No matter how early I go to bed at night, I still wake up tired. Most of the time, it is because I am not sleeping well (which is another story for another day). Sometimes, I’m tired because the thought of doing my day feels overwhelming. Over the years, I have learned five tips for how to read your Bible when you’re tired, and I would like to share them with you.
I do not like a busy schedule or to feel rushed. So when I wake up feeling tired, the one thing I want to do is stay in bed. The last thing I want to do is get up and read my Bible.
Over the years my life has ebbed and flowed with different seasons. I don’t think there has been a season that I’ve not felt “tired.” Maybe during the pandemic, when we were home all of the time and got plenty of sleep. Other than that, I think I’ve always had to battle sleepiness when it comes to my morning.
SOMETIMES WE ARE JUST TIRED
Although reading the Bible doesn’t have to be a morning activity, I just keep coming back to the joy of reading my Bible in the morning. There is something so good and peaceful about spending a few minutes with God in prayer and Bible reading before starting my day.
Even if I do read my Bible at night, which sometimes happens as well, I struggle with staying awake! If you are like me and need some help reading your Bible when you are tired (morning or night) take these five tips for how to read your Bible even when you’re tired.
5 TIPS FOR HOW TO READ YOUR BIBLE WHEN YOU’RE TIRED
Start somewhere easy.
Don’t pick a hard passage or book to read like Revelation or Job. Pick somewhere easy like Genesis, the Gospel of John, or Psalms. Keep it simple so your mind doesn’t have to do any extra thinking when you are tired.
Listen to the Bible being read.
This has been my go-to way to read when I’m tired. If you are trying to read your Bible in a year or trying to read through a large portion of scripture each day, I would suggest you listen to it.
Add it to your routine.
One of the things I love to do in the morning is go downstairs and drink one cup of coffee in my comfy chair before the kids wake up. The night before, I set my Bible beside my chair so that in the morning, I can go get my coffee and sit with my Bible in my lap. Adding Bible reading to a part of my daily routine helped so much. I have a friend who listens to her Bible while she puts on her makeup each morning before work.
Read with a friend for accountability.
It is so helpful if you can find a friend who will read the Bible with you. Maybe join a Bible study group at your church. You could even just download a Bible reading plan and do it together. Text each other encouragement every few days to keep on track.
Read a little (not a lot).
This past month has been long and hard. I felt sick off and on, so my mind and body felt extra tired. So now I read just one or two verses each morning with my coffee instead of trying to read a whole chapter. I meditate and think about the words of those two verses and spend some time in prayer.
THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY
The key is that there is no “right” way to read your Bible. Just read. A little, a lot. Remember that life goes up and down and through various types of seasons. Bible reading can fit into any season of your life!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Sarah Frazer
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