How to read The Bible when you feel Overwhelmed

Have you heard the song “Dusty Bibles” by Josiah Queen?

There’s a lyric that says “We got dust on our Bibles, brand-new iPhones. No wonder why we feel this way.” resonates with many, highlighting a common struggle.

What’s this feeling that everyone seems to be having?

My first guess is chronic loneliness, the curse of comparison, and general disconnection. People belonging to different groups seem to be competing for the title of 'most lonely' or 'most hard done by'. If you spend a short amount of time on the internet, you’ll quickly hear why certain categories of people feel like they have it the hardest.

But the truth is, regardless of the specifics of a person’s life, chronic loneliness and discontentment are spreading like wildfire. 

There can be so many reasons for this – prolonged isolation due to illness (“I should just stay home…”) or remote work (“When was the last time someone smiled at me in person?”), life transitions like graduations or breakups (“Where do I go from here?”), over dependence on social media (“Wow my life is bleak compared to…”) and societal individualism (“I can blaze my own way in life, on my own”). 

I remember when my third child was born. I was juggling many responsibilities: active in my church, working part-time from home, renovating on a budget, and keeping life engaging for my two older kids. – and guess what started to fall by the wayside? You’ve probably guessed it: my own spiritual walk. 

When tangible things in life feel urgent and pressing, we tend to sacrifice our own needs first. If you've been a Christian for awhile, you may have noticed that our internal health greatly increases when we spend time reading God's word. But how can we read the Bible when we feel overwhelmed?

In that season of my life, sitting still and studying scripture became a thing of the past. I would think back to my college days: getting up before the sun, making a cup of coffee, and finding a quiet spot under a tree to do my morning devotions. Nothing but the sounds of birds and a soft breeze, just me and the word of God.

That version of Katie was so wildly different then the disheveled mama I am today! Messy hair with someone else’s cheerios stuck in the tangles, sweatpants with paint stains (because when you have 15 minutes to try to paint that wall you don’t waste time changing your clothes!), mismatched socks, and spit up on your shoulder. Nothing but my home’s chaos and the blissful sounds of Paw Patrol blaring in the background—not exactly a spiritual sanctuary.

But no matter how chaotic life felt, do you know what I always found time to do? I seemed completely able to find time to open my phone and scroll.

Didn’t I remember there’s an unlimited amount of Bible apps available? How many gospel podcasts were just waiting for me to find them? Yet I would find myself scrolling perfectly curated photos of other people’s seemingly perfect lives. 

Let me tell you friends, this certainly did not fill me up. My Bible became dusty, and my heart became a sad and lonely place. 

I share this not to add to the voices of “the group I’m in has it the hardest!” but rather to say, if you have had a season where it is hard to read the Bible – you are not alone! And the most fantastic part: God meets us where we are. 

How many times in the Bible did someone feel overwhelmed, and the creator of everything shows up in the most unexpected way?

• Moses, having fled his homeland and joined a totally different culture where he had to work hard to survive, encountered the Lord in the burning bush. 

• Hagar, when she was in the wilderness feeling hopeless and alone encountered God, who saw her and promised her a hopeful future! She literally called him “El Roi”: The God who sees. 

• Jacob wrestled with a divine being.

• The prophet Elijah heard a still small voice.

• God came to Peter in a vision and challenged his opinions by showing him that non-Jews were to be welcomed into the sacrifice of Christ.

• While mourning Jesus after watching him die, he appeared behind Mary Magdalene in perhaps the most startling appearance recorded in scripture! 

  
  

So please know that you can be certain, God is the God who sees, and regardless of where you’ve been or what season you’re in, he sees you, and he will meet you there. 

Why It Feels So Hard Sometimes 

Now trust me, I understand how impossible it can feel to get started in reading the Bible.

Should we start at the beginning and read cover to cover? Should we launch ourselves into Matthew and focus on the gospels? What about the minor profits? I’ve never fully understood Revelation so maybe I should jump there… No one knows who REALLY wrote Hebrews so maybe if I read it, I’ll have some insight. Oh, but what about Daniel and the lions’ den? I’d love to read my favourite character stories… 

And then, after all those dizzying thoughts, we close the book and go get a cold glass of water – right? 

When we look at the Bible as another mental mountain we must climb, it stretches higher until we decide we prefer the valleys, so we turn away and tell ourselves we’ll try tomorrow. 

