You read the Bible. Study the Bible. Even have portions of it memorized.
But what happens when real life seems to drown out what it says? Or when the words seem stale?
I confess I’m a Bible-believing Christian. I’ve rested on truths in the Word for years. Yet—as much as I hate to admit it—I can still wrestle with the simplest precepts when I’m faced with the unknown.
Like this spring and summer. When the opportunity came to return to El Salvador, I knew I wanted to go. And when a volunteer was needed to head up the VBS team, I knew it should be me. I prayed about it; God confirmed it; I signed up.
So what was the problem? The obstacles loomed too large—we lacked enough Spanish-speakers; we lacked enough adult helpers; we lacked enough people, period.
Yet the real problem?
I was doubting God’s goodness.
I knew He loved me enough to die for me, to make me whole, to save my soul. But did He love me enough to actively work a VBS with me in Central America?
Maybe it’s not logical, but I wanted to know more than I was forgiven or justified or sanctified. I needed to know I was cared about like a little girl by her father.
Doubts withstanding, I wrote skits. I ordered stickers. I bought jump ropes. Pray, plan, and press on.
Then something happened.
For months I’d been working on Psalm 103. “Bless the Lord, O my soul…” For months I’d wrestled with getting the words right. For months I’d wondered if I’d ever get the last verses in order.
But exactly one week before my mission trip, instead of working the Psalm, I surrendered to it. I made a counterintuitive move—instead of forging ahead with much-needed packing for VBS, for one day I’d pack nothing, speak nothing, do nothing but sit with God. And Psalm 103.
And there he uncovered the missing piece I’d been looking at all along—a scripture I’d read ninety-nine times, but needed to read a hundredth.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psalm 103:13
The words “shows compassion” communicated boldly.
If I could spend months and dollars and emotions on plans to show compassion to kids I didn’t even know, how much more would my Father show compassion to me, a child He did know, and know intimately?
Not only would He go with me to El Salvador, but He also had been planning for months, setting up gifts of grace for me to receive there, gifts of His tender compassion for a daughter He loved.
With one verse, in one day, old words I’d underlined three Bibles ago were made new again, breathing fresh life into the empty crevices of my soul.
His Words never die because He continues to speak them.
Never give up reading what you think you already know. Because they’re not just words on a page; they’re the heart of a Savior. They’re more than scriptures to sharpen a doctrine; they’re love letters from a Father. For child after child, year after year.
And was God compassionate to me in El Salvador? Oh my, yes. In ways a little girl couldn’t have imagined.
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11
Reading the Bible isn’t just about gaining knowledge. It’s about the Spirit changing our lives.
What old words have touched you in a new way lately?
How have you experienced the Word as still alive?
Please join in the conversation.
I love this, Lisa: “a scripture I’d read ninety-nine times, but needed to read a hundredth.” I have fully experience that kind of situation, too. It’s one of the (many) reasons I love God’s Word – it truly is active.
It’s so awesome to see how He worked in you and in your trip. Thanks for sharing this!
I’m glad you understand what I’m saying, Caroline. It amazes me how I *think* I get a verse, but read it again later and it’s brand-new with fresh meaning for my current situation. God is still at work!
I love how, when you memorize a passage of Scripture, you find more and more layers of truth within its words, and it becomes so incredibly real.
I also love that several of you have been memorizing Psalm 103. That’s my (current) favorite chapter, and I finally memorized it this past spring. It’s been such a comfort to be able to pray through it when I’m anxious or sleepless or worried. And such a reminder to always be praising God!
I understand how you love Psalm 103. It is amazing, yes? So much to absorb; it’s taking me a long time to let it sink in. “Anxious or sleepless or worried” – yes, yes, and yes. :-) I’ve quoted it to myself during all those times. And yes, it is a great reminder to praise God through it all! Thanks for sharing your experience with it.
I could “see” everything as you shared, Lisa, and the images will stay with me today. Thank you for praying, planning, and pressing on and then being brave enough to just sit with the Lord. Such a sweet encouragement.
Just sitting with him when I had SO much on my to-do list was a scary thing for somebody like me who tends to live by a schedule! :-) But spending time with him is never a waste of time. Thanks for your encouragement, Julie.
Lisa, thank you for this post! Love this:
“Never give up reading what you think you already know. Because they’re not just words on a page; they’re the heart of a Savior.”
So, so true!
And the more we read his words, the more we understand this. There’s no other book or Author like the Living Word!
Thanks for this…needed to read the encouragement today.
I’m glad it encouraged you. Sometimes I’m tentative to share how weak my faith can still be at times, but I know that I’m usually encouraged by others when they are honest, and when I see how God does come through for them. So I appreciate you leaving your comment. May the Lord bless you today in just the ways you need.
