I think we’ve all been there. You have the best intentions — you really want to read your Bible more, but…there’s always something. Something easier, something more entertaining, something else to do. Sometimes, reading the Bible is just hard. It’s hard to stay committed. It’s hard to sacrifice your time. It’s hard to understand. It’s hard to take correction. It takes effort on our part, and God knew it would be this way: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

He also knew it is what’s best for us. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Ask anyone who spends regular time in God’s Word, and they’ll tell you — everything changed when I started reading it and studying it for myself. So, when reading your Bible is more difficult than you hoped, remember these seven things:

It is how we know God.

Everything that God wanted us to know about Himself — did you get that? — everything the Creator of the Universe, the one true God wanted us to know about Him, He revealed in His Word. It’s the greatest autobiography ever written! 

It is where we find truth.

Satan is actually called the “father of lies” in John 8:44. And, God also tells us that Satan is our adversary, the prince of this world (John 12:31) who masquerades and who is prowling around like a lion looking for someone to devour. So, if we are going to recognize him and his lies, we must first know the truth. In John 17, Jesus tells us that God’s Word is truth. In this world of relativism, that is a priceless gift!

“…If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

It is how we learn and grow as followers of Christ. 

Every word of the Bible was inspired by the very Spirit of God (2 Peter 1:20-21). One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to teach us all things that point to and glorify Christ. If our desire and our need is to abide in Christ, we are equipped in that by the Word of God.

It is where we get our direction.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Throughout our lives, God does desire faith from us, but this faith is not a blind faith. He tells us that His Word lights our path. If you feel like God is calling you to walk somewhere you can’t see, maybe He’s really calling you to His Word so that He can shine a light on your steps.

It increases our faith.

Faith is trusting God, believing that He is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do. It’s simply taking God at His Word. So, it follows that every time we read God’s Word, every time we see who He says He is and see His acts of confirmation, every time we read what He promises to do and how He has fulfilled His promises in the past, our faith is increased. We can say, “I know whom I have believed…” (2 Timothy 1:12).

It equips us to resist sin.

As our faith is increased, and we know whom we are believing, our obedience grows in step. When we know how good our God is, and we know the great things He wants for us, it is easier to resist the devil and to exhibit self-control. His Word is powerful, and it changes us from the inside out.

God will bless you.

When you feel like giving up, don’t. Remember these seven things and keep on reading. One day, after you’ve persevered, after you’ve put in the work, after you’ve offered your time and effort as an act of worship, you will look back and be in awe of how God has blessed you. What a good God we have! He loves us, even when we struggle, and He sees our desires to worship Him and He blesses us!