When I was a young believer, a discussion with two cult members left me confused. I asked God to show me the truth. They claimed Jesus was the Son of God but not God the Son. Was Jesus truly God?
Later that day, I stumbled across Colossians 2:9 (NASB), “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” I marveled that God cared enough to answer my prayer so quickly and clearly. I wasn’t thinking about my question when I was reading.
Since then, God’s Word has spoken to my specific needs countless times. I used to wonder how God knew I’d be in that place in my Bible on the very day I needed that wisdom. Now I realize His Word is living. His Spirit uses where I am to speak to me or draws my attention to the passage I need.
But it wasn’t always that way. For years, my Bible reading raised more questions than answers. In college, I joined a small group Bible study that changed everything. These women read the Bible as if it meant what it said. Do I hear a “Duh”?
My teenaged youth group didn’t believe the Bible meant what it said—or at least that it applied to today. Picking and choosing what applied stripped the Bible of its power, comfort, and insight.
During that small group study, I made a shift that would forever change my life: I decided to trust the Bible. I began reading it as if it meant what it said and living by it as best I could. In other words, I chose to trust God’s Word over the culture and my own reasoning—and everything changed.
The Bible became alive, and my whole worldview changed. Even the way I viewed the news shifted. I told a friend, “I feel like I’ve been walking around blindfolded all my life. Now I can see.”
Someone once asked, “How do you prove a knife cuts? Do you explain its purpose and how it’s made?” The best way to prove it cuts is to use it. Pick up a crisp apple and slice it. Similarly, how do we know God’s Word is true? Read it and apply it.
Trusting the Bible boils down to trusting God. It would be foolish to think an all-powerful God could not preserve His Word for His people.
What about the Old Testament?
Some people say they only trust the New Testament. But Jesus and Paul quoted the Old Testament. Jesus used the Old Testament to explain His crucifixion after His resurrection. We may not always understand it, but God recorded every word for our benefit.
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4 NASB).
Two Helps for Understanding the Bible
To get the most from Scripture, we need two essential ingredients:
- Humility: When we approach the Bible, we must recognize our limitations and prejudices. We need to humble ourselves before God and ask Him to grant us understanding (Psalm 25:9).
- The Holy Spirit: The Bible is a spiritual book. The Holy Spirit gives us understanding and applies God’s Word to our lives.
“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV).
More Suggestions for Growing in God’s Word
- Get a translation you enjoy—one that’s clear and easy for you to read.
- Choose a regular time and place to meet with God.
- Work through a book of the Bible or a structured study rather than skipping around. [Here’s a simple guide on “How to Get More from Your Bible.”]
- Pray: Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you in a way you can understand.
- Live what you learn—use it, or you’ll lose it.
God promises incredible blessings to those who follow His Word, and He warns of the snares that befall those who ignore His wisdom. The Bible is our sustenance and our light in a dark world. Cherish this priceless gift from God.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT).
How has the Bible changed your life? If you know someone who’s questioning the Bible, tell them how it’s changed you.
Can you trust the Bible? Yes—and here’s why. #Bible, #Faith, Share on XBlessings,
Sometimes I link to these great sites:
#MondayLinkUp #InstaEncouragements, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Grace&Truth
Once I started reading and studying the Bible, things have never been the same. I love that you compared it to using a knife. So true! I can’t even count the number of times God has put just the right scripture before my eyes just when I needed it. His Word is truly a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. And with all the voices screaming at us – His is the only one we can always trust.
Ann, I’m still amazed when He does that, puts just the right verse before me. Thanks for sharing your experience. We need to wield that two-edged sword and clear the clutter of the world.
Oh how I love God’s Word. And even when something doesn’t make sense or leaves me confused, it’s simply an invitation to go right to the Author and Finisher of our faith!
Thanks for nudging us back to THE book Debbie.
Linda, many times the parts that confused me became my favorite parts as I wrestled with God over them. I’m so thankful we have His Spirit to supply the understanding we need, even if it’s not complete understanding.
I’ve had similar experiences, when my Bible reading for the day speaks to a question I’m wrestling with or a need I have. I feel so seen and loved by God in those moments. And those times when I’m reading and nothing special seems to be happening, God’s Word is still going into me, feeding me, nourishing me.
I’m so thankful the church where I was saved as a teenager had a strong emphasis on reading through the whole Bible each year. I think that grounded more more than anything else. I still like to read through the entire Bible, but I take more than a year to do it now.
Barbara, what a great foundation for life and godliness! I was amazed at how many of the Bible stories I heard when I was little came back to me when I started walking with the Lord.
Thank you for sharing your journey, Debbie. I struggled with some of those same challenges. I’m so glad God was patient with me as I grew in knowledge and discernment. And I’m so blessed that He continues to be with me as I continue on the journey. Your message shares great wisdom and the assurance of our Father’s great love and faithfulness. Thank you.
Katherine, I’m so thankful for how His Spirit draws us into truth! Thanks for adding your experience.
Thank you for sharing your story. I know I’ve struggled at time but I know it is true. Thanks Debbie and blessings
I think God welcomes our struggle when we really want to know the truth. And I’m thankful as Holy Spirit promises to lead us into all truth.
Proven by use! That’s the way we do it!
Great post!
Yes! Thanks, Michele.
Excellent Debbie! Thank you!
I’ve experienced the same thing so many times. God truly is amazing! Also, sometimes I’ll be led to read something and suddenly understand it in a way I never did before but it was just what I needed at that moment.
The Bible can confuse and confound, but it’s filled with wisdom, truth, and inspiration. Excellent suggestions here for studying and trusting the Word.
Candyce, I came to realize that of course some things would be beyond my understanding. God is infinite, holy, and sees the end from the beginning. I have to rely on His perfect knowledge and character.
A few years ago, I had given my son a chronological bible to read in a year. After he finished, I read it. It was one of the most fulfilling, sweetest seasons of my life. God opened my eyes to so many things that I had not seen before – I would say that I was probably humble, game to be intentional – one of the most powerful experiences was reading aloud how the temple offerings were to be handled (I read it out loud to make sure I didn’t skip, lose focus). Though I didn’t have any of those physical offerings, I felt the Holy Spirit rise on my porch and settle around me. God means what He says – and the literalist in me has been blessed to take Him at His word.
I love that, Maryleigh! God wants us to delight in Him and His Word. You did and look how it blessed you!
Why do Protestants (i.e., evangelicals) place so much faith in the leaders of the early Church regarding the formation of the canon of the New Testament? Why believe that the Church leaders in the first century were infallible but reject the infallibility of the Church’s leaders (the Magisterium) in the succeeding twenty plus centuries? And why believe that the early Church leadership was infallible in their selection of the canon of the New Testament but reject the same early Church leaders’ selection of the canon of the Old Testament? Yes, you read that right. Protestants reject the Old Testament canon selected by the same early Church leaders who selected the New Testament canon! Most early Church Fathers including Augustine considered the seven deuterocanonical texts (the Apocrypha) to be the inspired Word of God. The Council of Hippo declared these texts the inspired Word of God in 393 CE, less than 70 years after the Council of Nicea.
Sola Scriptura only works if you are certain the canon is divinely inspired. Why should we trust the early Church regarding the NT canon when we reject them regarding the OT canon?