How to Start Reading the Bible as an Overwhelmed Mom

You want to start reading the Bible, but you’re already overwhelmed with motherhood. You don’t know how to take it on. Maybe because the book itself is so large. Maybe its because you feel like your brain really can’t take in more information. Whatever the reason, you want to read the Bible, but it feels hard.

I know, because I was in the same boat not too long ago.

I felt a pull to read the Bible, I can’t explain it, but I guess God placed it on my heart to pull me near to Him. So, I asked a friend what Bible she uses and she so graciously gifted me one without hesitation.

My previous experience attempting to read the Bible was when I was in my early teens and I felt like I was reading Shakespeare. The language was so confusing and heavy and I did not understand a single word I was reading back then.

Fast forward, and now I know that there are different versions of the Bible, and you can find one that is more approachable to you.

The Bible is a gift from God. His Word is full of His promises, it shows His character, and lays out a clear path for us to follow, like an instruction manual for life!

I never knew that until I started reading it for myself. This post is full of things that I have learned along my faith journey that I have found helpful. So, if you are like me and you want to read the Bible, but feel like it is hard, I pray that this post is helpful to you in discovering more about the Bible so that you can receive the beautiful gifts from God that are inside of it.

Why Does Reading the Bible Seem So Difficult?

Reading the Bible shouldn’t feel difficult, right? If God wants us to know His Truth, why does the Bible have so much heaviness around it? Well it says in Scripture that we much “make every effort to enter through the narrow door”. God never promises that things will be easy. Reading the Bible might be the path of resistance for a reason. But when you feel called to walk that path, don’t ignore it, even if it feels hard!

The Bible is not just one large book that must be read from cover to cover. It is actually a collection of books full of stories, history, wisdom, poetry, and letters.

It is normal to not understand everything the first time you read it. Reading the Bible is one of those things that you can do over and over again and get something new out of it every single time!

Faith grows through familiarity over time. Its ok to question things you read, to research things to understand further and to re-read parts over and over again.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed in motherhood, read 10 Bible verses for when you need some encouragement.

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What Translation of the Bible is Best?

There are so many different translations of the Bible. The best one in my opinion is ultimately the one that you understand so that you actually read it. There are some that stand above the rest according to some due to their closer translations from the original languages in which the text was written. Imagine the game of telephone, spanned over years and years. There is a reason why some translations are more popular than others. Just make sure that whichever translation you get, is reputable. Some of the most popular translations are ESV, NIV, and NLT.

ESV (English Standard Version) uses word-for-word translation. NIV (New International Version) and NLT (New Living Translation) are a thought-for-thought translation. I use CSB (Christian Standard Bible) which uses “optimal equivalence” which is a balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought to maintain accuracy while also enhancing readability.

CSB is not far off from ESV which I like because I want to read the Bible and form my own opinions based on fact, rather than basing my understanding on a translation that has already been modified to be more easily understood. Bottom line for me is I want to be able to read an “undiluted”, for lack of a better word, translation, that is still manageable for comprehension for my tired mom brain.

Bible Translation Recommendation

If I were to make a recommendation, I would say to go with either ESV or CSB. You can go online and search a verse, then click through the different translations and see which type of writing feels good for you. Because if you read a verse and have not a single idea what it said, you are less likely to keep trying to read it and it will feel overwhelming.

But when you are reading the Bible and you actually understand it, it resonates, and can actually make changes rather than going in one ear and out the other so to speak. So choose a version that feels approachable to you.

The goal is to read the Bible and understand it, so you can apply it to your life.

Where to Start Reading the Bible

Reading the Bible, isn’t like reading a chapter book as a whole. The Bible is made up of different books written over a span of time. You can jump around, read parts of books, read a couple chapters in one and then move to a different one.

There are many opinions on “how to read the Bible”, but I have found that once you start, you just kind of hop around anyway. At least that has been my experience. I bought a Bible reading plan to help me stay on track to read the whole Bible in 52 weeks and I still reference it occasionally, but I found that I was starting to feel behind when I wouldn’t finish a day or a week. I was still reading the Bible every day, but not getting that satisfaction of “checking it off”. That’s when I realized, I didn’t need to follow a plan, but instead just trust and continue getting into the Word every day.

When You Don’t Feel Inspired By Scripture

There are times when I feel less inspired to read, chapters that feel dull, or books that I just can’t wait to get through. When I am working through a book or chapter I don’t particularly feel pulled into, I will take it slow and break it up with other areas of the Bible that I love.

Proverbs is the best place to start in my opinion, especially as an overwhelmed mom who has very little time some days. It is a book I constantly return to. The book of Proverbs is made up of bullet point like Scripture, full of nuggets of wisdom. Proverbs 31 is one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. It describes a woman of noble character, and for me has given me a framework for the type of woman I want to be. I think of the Proverbs 31 woman as an inspiration that I look up to.

Psalms is another great place to get started in reading the Bible. I return to Psalms often, especially when I am working through something. It is full of some long and some short poems, songs and prayers. Anything you are going through, there is likely a Psalm about it. Its comforting to know that the human emotion and struggle isn’t only happening to you. Even thousands of years ago, they had the same thoughts and struggles as us. They questioned if God forgot about them, sang His praises, and found comfort in His promises. The book of Psalms feels like the most emotional book of the Bible, highly relatable, and like you’re peeking into the diary of those who wrote it.