It’s amazing how something we’ve read so often and a simple truth we’ve known for years can suddenly have such a major impact on us, but I have experienced the same thing. I’m so glad our loving Father doesn’t tire of reminding us and that His Word continually speaks to us.
“Never give up reading what you think you already know. Because they’re not just words on a page; they’re the heart of a Savior.” Amen.
Sometimes simple little songs about God’s truths do the same for me, too. I remember singing “Jesus Loves Me” not many years ago and feeling so moved by the profoundness of the words–words I had sung thousands of times, yet was understanding at a slightly deeper level still. Yes, amazing.
Beautiful. I too have had some time in Psalm 103. Such a beautiful psalm.
I love how the same words can touch each of us in just the individual ways we need. God is so good like that.
I love Psalm 103, but that verse stood out to me in a new way through your post, Lisa.
You often make me think of things in a new way, too, Elizabeth. I’m glad God put believers together in a body and not just as individual pilgrims walking this journey alone. We have so much to learn through each other’s experiences.
What a beautiful post, Lisa!
I am continually amazed at how God will speak to us thru His word. Verses I have known (and thought I understood) for years, suddenly take on new meaning to meet an immediate need or in light of a newly gleaned truth.
Thank you for sharing this!
Yes, Joe, exactly. I find it to be further proof that God is sovereign when I see him actively using old scriptures to fit new circumstances for each of us. We could never do that on our own.
Just beautiful. I love when God illuminates His word for me, and I never forget that verse again. I also love the special “daughter” gifts He gives us during the seasons He’s stretching us beyond our own abilities and look forward to hearing more about your time in El Salvador. Thanks for your constant encouragement and reminders to memorize Scripture, too. . .it’s no longer a priority with the church, and it can be difficult to keep it up on my own.
I appreciate your encouragement, too, Rebecca. I have found it much easier to memorize with accountability than just trying to do it without any other encouraging voices. I’m glad to be part of this community where we can place value on putting His Word in our hearts where it can live and breathe.
It’s truly miraculous to seek God through His word and find something that was hiding there in plain site all of our lives, God just wasn’t ready to wow us with it until we needed it. I love it and I love the wisdom. Thanks for the reminder and obedience Lisa.
“God just wasn’t ready to wow us with it until we needed it.”
Nice way to put it, Floyd. Reminds me of how he didn’t let the Hebrews take over all of Canaan until they were able to handle it.
Ex 23:29,30 (NIV) “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”
Thankful he knows better than we do about what we need and when.
I so understand. God has me grounded in the Psalms right now. This is my third time going through and reading them. I just have kept re-reading them over and over. God has shown me that I am chosen through the Psalms and so many other ways lately. Thank you Lisa for the reminder to stick with where God has me reading. I was debating on changing to something else, even though I am not done with the Psalms right now. I think I will finish them out, then decide where to go from there.
Sounds like you’re making a wise decision, Katie. Sometimes if we leave a scripture too soon, we miss out on something beautiful God was wanting to show us. It’s hard to determine at times when we should move on, but if you’re not done with Psalms, I’m sure the Lord will continue to bless you there.
I love how the Holy Spirit can teach us so many different things if we just let Him. I know I spent months learning more and more of Phil 4:13. It was a new revelation each time. I always love reading your blog posts.
“It was a new revelation each time.” Yes! The Spirit works in ways we can’t understand, even through words that we think we know as fully as can be known. So glad you shared. Thanks for the encouragement.
“His Words never die because He continues to speak them.” Amen!
Your testimony encourages me, Lisa. Lamentations 3:22ff. never grows old for me. It seems I’m hard of hearing about His steadfast love never ceasing and His mercies never coming to an end. It comes down, as you note, to doubting God’s goodness. All these years, and I still fear He will not show up in this new concern but leave me to my just deserts. So grateful for His forbearance and Christ’s intercession.
Amen to every thing you’re saying, friend! God has proven so faithful; why do I ever doubt? I hope one day to never do so. Thankful for grace in the interim.
i enjoyed this post very much, Lisa. I loved when you said: “Never give up reading what you think you already know. Because they’re not just words on a page; they’re the heart of a Savior. They’re more than scriptures to sharpen a doctrine; they’re love letters from a Father. For child after child, year after year.”
I’m a big advocate of reading the word. I believe everything you ever need to know, you’ll find in the bible. I love that the Savior bares His heart in those pages and we have the privilege of reading it!
By the way, Psalm 103 is definitely one of my favorite passages.
I’m glad we share a common love for Psalm 103, Jerri. Isn’t it so full? I do know that you are a lover of God’s Word–it’s evident through the words I read on your blog and in the comments you make. So glad we can have friends from all over who can walk alongside us as we follow Jesus.