My Love Story with the Bible
by Heather Bock
I’ve been reading the Bible my whole life. My parents read it to me before I could read, and I read it myself as soon as I could form the words alone. I remember waking scared of the dark when I was little, crawling down from my bed, flipping on the lights, and opening my light pink Precious Moments Bible to Psalm 4:8: “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (NKJV).
I loved reading it cover to cover, so when I ended up at a Christian college, and it was time to choose a major, it didn’t take long to decide on Theological Studies—the most Bible I could find. I had no idea what I would do with it—I minored in Literature and French as back-ups—but I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity.
I thought I loved the Bible before college.
I have a clear memory of sitting in the front row of my Old Testament Introduction class, oblivious to the students around me, leaning forward to catch my professor’s every word. He made the Bible come alive. He made us think deeply about it in ways I never had before. Later, in Genesis class, the same professor asked us to make 50 observations on one chapter each week, even when the chapter was only a genealogy. I found riches I never knew were there.
I needed it.
It was in college that I was away from my parents for the first time. I couldn’t rely solely on my parents’ faith anymore—I had to study the Bible for myself, not just read it as I had all my life. I needed to come to conclusions on my own, listening to more solid Christian commentary than just from my small home church. I began to wrestle with difficult passages I had always glossed over before.
It was in college that my legs gave way beneath me as I heard the news that my older sister had leukemia. During the subsequent year in which my sister was placed in a top-ranking hospital in the same city as my college, I needed that Bible. I clung to verses of God’s love and providence, like in Psalm 73: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (NASB).
I thought I loved the Bible during college.
Several years went by after college during which time I didn’t fall away from God, but my passion for studying His Word ebbed. My Bible was used but not studied. Then I started going to Bible study every week, and I caught the excitement of Bible teachers all over again. I did all I could to align my kids’ naps so I could have that time to spend in God’s Word.
I needed it.
It was in my kids’ younger years that I realized how selfish I was, how easy it was for me to lose my patience and my temper. God let me see how broken I was, and I memorized God’s words to encourage me through the many times I felt defeat. I focused on verses like, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord” (II Cor. 3:18, NASB). His words were life to me.
It was in my kids’ younger years that I found glimpses of Jesus in places least expected in the Old Testament. I dug in deep with renewed fervor and started to write a Bible study of my own. My desire through it was to kindle the passion in other women’s hearts. God had taken my love for the Bible to a new level.
I think I love the Bible now, but as I uncover layer after layer of beauty from Scripture, I hope God will only increase that love the longer I walk with Him. I hope I will someday be saying once again…I thought I loved the Bible then.
Do you have a love story with the Bible? If so, will you comment and give me an outline of it? I’d love to hear your story!
Oh, Heather I love this! I LOVE the Bible too! Those moments of discovery are life changing. Thank you for this, I think I’ll go read it again 🙂
I think you should! Yes, I’m so thankful for the gift of the Word!
Heather, beautiful post today. Very thought provoking this morning. I will have to honestly think about this question for a minute. So many reasons why I love this beautifully bound book. Much love ❤️
After you’re done thinking about it, I’d love to hear what you have to say!
Heather this is beautiful! I love how you share your heart of how the bible became intimate to you :). As someone that did not have that growing up, I came to crave and appreciate it during my college years, when God used music and His grace in others around me to show me just how much I truly needed Jesus. Thank you!
I’m glad God gave it to you in your college years at least! I love how He used music in your life to draw you to Him.
Beautiful post Heather. Isn’t it interesting how we can read the bible at different times in our lives and pull new, fresh meaning every time? It truly is a living, breathing word.
Yes, it is! I love that about it!
Beautiful post Heather. Isn’t it amazing how we can read the bible through different stages in our life, and we can get a new, fresh meaning every time? It truly is a living, breathing word.
I love reading the Bible and finding connections throughout, reaching to OT and NT. I like noticing the tiny details and remembering them. I would love to go to Bible School but that’s for much later. Anyway I love reading and studying on my own 🙂 I’m so sorry about your sister, but I’m glad you got a chance to study the Bible.
I love the tiny details, too–no word is wasted! I hope you DO get to go to Bible school someday!
I loved reading this Heather! It was neat to see the layers and how He keeps wooing you deeper and deeper in relationship with Him.
Thanks–I love hearing other people’s stories of how God brings them closer, too!
Absolutely beautiful, Heather!
Thank you, Kate!
I loved this post, Heather! I could just envision you as a little girl with your Precious Moments Bible…how sweet His words are, even to children.
I too have found such encouragement, comfort and courage through the living Word of God. I’m so thankful for the way it speaks to us…no matter what situation we find ourselves in. Blessings!
Yes, they are! I pray they will be sweet to my children as well. Thank you for sharing what it’s been to you, too.
Thank you for sharing your story–what a great reminder of how powerful and relevant God’s Word is to our lives no matter what stage we are in!
Thanks, Melissa! I’d love to hear your story!
Love this, Heather! So encouraging. My love for the Bible comes from an inward fire that is lit as I read it. I pray that God gives me more of that every time I read it.