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We have all experienced it. You open your Bible with every intention to read, then boom, your mind races, you fall asleep, or you just don’t understand one word you’re reading. Good intentions that don’t quite land the way they’re supposed to.
If you’ve ever tried to get into reading your Bible and quit for various reasons, you’re not broken. There are several reasons this happens to the best of us, and I’m here to help you power through.
Why Reading the Bible Feels So Hard as a New Believer
Picking up your Bible for the first time can feel like opening a medical textbook written in a language you don’t speak. You may have no idea which book to start with. And let’s be honest, some parts are boring. (I wrote a whole post on that, (How To Read The Bible When It’s Boring )
These are real mental barriers that exist. Here are five common reasons you can’t get into reading your Bible, and how to fix them.
5 Reasons You Can’t Get Into Reading Your Bible
1. You don’t know where to start
If I had a dollar for every time a new believer asked me where they should start reading the Bible, I would be pretty rich. In my opinion, it matters less where you start than that you start. You can begin in Genesis with creation. You can look up verses on whatever you’re struggling with, like fear. You can start with the parables of Jesus. Others, like Tyndale, suggest starting with the Gospel of John, one chapter a day.
Don’t get paralyzed looking for the perfect starting point. Open the Bible and begin. Start with one verse if you need to. One verse is enough.
2. You’re reading a translation you don’t understand
Put down the King James Version if it’s making your brain hurt. “Thee” and “thou” can feel like another language entirely. In fact, it kind of is. Language evolves. The Bible was written so long ago that we no longer use words like “thee,” “thou,” or “knowest.” Instead, try the New Living Translation or The Message.
There is zero shame in starting with a version that speaks your language, because what is the point of reading if you can’t comprehend what you’re reading?
3. You don’t have any support material
Trying to read the Bible with nothing but the text can feel like learning a new language with no dictionary and no teacher. The right support material answers your questions and makes you curious enough to keep going.
Here are a few types that can help:
- A study Bible. Notes on historical context and word meanings answer the “wait, what does this even mean?” questions right when they come up.
- A devotional. A short reading paired with a verse works on days you only have five minutes. If you want a place to start, my free Closer to God in 7 Days devotional walks you through a week of short readings to help you draw near to God and build the habit.
- A Bible app with reading plans. An app like YouVersion lets you pick a plan for what you’re walking through, whether that’s fear, anxiety, or starting over.
- A journal. Write down your questions, what stood out, and your prayers. You’ll be surprised how much you learn when you look back.You don’t need all of it. Pick one or two that spark your interest, because when you’re curious, you keep reading.
4. Your Bible isn’t near you
Have you ever noticed that the more an item stays in your line of sight, the more you remember it? Your vitamins, your water bottle. When you’re developing a new habit, it’s important to lower the resistance between you and that habit.
A good way to do this is to keep your Bible where you’ll see it. My preference is to purchase a physical Bible you can carry. If you don’t have a physical Bible yet, download a Bible app with devotionals. The closer God’s Word is to you, the more likely you’ll actually read it.
5. You haven’t carved out the space
Space isn’t only a place where you read your Bible. It’s the time you’ve set aside to read it. Will you read every morning at 7 a.m.? Perhaps you’re an evening person. Can you read every evening at 7 p.m.? How about during your daily lunch break? As we talked about in my last blog post (Why You Can;t Focus When You Pray And How to Fix It), similar to prayer, it takes consistency. Start with one verse, read it, and think about it throughout your day. I’d rather you deeply understand one verse than skim five chapters and retain nothing.
What Happens When You Keep Showing Up
Every time you read God’s Word, you’re rewiring your brain, learning to think like a citizen of God’s Kingdom instead of this world.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
—Romans 12:2 (KJV)
Reading Scripture is one of five spiritual disciplines I walk through in Deep Roots, along with prayer, worship, fasting, and community. If you want the full picture, check out the book.
You Don’t Have to Fix All Five
Pick one and start there. The goal is progress, not perfection.
Which of these 5 reasons is the real reason you can’t get into reading your Bible?
Tell me in the comments section.
Until Next Time,
Be strong. Be Courageous. Serve God Wholeheartedly.
P.S. For years I knew I should read my Bible , because I did not fully understand how to build the habit. That’s a big part of why I wrote Deep Roots, a practical guide for new believers who want to grow and don’t know where to start.
