The Struggle is Real

^“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Let’s be honest — reading the Bible consistently can be hard.

Call it imposter syndrome, but the more I study Scripture, the more I realize how much I don’t know. The Word of God is living and active, and each time I read, I’m learning something new. But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, the first time I read the entire Bible was only because a youth pastor challenged our teens to do it. I was a professing Christian adult who hadn’t read the manual!

I’m on my second round of reading through the Bible, using Tara Leigh Cobbles’ (TLC) Bible Recap Plan. Each time, I’ve invited others to join. The first time, no one joined me in the Old Testament. Nineteen people joined in the New Testament; about five completed it. This is on par with TLC’s statistic that only two percent of people finish the Bible Recap.

I offered the Bible Recap plan to the Vintage Virtues community — over 40,000 members. About 400 people have joined the Bible Recap group. We began with engaging discussion among ten participants, but most exited with Exodus. Now, eight months later, just a couple of us are still checking in.

There’s nothing new under the sun. Only 20% of Americans have read the Bible, and only 32% of church goers read it daily. [1]Further, 37% of Pastors hold a Biblical World view, while the remaining 62% hold a syncretistic world view. [2]Most people, including Christians, don’t read the Bible. So why is it such a struggle?

Why Aren’t We Reading the Bible?

Citing the above research, I conducted polling with the Vintage Virtues audience to find out what factors may contribute to the lack of reading the Bible. Here’s what I asked:

Why do you think so many people — even believers — find it hard to read Scripture consistently? What’s been the biggest challenge for you? Select the one that resonates most:

• Overwhelm — The Bible feels too long, complex, or disconnected.
• Performance Pressure — Fear of “falling behind” in reading plans.
• Cultural Distraction — Social media, endless content, and busyness crowd out Scripture.
• Spiritual Discouragement — Feeling distant from God or unsure how to hear Him in Scripture.
• Not Enough Time — Juggling work, homeschooling, caregiving, or life’s demands.
• New Testament Only — Focusing mainly on the New Testament while skipping the Old.
• Boring / Not a Reader — Finding Scripture dry or struggling with focus.
• Other (Please share in the comments!)

Poll Results:

I held a 24-hour poll through the Vintage Virtues social media groups and compiled the data from a total of 192 responses. Here are the top three reasons people struggle to read the bible:

Cultural Distraction – 38%

Not Enough Time – 24%

Performance Pressure – 11%

Finding Our Love for Scripture

Bible reading isn’t a checklist item. It’s not even necessary for salvation. But it is essential spiritual growth, discernment, and drawing close to God. The Word is truth, and scripture plays a role in the sanctification process.

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17 ESV).

It is transformational; it sets your mind on the things of the LORD, teaches you His story and plan for mankind, and produces statistically significant benefits for those who read at least four days per week.

Here are some practical approaches to getting started:

• Start Small: Read one chapter a day with a five-year reading plan, this builds momentum over time. Or, if you’re up for it, read through a Bible in a year plan.
• Read with Others: This comes with built-in accountability.  It also provides a group to discuss questions and creates a sense of fellowship.
• Try a Chronological Plan: It’s helpful for better understanding how events transpired simultaneously, such as the passages of Kings and Chronicles that intertwine with Isaiah.
• Embrace Imperfection: It’s okay to “fall behind”. It took me two years to read through the Bible in a Year the first time around. The second time, it took one year just to make it through the Old Testament. The point is to read all the way through, eventually.

Why It’s Worth It

Reading the Bible provides guidance to equip us and transform us. It also draws us into a more intimate relationship with God. Further, there are well-researched tangible benefits to reading the Bible.

• Guidance: Reading the Bible provides guidance and wisdom for everyday living; the Holy Spirit works in tandem illuminating the scriptures.  One of my favorite verses is 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;” Why? So that every one of us may be equipped for every good work!
• Transformational: His Word is dynamic, according to Hebrews 4:12, it’s “living and active”. Each time I read the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals something that didn’t stand out before. The word continues to transform me.
• Intimacy: Psalm 19:7-11 tells us that the law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. His testimony, precepts, and commandments are sure and pure. The fear of the LORD is clean. His rules are true and righteous; more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. But how will we know any of that unless we read it for ourselves? Reading the Bible isn’t about earning favor with God. It’s about developing an intimate knowledge of Him through His word.
• Tangible Benefits: Research from the Center for Biblical Engagement, shows that people who read their Bible four or more times per week are:
  • 228% more likely to share faith with others
  • 407% more likely to memorize scripture
  • 59% less likely to view pornography
  • 30% less likely to struggle with pornography[3]

An Invitation to Start Again

With so many benefits to reading the Bible, it’s one of the best investments you can make. If you haven’t read through the Bible, or it’s been a while, start now. Take one simple step this week: open your Bible and read a few verses. Then, consider joining a Bible reading plan.

About

Vintage Virtues is all about Biblical Living in a Modern World. Our blog focuses on Homesteading, Homemaking, and Homeschooling—all viewed through a biblical lens. We also host an online community of over 44,000 members in the Biblical Roots Homesteading & Homemaking Guide: A Vintage Virtues Community, where we take conversations deeper and offer encouragment.

In addition to lifestyle topics, we offer an ongoing Bible study through The Bible Recap. We’re currently finishing the Old Testament and will begin the New Testament on June 1st. We’d love for you to join us on this journey!

Sources

[1] (Lifeway Research 2021)

[2] (Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University 2022)

[3] (Back to the Bible n.d.)