How to Understand the Bible: My Own Journey
I was only seven years old when another kid in Sunday School accused me of not truly having faith in Jesus. His reasoning? I wasn’t the kid who always had the answers. He seemed to know every Bible trivia fact on the planet, and I didn’t.
I can still remember that conversation like it happened yesterday. Even at seven, I knew my love for Jesus was real. I couldn’t explain massive theological concepts, but I knew my heart had been changed. I knew I belonged to Him.
But his words left a mark. They planted a quiet, nagging seed of doubt that followed me for years—not about whether Jesus loved me, but about whether I was smart enough to ever really figure out how to understand the bible.
The Elephant in the Room: Bible Intimidation
If I’m being completely honest, opening my Bible used to feel terrifying.
Sure, there were parts I loved and understood, but there were just as many chapters that left me completely lost. I’d watch other Christians confidently break down Scripture, and I’d quietly tell myself:
Looking back now, I realize how incredibly wrong that lie was.
Maybe you grew up in church too. Maybe you’ve heard hundreds of sermons, but when you sit down alone with your copy of Scripture, you still wonder how to understand the bible on your own. Or maybe you’re brand new to your faith and aren’t even sure where to begin.
Wherever you find yourself, if you’ve ever opened your Bible only to close it feeling confused or discouraged, I want you to know something: you are not alone.
The Bible isn’t difficult because you’re not smart enough. And struggling to unpack it doesn’t mean you’re a “lesser” Christian.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Why Learning How to Understand the Bible Feels Hard
The Bible is unlike any other book you’ll ever read. It was written over thousands of years by dozens of different authors, living in completely different cultures, using various literary styles.
Yet through it all, God tells one cohesive, incredible story of His love, His redemption, and His plan to rescue us through Jesus Christ. One of the biggest breakthroughs in my own journey was realizing that the Bible isn’t just a collection of disconnected, individual stories.
For years, I knew about Noah’s ark, David and Goliath, and Esther. But they felt like separate puzzle pieces. Once I began seeing the overarching narrative of Scripture, everything changed. I realized that learning how to understand the bible meant looking at how the whole story fits together.
A Quick Shift in Perspective: Sometimes we struggle to get anything out of our quiet time simply because we are missing the bigger picture.
That’s exactly why we love helping women bridge the gap inside the In-Depth Bible Study Academy. Instead of approaching each book in complete isolation, the Academy gives you a roadmap to see how all of Scripture connects, building your confidence one step at a time.
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Stop Believing the Lie That the Bible Is Only for “Experts”
For a long time, I believed there were two kinds of Christians:
- The people who naturally understood the Bible and could answer every question in group study.
- People like me—who loved Jesus but felt completely overwhelmed by the text.
The truth? God never intended His Word to be understood by only a select few. He gave us the Bible so that everyone could know Him.
Yes, there are passages that require careful study, but difficult doesn’t mean impossible. If you look at the women whose deep faith you admire, they weren’t born with a special code. They simply kept showing up, kept reading, and kept asking questions.
Confidence isn’t a spiritual gift you either have or don’t—it’s a habit you develop over time.
It’s Okay to Be a Beginner!
One of the hardest things about growing as a Christian is admitting when we don’t know something—especially if we’ve been in church for decades. We think, “I should know this by now.”
Can I gently encourage you? Please don’t let pride keep you from growing.
Some of the best spiritual breakthroughs happen when we are willing to raise our hands and say, “I don’t understand this.” God isn’t disappointed by your questions, and He isn’t frustrated that you need time to learn. In fact, learning how to understand the bible practically requires you to become curious.
Next time you are reading a passage, instead of getting frustrated by confusion, view it as an invitation to slow down and ask four simple questions SEE the EASY Bible Study Method for more info!
Questions like these don’t weaken your faith—they strengthen it.
The Shift That Changed Everything for Me
For years, I thought the goal of Bible study was to collect information. To answer more trivia questions, conquer difficult passages, and finally feel like an expert. Those things are wonderful, but they aren’t the ultimate goal.
The goal of learning how to understand the bible is simply to know God.
Knowledge alone doesn’t transform our hearts… real relationship does. When we begin viewing Bible study as an invitation to sit with the Lord instead of another item to check off our to-do list, everything changes. We stop chasing information and start pursuing the Author.
Where Do You Go From Here?
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want that. I want to dive deeper, but I still don’t know where to begin,” you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
That is exactly why the In-Depth Bible Study Academy exists. It meets women right where they are.
Through 12 thoughtfully designed, step-by-step courses, you’ll learn:
It’s exactly the kind of resource I wish I’d had years ago when I quietly believed that the Bible was meant for everyone else but me.
A Final Encouragement
Sometimes I think back to that little seven-year-old girl sitting in Sunday School.
I wish I could wrap my arms around her and tell her that one conversation wouldn’t define her relationship with God’s Word. I’d tell her that she didn’t have to know all the answers right now.
And if you’re reading this today, I want to tell you the exact same thing. Don’t let the fact that you don’t understand everything keep you from opening your Bible tomorrow.
You don’t have to know everything today. Just take the next step. Years from now, you’ll look back and realize that while you were learning how to understand the bible, God was doing something even greater. He was helping you know Him.
Ready to read with clarity and confidence?
The Bible Reference Guide above is a wonderful quick-reference tool, but if you want a complete roadmap to help bring the whole story together, we’ve created something special just for you.
Click here to explore the In-Depth Bible Study Academy and start building your foundation today.
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