Why Am I Afraid of Reading the Bible?

My Bible had been collecting dust on the shelf for years. But why was I so afraid to open it?

In the past, I thought I was saved. I prayed and read the Bible occasionally and attended Church. I was baptized when I was a child because the Bible says that all new believers must do so. I even won an Oxford KJV Bible from my church for bringing the most friends with me to the Sunday service. Through my teen years I was involved with the church teen group and sang and played the guitar during the services on a regular basis.

After graduating from high school, I left those days behind. I attended Church on a non-regular basis, and didn’t follow the Christian way of living very closely at all.

Every time I would see my Bible on the table or in the bookshelf, I would be afraid to pick it up and read. I got to thinking about what if it said something that scared me because my life was so far from perfection. I didn’t want to read about what God’s thoughts were about people that didn’t follow his word. Of course if I had read it, it would have told me that I don’t need to be perfect to be saved or loved by God. Jesus died for us so we don’t have to worry about that. God forgives our sins, all we need to do is ask him.

I finally decided that I was really tired of living the way I was. So I asked the Lord to come into my heart, and for his forgiveness. I was baptized again because I felt that I really wanted to show my acceptance in God and his son Jesus this time. I started reading the Bible through a study at my Church. I started building a relationship with the Lord and it has been so comforting. He has and continues to get me through hard times and it feels so great to be able to stay in constant contact with him through prayer and through his word.

I found that the Bible is not scary at all, that God’s word is the greatest support of comfort and reassurance than anyone or anything of this material world. Now whenever I feel afraid or worried, I read the Bible especially the Psalms chapters. What a nice turn around! I am so thankful that we have the Holy Bible to read anytime we need to. Don’t be afraid to take that first step and open it, you will like what you see.