rob ourselves of a source of strength in changing those feelings. God uses His Word to encourage us, to draw us back to Him, to put truth into our minds and hearts, and to change our feelings. Reading the Bible even when we don’t feel like it helps us to bombard our hearts and minds with truth. As we think on these truths, our thoughts help to change our emotions.
So if you are struggling emotionally and don’t feel like reading your Bible, do it anyway! God’s Word does not return void. He will change your heart. Keep pressing on in spite of how you feel.
Psalm 102
A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you!
2 Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!
3 For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,
like an owl of the waste places;
7 I lie awake;
I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread
and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger;
for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
11 My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;
you are remembered throughout all generations.
13 You will arise and have pity on Zion;
it is the time to favor her;
the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear
and have pity on her dust.
15 Nations will fear the name of the Lord,
and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
16 For the Lord builds up Zion;
he appears in his glory;
17 he regards the prayer of the destitute
and does not despise their prayer.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
19 that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse;
he has shortened my days.
24 “O my God,” I say, “take me not away
in the midst of my days—
you whose years endure
throughout all generations!”
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
Sojourner Between Worlds 