Posted on by Amanda Joy Beguerie

For When We Just Don’t Feel Like It

for when we just don't feel like it

 

“I don’t feel like it today.”

 

The whisper leaves my lips as I struggle to understand what I’m really saying.

 

“I don’t want to pray right now.”

 

It’s shameful to admit. When feelings drive me toward to a place of deception and poor judgment.

 

“I don’t want to read my Bible today.”

 

I’ve felt that feeling all too often. Now, let me get things straight before I say something I don’t mean.

I love my Bible. I love the comfort and inspiration and peace and hope it brings me.

 

But after reading it so many times, believe me, it’s familiar. All too familiar, sometimes, that I can easily become numb to its power.

 

“I don’t feel like reading it today.”

 

I want to read my other book, tweet, watch that Netflix show, finish up that paper I need to write.

 

I want to text my friend, not read that Book that I’ve held in my small hands so many times.

Not strain my eyes to read through the highlighted text and scribbled notes I’ve made in the margins. Not flip through the crinkling pages and see the bleeding ink.

 

We’ve all felt it.

 

It’s a real sensation. The lack of longing for scripture, the disappearance of zeal for God’s Word.

 

That’s why we don’t base faith on our feelings. We don’t base how much we believe in God’s power by the feelings that make us want to read the Bible. They’re not always there.

 

It’s not something we’ll always long for, and it’s not unusual to experience the lack of fervor for reading the Bible.

 

It’s not unusual to desire something a little more entertaining. Something new and fresh. Something aesthetically pleasing.

 

A few weeks back, I write the post “When Fiction Seems Cooler Than Jesus.” It was much of a rhetorical post, not preaching that we shouldn’t have fiction in our lives, but that we should ask ourselves why we like them more than the Bible, at times.

 

But what I failed to mention is that the Bible is not just another form of entertainment. It is the Holy Word of God. His breath into our hearts. The way He communicates with us. Therefore – we cannot compare the Bible to anything else in the world.

 

It’s one of a kind. The literal breath of God so easily accessible to us; bound-up pieces of paper we hold in our hands.

 

Friends, that’s beautiful. I know, I understand when it doesn’t feel “enjoyable” to just sit down and take in the Bible. I get it when we’ve had a long, intellectual day and the last thing we want to do is pick up another nonfiction book.

 

But we can’t compare it to a sermon, or a Christian living book, or even blogs such as this one.

 

Because the Bible has innate, indescribable, marvelous power.

 

Power to discern thoughts and actions. Power to heal. Power to speak. Power to save. Power that only God can provide.

 

I don’t mean that magic pours out of the pages, or that glitter’s just waiting to explode from the binding. I don’t mean that every verse is an “ah-ha!” moment, because it’s not. Yet every piece of the Bible fits together in the way only it can – for only the Bible is life-transforming.

 

I won’t deny that other books affect us. I’ve read a handful of books that have literally changed my life and the path I’m on now. (I’m not kidding. Click on this link HERE to find the book that made me a YA bookworm, wanna be a writer, an editor, and a blogger. Then buy it HERE.)

 

But no other book can save. No other book can give hope like the Bible can. No other book can bring such peace; that peace we find in trusting God’s wisdom.

 

I love this verse from John 6:63; Jesus says this.

 

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

 

The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

 

Not entertainment. Really, that shouldn’t be what we’re looking for in the Bible. Because yes, the Bible can entertain, but that’s not its purpose.

 

In it, we find peace. We find God’s love. His power. His compassion. Strength. Hope. Joy. Grace.

 

Not just something to fill the time, but something transforming – something that makes us whole.

 

“Feeling like it” doesn’t have anything to do with our faith. Faith is something we put effort into in order to grow.

 

And the first step to that is seeing the Bible as more than something to put on the coffee table, more than just that “leather-bound-book that I’ll get around to one of these days.”

 

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

 

The Bible is alive.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

 

The Bible is literally what God has spoken.

 

Instead of seeing it as just one more thing to add to our busy lives, why don’t we let our lives be built around it? Busyness and all.

 

That’s what faith’s about, anyway.

 

*aj

 

27 Replies to “For When We Just Don’t Feel Like It”

      1. Of course! 😀 (Sorry I didn’t elaborate… :P)
        I loved this post! You did a really great job.

        AMANDA. WHY ARE YOU SO AWESOME. SERIOUSLY. WHY???? 😛 ;D

        Like

  4. AMANDAAAA. this is beautiful ❤ and so true. The bible is alive — it's more than just a book. it is written for us! It's mysterious and lovely and hard to understand, but I know that every time I read it, not like I'm trying to read it necessarily, but just absorb it, I feel filled. Like I didn't realize how hungry I was until I've eaten from it. 🙂

    Fabulous job, girl!!
    abbiee

    Like

    Reply

    1. ABBIEEEEEE THANK YOU SO MUCH. ❤️
      Ahh, you’re so right on. I think we often tend to think “we’re all set” and so we decide not to spend the time reading it, but when we do our eyes are opened all the more and our desire for God grows. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I’ve eaten from it.” <<< YES. Omw so much truth.
      Thanks for commenting, my friend! 😉

      Like

      Reply

  5. Amanda! This is go great!! And so, so true. The devil just gets into my head, weaving lies like, “You don’t feel like reading the Bible today. Maybe you shouldn’t. If you don’t feel like it, you won’t learn anything anyway.”
    But I know that the Word Of God is truth and love and power and I strive to hide that truth in my heart. Thanks for this great post!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Rachel!!
      Oh, absolutely. Lies of all kinds can so easily fill our minds, unfortunately!
      Thanks for your sweet comment, and welcome to Scattered Journal Pages! 😀

      Like

      Reply

  6. So true. God and the Bible should always be first, no matter what. That’s all I can think to say right now, because my brain is swirling with many things, including Espionage sequel ideas. 😀

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thanks for commenting, Morgan!
      Swirling brains are good. I’m over here doing the same. Ooh ooh, text me sequel ideas. Sounds like it’s really coming along! *jumps up and down and flaps arms* 😉

      Like

      Reply

  7. I really like you emphasized that the Bible is way more than entertainment: it’s alive, and it has the power to change lives. It’s also encouraging to know that I’m not the only one who has those moments of not feeling like it. So, thank you. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    1. Wow, thank you, Jeneca!
      Yep! It’s a YA Christian dystopian. It was the book that reignited my love for books, especially YA. I’m sure you’ll greatly enjoy it if you decide to read it! 😉

      Like

      Reply
  9. Pingback: May Monthly Recap | Scattered Journal Pages

  10. I love how you pointed out that we don’t have to feel like it. We just have to realize the power contained in God’s Word and how it lets us know him more, and choose to seek that. Faith grows by choices, not feelings. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

      1. Very true! Heh…yeah…I should eat more healthy food, too. I’ve been working on the salad thing. I’ve developed quite a taste for it lately. Maybe there’s hope yet for eggs…

        Like

Leave a comment