The Bible

I’ve thrown my Bible. I was so angry, so disconnected from the promise, the hope, the empowerment that is supposed to be found in that book, yes, I threw it across the room. Still, I’d been taught to honor that book and that teaching was alive within me. So, I looked at it on the other side of the room, open, disheveled, torn, and I actually started crying. It looked like me! It felt like me, open, disheveled, torn. I got up and picked it up. I taped the torn page and handled it gently.

Since then, I have found treasures in its pages. Listen. Read these verses out loud…

“With age-old love, I have loved you. I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt.” (Jeremiah 31:34)

“He reached out from on high and grasped me; he drew me out of the deep waters. He rescued me from my mighty enemy and from my foes who were too powerful for me. They attacked me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord came to my support. He set me free in the open, and rescued me because he loves me.” (Psalm 18:17-20)

“I will give you treasures out of the darkness, and riches that have been hidden away.” (Isaiah 45:3)

You will be restored, rebuilt. You have been grasped by the hand of God. The treasure of you that could not be discovered and shared due to the abuse has been kept safe by God and now will be given back to you.

Reflection

What is your relationship with the Bible?

Prayer

Dear God, help me to renew my relationship with the Bible. Others have used what is within it to justify things I believe are wrong and to condemn things I believe are okay with You. Help me to open its pages and hear You. Amen.