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What if I don’t feel healthy enough to read the Bible? Can I skip reading it until I feel better?
That’s the temptation I’m left with and many others when we’re faced with illness.
Sometimes, brain fog, chronic fatigue, and/or chronic pain hang on us heavily. So heavy is this fog that it can make comprehension of the text near impossible.
But I want to make sure I leave you with this thought, the Bible is not just a book. And when we have this nagging question that pesters us, what if I don’t feel healthy enough to read the Bible? We have to remember that the Bible isn’t a book we pick up when we feel like reading.
If the Bible was just a book, then it would make total sense to skip reading it due to a rough flare-up in our health. But it isn’t just a book. The Bible is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.
Several years ago, I couldn’t understand the Bible or any book for that matter. My husband would read to me out loud while I was nestled under a mountain of covers. All the while, I felt as if the cotton in the pillow my head was laying on must have transmitted to my noggin, because nothing seemed to penetrate. It was like the grown-ups talking on Charlie Brown. You know, where all you hear is wonk-wonk–wa-wonk-wonk.
My husband would close the Bible, peer over at me and ask, “What did you get out of what I read?”
I felt almost too embarrassed to answer. “I think I heard something about grace?”
“Well, maybe that’s the main message God wants you to get out of what I just read, Sarah,” would be his customary reply.
He confessed later that he wondered if it was even worth reading the Bible to me. But then he would be met with the verse in his mind’s eye, “my word…will not return empty” (Is. 55:11).
On the days when I don’t feel healthy enough to read the Bible then and now, I learned some techniques that were able to help which I’ll let you in on.
Some Pointers for When You Don’t Feel Healthy Enough to Read the Bible:
Listen to an audio version or have someone read the Bible out loud.
This has been especially useful when I’ve battled vertigo or when I simply have an extreme amount of fatigue. The Bible App has just about every version of the Bible included in their program. All you have to do is select the translation you want and presto, you have someone reading to you while you’re curled under the covers.
If there’s ever a time where your mind strays, or you become frustrated with yourself for not being able to comprehend what’s said, offer a quick prayer to God for Him to help teach you His Word (1 John 2:27) and please remember in those moments, friend, that His Word is active and alive and won’t return to you empty.
Temporarily read an easier translation.
What keeps some people from reading the Bible when they’re sick is their noticeable failure to comprehend the text. This is much more likely to happen if you’re reading more of a word-for-word translation. Maybe you can try out a translation like the NLT (like this one I really like) that’s still a solid translation but is written in easy-to-understand language.
Choose a short book of the Bible and continuously re-read it until you grasp the concepts.
Dive into a short book like 1 Peter and re-read it over the course of several weeks until you feel like you can understand the main contents. Heck, this is even a good practice on your better days since you gain such a vivid overview and depth in re-reading a particular book.
Continue to pray.
What is it that keeps you from reading the Bible? Is it that you can’t comprehend the text due to brain fog/inflammation? Do you become frustrated with yourself as a result? Or does fatigue and pain make it difficult for you to engage in most activities in life including reading the Bible? Whatever it is, be honest with God about the specific reasons that keep you from reading the Bible and ask Him for specific intervention in these areas.
And may we always remember the balance between grace and discipline. Although we need to discipline ourselves to read the Word, there is still grace for the days we miss.
This is so beautiful and timely for myself and the situation of my mother in law who is battling pancreatic cancer. I shared this with her in hope that it will give her strength, encouragement, and most of all hope for her battle. Thank you for sharing. It means so very, very much. God bless you.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Taylor and for sharing this post with your mother-in-law. I’m so sorry to hear about her battle with pancreatic cancer…I can only imagine her daily struggles. I’ll certainly be keeping her in prayer for hope and encouragement.
This is so beautiful. I have had chronic pain for years and completely understand what you mean by the fog. Praying for us both to receive all that God has for us. His Word is life to our soul and bodies, isn’t it? Bless you sweet friend! ❤
So sorry to hear about your chronic pain, Donna! Pain and brain fog both are no fun and can certainly interfere with daily activities. And yes, God’s Word is definitely life-giving!
I am working on getting to the best health I can (fibromyalgia), and this past year, while I read more days then in past years, I find myself too far behind to catch up (there was a major life event this fall, as well). As I look ahead to the new year, I’m thinking about choosing a new reading plan, keeping in mind “self compassion” without ditching discipline. Maybe if I just ignore the assigned dates and just do the next one on the list the habit I’ve been building will be strong enough that I’ll still read most days without feeling like I am “behind”, unless you count Jesus being ahead of me!
I’ve found that just getting started is usually the hardest part for me .. but all my healthy friends say the same! I think the devil really uses our feelings to try to manipulate us into not reading the Word. It helps me to make it a non-negotiable with myself – even if it’s just for one verse. I read before bed each night bc that’s my clearest time of brain. I like using the Bible app on my phone bc for me, seeing only a few verses on the screen at a time makes it easier to concentrate whereas I can lose focus when reading out of a book.
Yes, it’s very true that getting started can be the toughest part, Liz. Even though this article was mainly meant for people who have a chronic illness, I thought it could also resonate with the person who simply feels worn out from the day and struggles with complacency. So you’re very right that healthy friends can have similar struggles with picking up their Bibles. I’m glad to hear that you found a time that works for you with reading Scripture, Liz– that’s also excellent advice for people facing chronic health conditions– to find a time that is better for them cognitively. For me, that’s usually earlier in the day, so we’re all different! Thanks so much for dropping by with your thoughts, Liz! <3
I love the “this is not just a book”. Even though I know it is more than a book, I treat it like that when I am ill. I never put second thought to not reading when I have a flare up. Thank you for changing my whole perception.
This is a well received message in this time, for me. I am heavily medicated with a chemical imbalance and am searching out my healing. Hopefully finding the root cause and diving deeper into God’s word. Ultimately, Jesus is the healer! I have to admit you hit the nail on the head with because I found myself avoiding reading the Bible and my prayer & meditation time is suffering too… what you wrote spurs me on. Thank you!
I am so sorry to hear of your own pain, Julia. I’m glad to hear though that the post was a good message for your soul. <3 It convicts me as well when I am reminded of the post, so we're both in the same boat! Anyways, I'm so glad you stopped by Inkblots of Hope, Julia, and I am so glad to hear you're trusting in Jesus for your healing journey. <3
These are great tips and encouragement to try different things. God sees our heart and can minister on the simplest terms. I deal with inflammation and brain fog with RA, so I appreciate this a lot!
Sorry for your own struggle with pain and brain fog, Rachel. I’m so glad to hear this post provided you with encouragement. ❤
I suffer terribly daily from chronic pain from my neck to my feet. As a child I was never able to comprehend what I read anyways but more so now with my chronic pain. I desire to know so much more than I am taking in. I hope God will understand and forgive me for my bad days. I guess I just need to pray differently. Some days I feel so lost and that I will never get it. But then again I know that comes from the enemy. My salad for days are the hardest for me living with a non-believing husband.
My deepest apologies for just now seeing your heartfelt comment, Connie! I can assure you God’s grace is abundant. I’ve needed His grace on so many occassions due to my lack of comprehension for the Word, or even having difficulties uttering a prayer due to congnition issues and heightened amounts of pain. Please know, there is no shame for your difficult times. The point of the article was never to cause any shame over not reading the Word, only to focus on the vitality of the Word since it’s living and active.
I will pray for a lifting of your chronic pain, Connie, for God to meet you in a very real way, and for grace in abundance with everything that’s on your plate, your unbelieving husband included.