Chasing After God When Discipline Is Hard
Have you ever said, “I want to grow closer to God, but I just don’t know where to start”? You’re not alone. I’ve been there too — and honestly, I still find myself there sometimes.
Reading the Bible felt intimidating to me for a long time. It’s full of names I could barely pronounce and verses I didn’t always understand. And journaling? Forget it. I figured I had to be some deep, poetic, color-coded writer with great handwriting to do it right (which is funny, considering I’m a writer). But here’s the truth: God never asked for perfection — He just wants presence.
He doesn’t care about aesthetics or pretty-looking handwriting. He wants you.
Honest, vulnerable, messy, curious you.
The one scrolling through this post hoping to find encouragement. The one who sets alarms for 5:30am but ends up hitting snooze or getting lost on social media. (Yeah… that’s me too.)
My journey started with buying a She Reads Truth Study Bible and The Bible Recap Guide. Not because I had it all figured out, but because I was tired of feeling spiritually dry. These resources helped me start somewhere, and sometimes “somewhere” is all you need.
Eventually, I began creating my own Bible reading plans — reading through specific books over a set number of days. And as for journaling? It went from short, scribbled prayers to full pages of honest conversations with God. I added stickers, grabbed colorful pens (if you know me then you know I love good 0.38mm pen) and made it feel fun — not forced.
Let me be real: I didn’t stick to a perfect routine.
Some days I felt too busy to open my Bible at all. As a mom, a partner, and full-time working woman, busy became my middle name! But over time, I realized I was letting busy keep me from the most important relationship I had: my relationship with Christ. Understanding that God only wants me to be present and consistent, I began to see how the enemy was distracting me from deepening my faith and my relationship with God.
Because it is a relationship. And like any relationship, it requires intentional time, listening, and showing up — even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable.
How can we say we know God if we never spend time with Him?
I used to say I didn’t need to read the Bible or go to Church to know God. I’ve heard others say it too. But knowing about God isn’t the same as knowing Him. We can’t truly understand His heart, His character, or His promises just by scrolling past scripture quotes on Instagram. We need to encounter His Word for ourselves.
I’ll admit it — I’ve been lazy. Not just spiritually, but in other areas too. I’ve made hundreds of workout schedules … and abandoned just as many. I’ve let the laundry pile up to the point of embarrassment. I’ve put off running errands to stay in the comfort of my bed. I don’t say this to shame myself, but to be aware: you have to want change bad enough to show up for it.
No one’s coming to drag us out of bed and put a Bible in our hands. That’s on us. That’s spiritual maturity. That’s discipline. And it’s not easy — but it’s worth it.
If you’ve been snoozing your spiritual life, you’re not a failure. You’re human. But you don’t have to stay stuck in cycles of spiritual inconsistency. I pray every day for God to remove the spirit of laziness from me and replace it with discipline. But I also have to meet Him there.
He’s not asking for an hour of perfect worship or for every journal page to look like it came from Pinterest. Sometimes, He just wants five honest minutes. A whispered prayer. A deep breath with His name on it.
🍃Challenge for Today:
If you’re struggling to pray, open your Bible, or be consistent — start small. Here are a few things that helped me:
Get a Bible you enjoy
Use a guide or devotional to ease in
Write prayers — even if they’re short
Get creative: use color, stickers, or draw
Set reminders not just for “tasks,” but for truth
Give yourself grace, but keep showing up
Check out my Amazon list here for Bible journaling tools I’ve purchased and use daily!
🙏🏽 Prayer:
God,
I want to know You. But sometimes it’s hard. Help me fight the urge to put You last. Give me the discipline to pursue You even when I’m tired, distracted, or overwhelmed. Remove laziness from my life and replace it with love for Your Word. Help me to enjoy our time together and not treat it like a chore. Thank You for always meeting me where I am — and loving me still.
Amen.
📌Call to Action:
If this resonated with you, don’t keep it to yourself. Comment below, send me an email, or share this post with someone who’s also trying to deepen their faith but feels discouraged. Let’s remind each other that discipline is a journey, not a destination.
And if you haven’t already, grab the free 5-day devotional I created to help you reconnect with God — one day, one verse, one prayer at a time.
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