Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.— Joshua 1:9For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.— Jeremiah 29:11Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.— Matthew 11:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.— Romans 8:28God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.— Psalm 46:1For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.— John 3:16For we live by faith, not by sight.— 2 Corinthians 5:7Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.— Psalm 119:105I can do all this through him who gives me strength.— Philippians 4:13So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.— Isaiah 41:10I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.— Psalm 121:1-2Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.— Hebrews 11:1Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.— 1 Corinthians 13:4But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.— Galatians 5:22-23Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.— Psalm 37:4But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.— Matthew 6:33The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you.— Zephaniah 3:17Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.— Lamentations 3:22-23Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.— Proverbs 3:5-6But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.— Isaiah 40:31Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.— Philippians 4:6-7The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.— Psalm 23:1Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.— Joshua 1:9For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.— Jeremiah 29:11Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.— Matthew 11:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.— Romans 8:28God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.— Psalm 46:1For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.— John 3:16For we live by faith, not by sight.— 2 Corinthians 5:7Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.— Psalm 119:105I can do all this through him who gives me strength.— Philippians 4:13So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.— Isaiah 41:10I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.— Psalm 121:1-2Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.— Hebrews 11:1Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.— 1 Corinthians 13:4But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.— Galatians 5:22-23Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.— Psalm 37:4But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.— Matthew 6:33The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you.— Zephaniah 3:17Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.— Lamentations 3:22-23Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.— Proverbs 3:5-6But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.— Isaiah 40:31Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.— Philippians 4:6-7The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.— Psalm 23:1

Questions of Faith

A Scripture-rooted answer

27 June 2026

How do I start reading the Bible when it feels overwhelming?

By Matthew (Tolu) Olowoyeye

Scripture
Psalm 119:105

Do not begin at Genesis and try to read straight through — that plan has buried many sincere readers in Leviticus by February. The Bible is a library of 66 books in different genres, not a novel to be read front to back. Start with a Gospel — John or Mark — to meet Jesus directly. Then read Acts to see the church begin, then a letter like Philippians. Read small portions slowly. Quality of attention beats quantity of chapters. Use a simple method as you read: notice what the passage says about God, what it says about people, and what it calls you to do. Keep a pen handy and write down one thing that stands out. The goal is not to finish the Bible but to meet the God who wrote it. Scripture: — “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Take this step: Commit to ten minutes a day for two weeks in the Gospel of John — one short section daily. Write one sentence each day on what you noticed about Jesus.

Prayer

Father, thank You for meeting me in my questions. Give me wisdom to understand Your truth, faith to trust You where I cannot yet see, and grace to walk it out today. Anchor my heart in Psalm 119:105. In Jesus' name, amen.

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