What if I told you this could possibly be Spiritual resistance? What if it’s a ploy of the enemy to keep us out of the word of God? If it seems exhausting or inconvenient, and we’re already stressed and overwhelmed, don’t you think he would do anything he could to keep us away from God? 

Think of it like cleaning your kitchen after you’ve hosted a 20 person Christmas dinner. You’re standing in the middle of an absolute warzone! Mashed potatoes are congealed to the inside of your kitchen aid bowl as hard as concrete! Someone left the stove top on, and the gravy burned black against the pan. A mile high stack of dirty dishes hides your sink from view, and your compost bin is already overflowing.

Starting can feel impossible. But here’s a trick that works both in the messy kitchen AND in the need to start reading the Bible. 

Set a timer for 15 minutes and just start. Whatever you’re looking at, whichever item you’re facing, just start. How many times have I convinced myself that unloading and reloading the dishwasher will take me 3 hours? I’ve timed myself, and it truly takes me 8 minutes total. That leaves me 7 whole minutes left to wipe down surfaces and sweep the floor! So, with your Bible, set a 15-minute timer, flip it open anywhere, and just start. 

Shifting Your Perspective 

Reading the Bible is about relationship, not performance. When you’re in a season where reading your Bible feels natural, it’s good to be intentional about what sections you read and what type of study you do. But when you’re struggling to get started, it’s perfectly fine to close your eyes, point, open, and start. Scripture is alive and you are completely welcome to dive in and see what catches you! 

God values presence over perfection. He’s not asking you to start parsing Greek participles every time you sit in the word. If we learned anything from Jesus’ teachings, it’s that the status of our hearts matters so much more than anything else. We’re not trying to impress God with how much we know about him; we’re trying to know him more. Be present! Writing these words, I picture myself standing amid piles of laundry and toys, with barely any sleep and spit up on my shirt, holding a baby while two other littles run circles around me and I think “Try telling HER to be present with the Lord.” So, this advice is specifically for the parents in the room: It’s okay to let your kids watch TV while you read the Bible. If that’s what it takes for you to have 15 minutes uninterrupted, you go for it! If you really wrestle with guilt, show them Veggie Tales or something! If they love listening to music, put some on for them. If they are generally quiet while they have a snack, you prep your Bible time for the same time. If all else fails, facetime their grandparents and say, “Can you talk to them for 15 minutes while I read the Bible? THANKS” and run! 

Practical Ways to Read When You’re Overwhelmed 

• Pick one verse. Even a single verse can shape your whole day. Try this: John 15:5 (NIV) — “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Why this verse? 

  • Shifts us from striving to abiding 

  • Reminds us closeness with God is about connection, not performance 

  • Simple to memorize yet endlessly deep

  • Try praying it: “Lord, help me remain in You today. Keep me connected like a branch to the vine.” 

    
    

• Read Psalms or the Gospels. When you’re weary, turn to passages that speak directly to the heart. Four Psalms I recommend: 

  • Psalm 23: The Shepherd’s care 

  • Psalm 34: God is near to the broken-hearted 

  • Psalm 61: Lead me to the Rock that is higher 

  • Psalm 62: Rest for the soul 

    
    

• Listen instead of reading. Audio Bibles are great while walking, driving, or doing chores. Choose a voice you enjoy—Jackie Hill Perry’s narration is amazing, but even the regular Bible app voice works! 

  
  

• Pray Scripture. Let the verse give you the words when you can’t find your own. 

  
  

• Create a small habit. Even five minutes counts. Keep your Bible visible—by your alarm clock, coffee mug, or couch. 

  
  

• Find accountability. Ask a friend to read with you or check in. A simple “✅ Reading done!” text can give you the nudge you need. 

  
  

• Give yourself grace. God’s love doesn’t depend on your streak. Miss a day—or a week? Tomorrow can be Day One again. 

Remember, God’s Word is living and active—it will work in you even through small moments. Even when you feel weak, God’s strength meets you there in your weakness, strong enough to reach you. Just like Josiah Queen’s song says, the answer to tackling difficult seasons and feelings is to reconnect with the one who created everything.  

It’s okay to keep things simple when you’re overwhelmed, and you are certainly not alone in feeling overwhelmed at times. It truly seems like life is designed to keep us feeling that way.

The trick is to just get started! 

I encourage you to choose one small step today: read a verse, listen to Scripture, or pray through a Psalm.