We are coming in to a very busy season and I confess finding time to write has become more challenging. Holidays and church activities have kept the schedule full, but earlier this week I was reminded of a struggle I had as a young mother, one I want to share with you today.
A Word of Encouragement
Sunday night one of my girls was up several times sick in the night, and it has been a long time since I had such broken sleep. When she woke me at midnight, and again at 2:30, I was groggy—half awake, half dreaming, and not very coherent. When my alarm finally went off at 5:30, nothing in me felt capable of focusing on prayer and Bible reading. I was exhausted.
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So I listened instead. I turned on my audio Bible and listened to a few chapters. Was it my usual pace? Not at all. But you know what? It was sufficient. I was reminded to give myself grace.
I also remembered how ten years ago, when my girls were babies, I struggled terribly with daily Bible reading. If I tried to wake up early, I could only hit the snooze button. If I tried to read when my girls were awake, I was interrupted every two minutes—needs, cries, noise, diapers. Back then, I wish someone had told me, “It’s okay to just listen to a Psalm. It’s okay to hear a Proverb. It counts.”
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.—Romans 10:17
For years I assumed that verse belonged only in context of salvation. But we all need an increase of faith—whether we are new believers or a veteran Christian. And that faith comes through the Word of God, whether read or heard.
Practical Advice
I will warn you, however, that listening can bring its own distractions. If you’re using a phone app, it can be tempting to turn the audio on and begin scrolling. Don’t do that.
If you need to listen, then truly listen. Turn it on, but put your phone out of reach. Use headphones if you can. If possible, open your Bible and follow along. (Not the Bible app—open the actual pages of your Bible!)
And if a verse stands out to you, pause the tape.
One advantage reading has over listening is its meditative pace. Alexander Scourby doesn’t know if God is speaking to you in that moment, he just keeps reading. Don’t ignore those nudges from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes a verse will stand out to you and that is a treasure. If you can, write it on a notecard or sticky note. Keep it where you’ll see it throughout the day, maybe while you’re making bottles or rocking a sick child.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. —Psalm 1:2
Be Faithful in Little Things
Give yourself grace on the hard days. Hunger and devotion to God’s Word is not measured by how early your alarm rings or how beautifully your prayer journal is organized. Faithfulness is measured in small, steady steps.
The key is this: don’t give up.
A faithful man shall abound with blessings... —Proverbs 28:20a
Some days you will run. Some days you will walk. Some days the most you can manage is one small step. But one step is still movement.
Don’t stand still. Don’t step backward. Don’t quit.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.— Proverbs 8:34
A Closing Caution
Listening can be a lifeline during difficult seasons, but it is not meant to become a permanent substitute for a growing walk with God. I don’t want this thought to turn into an excuse for complacency. We should desire the sincere milk of the Word but keep pressing forward to the strong meat. Give yourself grace—but don’t settle. As life changes, ask the Lord if it’s time to stretch, move on, and grow again.