How Busy Moms Can Read the Bible in Small Moments

Motherhood is busy. And it can be hard to find the time to do anything for ourselves in different seasons of motherhood. Reading the Bible is something I have made a priority for myself because I see and feel the difference it has made and continues to make in my life.

For me, reading the Bible is a non-negotiable part of my day. Some days that looks like a quiet morning uninterrupted with reading a few chapters and prayer time. Other times I squeeze in some reading during our afternoon quiet time like I mention in my Gentle Rhythms Guide. Other days I can barely even pull up a verse on my phone or read a quick devotional. And usually with days like that I end up spending time with God in other ways throughout the day like I talk about in my post How to Spend Time With God When You’re Exhausted.

Ultimately, I believe that sitting down and reading the Bible every day cannot be replaced. It is amazing how we can go from “I don’t have any time” to making plenty of time and then some extra to dedicate to reading God’s Word. It will turn into something you crave. Sacred time that you protect and become disciplined and diligent in putting effort towards. You’ll find minutes, and sometimes hours, to dive into Scripture. When you make a decision to read the Bible, you’ll stop making excuses as to why you can’t. At least that’s how it was for me!

Small moments with God matter. Every verse, every minute spent reflecting on Scripture, every real life application of what you have learned, it all adds to your faith.

Helpful Tools That Make Bible Reading Easier

There are a few things I have found extremely helpful in making reading the Bible easier.

The first are devotionals. I find them so helpful because they are bite sized, food for thought, and only take a minute or two but can have a huge impact on your day. Even if I do nothing else, I have one verse to reflect on for the day. Because I have found these so helpful, I created a 14 day devotional for overwhelmed mothers. It is tailored specifically to motherhood. With gentle encouragement, a reflection to think about, a short prayer, and even a song recommendation to carry you throughout your day. I often go back to certain days because they are such good reminders.

The other tool I find helpful is the YouVersion Bible app. Its free to download and contains so much within the app. You can see all the different translations of the Bible to see what you like too! There are also Bible plans for different struggles to help guide you through Scripture. It is searchable so you can easily find verses. You can highlight verses in the app too and so much more. Its great because you have the Bible with you wherever you go. So you can open it up instead of social media when you have a free moment. You get so much more peace rather than more noise from other apps you might gravitate to.

What to Do When You Don’t Understand What You’re Reading

I want to start by saying that you likely will not understand everything you read the first time you read it. Just to release the pressure. Choosing a translation that you can comprehend helps a lot. But even with that, Scripture is so incredibly deep and interwoven. You could read the same verse 2 days apart and get a brand new understanding of it each time.

The more you read the Bible, the more you become familiar with it, and your understanding grows. There are times I have hard time understanding certain passages. Usually I will look at a different translation to see if slightly different words help me understand it more easily. But sometimes I must research the meaning deeper because I don’t understand the metaphors or context fully. I don’t want to just read the Bible, I want to understand it. So I take my time, re-read passages, look up definitions for words I don’t know. I have even researched entire sections to be sure that I am understanding correctly.

Remember, God speaks through His word even when we are still learning.

A Simple 10-Minute Rhythm for Reading the Bible

One of the most beautiful things about reading the Bible, is that you can read it in small chunks. You don’t need to read whole books, or even whole chapters at a time. You could read one verse to carry you throughout your day. That is how impactful the Bible is. One verse can sit with you, and change you.

To Start Reading the Bible, Start with Presence

Start your Bible reading time by taking a moment to take a deep breath and be present. Start with a short prayer. Ask God to be near and guide your heart and open your mind to receive His truth.

Begin reading wherever you choose and if a verse makes you feel something, pause. Don’t continue just for the sake of “getting it done”. If you feel goosebumps, warmth, shivers up your spine or moved to tears, pause. Re-read that verse or passage. Sit with it, soak it in. Reflect. Research. Understand.

Not all days will be like this, but when it is, treat it as something special and dive deeper into the meaning. This is how Scripture changes you.

End your reading time with a short prayer. Thank God for giving us the gift of His Word so that we may know Him. Thank Him for His love, grace and for His steadfastness.

Return to your day by choosing one intention for the day to help you be more aligned with God.

This simple rhythm can be done at any time of the day, but starting the day with it if you’re able to can help guide your day.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck and you need guidance to take the first step out of survival mode, I created a free 10 Minute Survival Mode Reset to help you get started.

Encouragement for Imperfect Faith

God is not waiting for perfect discipline. He welcomes small steps and consistency matters more than length. Even a few minutes in Scripture can shape your heart. Opening the Bible is the beginning of a relationship, not a task to complete.

So if you have been feeling drawn to start reading the Bible, I pray that this post encourages you to just start. Where you are, with what you have, in the best way you are able to right now.

You don’t need the perfect moment to begin reading the Bible. You only need a small moment and a willing heart.

I pray that you find the wisdom, guidance and reassurance that you are seeking through your journey reading the Bible.