This is the last devotion in a series of devotions on how to grow in your walk with God. If you have not already done so, you may find it helpful to read the introductory devotion, Growing in God: Mommy Edition.
A couple months ago, Ellie and I were working on her schoolwork. I gave her an assignment to complete and went off to do other things. A few minutes later, she came to find me. “Mommy, that assignment’s hard,” she complained.
“I know,” I said. “Schoolwork can be hard work.”
“But I don’t like to work,” Ellie said.
She was only putting into words what we’ve all thought at one time or another. There are times when we just don’t want to work. For me, some of those times include when I’m tired, when I’d rather be doing something else, or when the task at hand is something I don’t enjoy doing. Other times, I’m just lazy.
It’s not necessarily wrong not to enjoy working, or not to want to do a particular chore. Even skipping a particular chore may not be a problem. The problem comes when we decide not to do something that should be done, simply because we don’t want to put forth the necessary effort.
Most things we don’t take action upon can simply be done later, with relatively few consequences. But if we think we can fail to study God’s Word on a regular basis without significant effects upon our spiritual life, we’re completely mistaken. Every day we don’t study the Bible is a day we allow God’s influence to wane in our lives and become more open to Satan’s attacks. The consequences might not be apparent at first, but they will be some day—guaranteed.
How can a mom who doesn’t think she has time for a shower find time for Bible Study? I suggest four ways.
First, she can accept that there is more than one right way to do Bible Study, and that study post-children may look very different from her pre-children study. In other words, she can stop trying to force her Bible study time to look like she thinks it “should” and instead take it for what God means it to be now. He is well aware that most of us don’t have a solid, undisturbed hour to sit down and delve into Scripture. Could it be, then, that He intends for us to study His Word in a different way? Absolutely!
Second, she can look for some of those different ways to study. Maybe she doesn’t have time to sit down and read for an hour, but she certainly has time to choose a verse and meditate upon it (think about it) throughout the day. Studying the Bible can include really chewing over a verse of Scripture in our mind, thinking about it, asking God questions about it, or offering it in praise back to Him. This kind of study can be every bit as valuable as longer sessions. It all depends on the heart. Coming up with creative ways to study God’s Word can be a delight to the soul.
Third, she can determine that she will study even on the days when it’s not convenient. We’ve all had those days that were just plain hard or exhausting. But even on those days, surely we can find five minutes to spend reading or meditating on God’s heart to us. Some days, it will be our own flesh that puts barriers in the way of our study time. But if it’s on a regular basis that we can’t find just five minutes per day, our priorities are sadly misplaced.
Fourth, she can remember that it’s not her job to make her study meaningful. Yes, it’s her responsibility to do the study. But it’s God’s job to bring the spiritual benefits out of it. It can be tempting to skip our study if we’re tired, or if we think we didn’t get much out of it last time. But mom, there is never a time you study Scripture that you get nothing from it. That’s Satan’s lie that we too easily buy into. Just because we don’t have a rush of warm feelings or some kind of epiphany doesn’t mean we haven’t gotten something from it. If we present ourselves before God with a sincere heart for study of His words to us, He will cause us to get out of it what He wants us to get out of it that day.
I know that adding just one more thing to our schedules can seem like the straw that broke the camel’s back. But adding Bible study isn’t the straw; rather, it’s the support that enables the camel to keep going despite its load. If our schedules are too busy that we can’t add one more thing, it’s not Bible study that should go by the wayside, it’s something else. There is nothing in this world that will bring us so great a spiritual benefit as spending time connecting with God. Adding this “one more thing” to your schedule won’t make your load heavier—it will actually lighten it. And what mom doesn’t need that?
Matthew 11:28-30—Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.