Three Times Through: How Scripture Became My Daily Anchor

Daily writing prompt

Which book have you read more than any other?

View all responses

I have read the Bible cover‑to‑cover multiple times, and now I read small portions of it every day. I’m 39, a non‑denominational woman of faith, and I’ve lived with Emery‑Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy since I was five. That long arc of life—marked by slow seasons, sudden health scares, and ordinary joys—has taught me patience and given me a quiet wisdom. Above all, it has taught me that the Bible is not merely a book I consult; it is the voice that steadies me.

Reading the whole Bible repeatedly changed the way I live with Scripture. The first time through I learned the story; the second time I began to see patterns and promises; the third time the words started to live inside me. Now, when I open to a short passage in the morning, I’m not meeting strangers. I’m meeting friends whose faces I know—psalms that name my grief, gospel promises that reframe my fear, prophetic words that widen my hope.

My conviction about Scripture is simple and theological: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV). That truth shapes how I read. These are not merely wise human sayings; they are words through which God chooses to speak. When a verse lands in the middle of a sleepless night or a hospital waiting room, it carries the weight of God’s presence. It does not always remove the pain, but it gives me language to pray, a horizon to trust, and a steadying hand to hold.

Health scares have been the most vivid classroom for this practice. In those moments—when tests are uncertain and the future feels thin—I don’t have to scramble for comfort. Familiar passages come to mind because I have read them enough that they live in my memory. A line from Psalms becomes a breath; a promise from the Gospels becomes a posture. Scripture has taught me to name fear honestly, to bring it before God, and to rest in the fact that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on my circumstances.

My daily rhythm is intentionally small and sustainable. Each morning I open the YouVersion app to read the Verse of the Day and often follow with a separate devotional reading that includes relevant passages to sit with. This practice is an important habit for me—one that sets the tone for my day and helps shape my responses. The aim is formation, not performance: I want the Word to steady my heart, not become another item on a checklist.

Practical takeaways I live by:

• Start small: Five to ten minutes a day builds a habit that lasts.
• Read with expectation: Approach the text believing it is God’s speech, not just good advice.
• Keep anchor verses: Memorize a few passages that you can call on in crisis.
• Use Scripture in prayer: Let biblical phrases form your petitions and praises.
• Share the Word: Read aloud with a friend or caregiver; Scripture spoken becomes communal strength.

Reading the Bible cover‑to‑cover multiple times didn’t make me immune to suffering, but it taught me how to carry it. For me, Scripture is not a refuge from reality; it is the lens through which I see reality differently—more honest about pain, more anchored in hope, and more certain that Jesus walks with me through every season.