There is nothing better than being in God's presence, reading His Word, studying it, and lifting your heart in prayer. At least, that's what we like to say. But how many of us are actually doing it consistently?
We know God's Word is life-giving. We know how much we need it, and we know we should be soaking in Scripture each and every day. But if we're being completely honest, very few of us can say, "Yeah, I study His Word as much as I want to."
If you struggle to stay consistent, you are not alone. To help you move past surface-level reading, I want to get vulnerable and share six personal barriers I face when trying to study God’s Word—along with practical strategies and Scripture promises to help you overcome them.
Barrier 1: Time
Like you, my life is busy. I am married, working full-time, homeschooling four young children, and navigating church and Bible study commitments. If I am not careful, these excellent commitments take priority, and my dedicated time in God's presence gets pushed to the side.
True Bible study requires two things that always feel in short supply: time and undivided attention.
Barrier 2: Tiredness
I love getting up early in the morning to spend time with the Lord; that's when my mind is sharpest. But there are more mornings than I care to admit where I don't wake up before the children. When that happens, I tell myself, "I'll just make up for it this evening." But by the time the kids are in bed, I am mentally drained and completely lack the focus required for deep study.
The Strategy: Build a 7-Day Habit Block
When time and tiredness stand in your way, follow this simple two-step plan:
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Identify your peak window: Find a spot in your schedule where you are both mentally alert and have available time.
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Set a short-term goal: Do not commit to a lifetime change today. Instead, set a manageable seven-day goal to protect that specific time block. Shifting your schedule isn't easy, but prioritizing the Word builds a life-giving pattern.
The Promise to Hold Onto: > "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." — Psalm 1:3
When we spend time in God’s Word, we aren't just checking a religious box. We are being rooted, nourished, and strengthened by the Lord.
Barrier 3: A Lack of Tools
Have you ever sat down, read a passage, reread it, and realized you still have no idea what it means? You want to go deeper, but you simply don't know the first step to take.
Out of frustration, many of us give up and immediately turn on a sermon or look up our favorite Bible teacher to see what they have to say. While pastors and teachers are wonderful gifts to the church, relying solely on them robs you of the richness of personal discovery.
The Strategy: Commit to Learning the Inductive Process
You live in an age with incredible tools at your fingertips. Take time to learn the basic mechanics of personal study: how to observe a text, how to ask great questions, how to track key word repetitions, and how to apply historical context.
The Promise to Hold Onto: > Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). You are never studying alone. The Spirit is right there with you, providing understanding as you diligently mine the text.
Barrier 4: Distraction
Distractions come at us from two fronts:
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Internal Distractions: The moment you sit down to read, your mind is flooded with thoughts: What do I need to do around the house? What are the kids doing? What is my workload today?
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External Distractions: Our environments can be noisy, but the ultimate culprit is our screens. If you study on your phone, tablet, or computer, it is terrifyingly easy for a notification or a random tab to hijack your focus.
The Strategy: Create a Screen-Free Zone
Find a quiet physical space and leave your devices in another room. Go to that spot with nothing but a physical Bible, a notebook, and a pen. Give yourself a dedicated block of time free from digital noise. If you eventually need an online resource or a specialized concordance later in your study, you can access it then—but guard your initial reading time fiercely.
If your mind begins to wander, give yourself grace. Take a breath, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to reorient your focus back onto Christ.
Barrier 5: Discouragement
Discouragement acts as a quiet, heavy barrier. If you miss a couple of days of study, guilt creeps in. You sit down to read, realize you can't remember what you read the day before, and start thinking, “I should be much farther along than this.” ---
Barrier 6: Demonic Oppression
This barrier is deeply tied to discouragement and distraction. Scripture makes it clear that our primary battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy desires nothing more than to keep you locked out of God's Word, and he often works quietly from the shadows to influence your habits.
Early in my marriage, my wife Katie and I would sit down to study Scripture together, and I would instantly begin falling asleep. I didn't recognize it then, but I see it now: it was direct spiritual pushback. If you find yourself perfectly alert while scrolling social media or watching a video, but instantly start yawning two minutes into opening your Bible, you are likely facing a spiritual battle.
The Strategy: Put on Your Spiritual Armor
Before you open your Bible, stop and pray. Do not treat Scripture study as a merely academic exercise. Pray that the Lord will guard your heart, protect your mind from spiritual attack, and open your eyes to his truth. Take up the sword of the Spirit through intentional prayer, fasting, and worship.
The Promise to Hold Onto: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds..." — 2 Corinthians 10:4
What is Your Biggest Hurdle?
Recognizing these barriers is the first step toward defeating them. By adjusting your schedule, leaning on the Holy Spirit, putting down your phone, and opening your eyes to spiritual warfare, you can move past surface-level reading and build deep biblical literacy.
Which of these six barriers do you struggle with the most? Is it time, tiredness, tools, distraction, discouragement, or spiritual oppression? Take time to pray and journal, identifying what your barrier has been and talk to God about a plan to overcome.
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