Beyond Youth

What if the most underrated book in your life is the one you keep forgetting to open?

Let’s be honest. If someone asked you to spend 20 minutes scrolling TikTok, watching YouTube, gaming, or getting lost in Instagram Reels, you could probably manage that without too much difficulty…

Twenty minutes reading your Bible, though?

Suddenly, you’re exhausted. You need a snack. Your room needs tidying. You remember that one WhatsApp you haven’t answered since 2023. And somehow, even cleaning your bedroom even becomes more appealing than opening Genesis… Funny how that works.

But what if reading your Bible could actually make a difference to your everyday life?… because it’s More than an ancient book.

The Bible might be thousands of years old, but the people in it experienced some seriously relatable problems.

• Joseph was betrayed by his own family. Family drama? He’s got stories.
• David faced a giant while everyone else was too scared to act. Imagine the pressure of going viral for fighting Goliath.
• Daniel stood up for what he believed in when fitting in would have been much easier.
• Peter confidently promised to stand by Jesus, then completely bottled it when things got difficult. We’ve all had moments when our confidence disappeared at exactly the wrong time.
• Martha got so caught up in everything she needed to do that she missed what mattered most. Sound familiar when your to-do list is longer than your screen time report?

These aren’t just random stories about people who lived ages ago. They’re stories about fear, friendship, pressure, mistakes, forgiveness, identity and learning to trust God. Basically, the Bible has been dealing with human drama long before reality TV existed.

God’s Word versus your ‘For You’ page

Your social media feed knows how to keep your attention. One video becomes ten, ten become fifty, and suddenly you’re watching someone restore a rusty spoon while wondering where the last two hours went.

But how much of what you scroll through actually helps you when you’re anxious about the future, struggling with friendships, feeling left out or wondering whether you’re good enough? The Bible offers something different.

Philippians 4:6–7 encourages us not to be consumed by anxiety, but to bring our worries to God in prayer. Psalm 139 reminds us that we are known by God. Romans 8:38–39 speaks of a love that cannot be separated from us.

Your feed might tell you what you should look like, own, achieve or become. God’s Word reminds you that your worth isn’t determined by likes, followers, appearance or whether you’ve got your life together by the age of 21.

And unlike social media, you don’t need to worry about whether God has left you on read.

“But I don’t understand the Bible!”…

Fair enough. Some passages can feel like reading instructions for assembling furniture when you’ve lost half the screws.

You might come across unfamiliar names, strange customs or words that make you wonder whether you accidentally opened a history textbook.

Don’t panic. You don’t have to understand everything immediately.

Try starting with the Gospel of Mark. It’s fast-moving, packed with stories about Jesus, and doesn’t require you to begin by memorising the entire family tree of everyone who ever lived in the Old Testament.

Use a modern translation, such as the NIV or NLT, if that helps. Try a Bible app, listen to an audio Bible on the bus, or read a short passage with a friend.

You don’t have to read five chapters every morning, own seventeen highlighters or post a perfectly colour-coded Bible study online. Start small. Five minutes is better than zero minutes.

Three questions to ask when you read

Instead of reading a chapter just to tick a box, try asking:

1. What does this tell me about God?

Is there something here about His character, His promises or the way He treats people?

2. What does this show me about myself?

Does it challenge your attitude, encourage you, or help you see a situation differently?

3. What could I do differently today?

Maybe you need to forgive someone, be kinder to a person who’s being excluded, stop comparing yourself with everyone online, or trust God with something you’ve been worrying about.

You don’t need a dramatic, life-changing revelation every single time. Sometimes growth happens quietly, one small step at a time.

You don’t have to be perfect to start

Maybe you’ve tried reading the Bible before and gave up after three days. Maybe you’ve got questions about Christianity. Maybe you haven’t opened a Bible since Sunday school, and the one in your house is currently supporting a wobbly table.

You can start again.

God isn’t waiting for you to become a perfect Christian before you come to Him. The Bible is full of people who got things wrong, asked difficult questions and needed second chances.

Reading the Bible isn’t about earning God’s love. It’s about getting to know Him better.

So, here’s a challenge: for the next seven days, spend just five minutes reading a little of God’s Word. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb if you need to. Read a few verses, think about what they mean, and talk to God honestly about what’s going on in your life.

No pressure to make it aesthetic. No need to upload a photo of your open Bible with a coffee and a perfectly positioned plant.

Just you, God’s Word, and a willingness to listen.

Because the Bible isn’t just an ancient book for Sunday mornings. It’s a place to find truth, wisdom, hope and direction for real life.

And who knows? You might discover that the book you’ve been ignoring has something to say about exactly what you’re going through.

Your challenge this week: Open your Bible before you open your favourite app. Even if it’s only for five minutes.

One last thought

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

You don’t need God to show you the next ten years of your life all at once. Sometimes, you just need enough light to take the next step.

So go on. Open the Bible. Your screen time report can wait.

God bless,

Laura 🙂