I have your attention already, don’t I?
Confession #1: I don’t really like to read.
It’s true. I’d much rather solve a puzzle than read a book. If I do read a book, I’m good for about one chapter a day…if the chapters are short. Perhaps that’s why I chose to become a math teacher. Have you ever really read a math textbook? Me either.
A Difficult Read
I say this to lead you to Confession #2. I grew up in the church and faithfully attended Sunday School and VBS, but I can’t say that I ever spent any time reading God’s word unless it was required in one of those settings. Imagine how daunting reading the Bible is for someone who doesn’t like to read in the first place. It seemed like it was written in a different language.
The Book of Jonah
My pastor led us through the book of Jonah to kick off 2026. That stirred up memories of what may very well be the most embarrassing moment of my life. I have never told a single soul, but it’s been haunting me during this whole study of Jonah. Maybe by sharing it, I can start laughing about it. If nothing else, you’ll get a good chuckle.
Confession #2: I thought the whale’s name was Jonah.
There, I said it. Go ahead—that’s your cue to LOL. I have no idea where I got the notion that the whale had a name and the guy inside its belly had none, but that’s how I remembered the story. I apparently wasn’t paying much attention the day that story was taught. What’s worse—that’s what I thought to be true until I was 30-something, married, and a mother of two. I learned the truth when I was volunteering at VBS when the kids were of age to participate. Apparently, the theme of the week was “Jonah AND the Whale” not “Jonah, the Whale!” Good thing they only asked me to play the piano!!
A Read with Impact
I am happy to say that I’ve come a LONG way in my spiritual journey since that embarrassing moment. But guess what? That progress was fueled by plenty of reading, like it or not! The Bible is the inspired, written Word of God and one of the main ways He speaks to His children today.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
Reading the Directions
I often think of the Bible as God’s instruction manual for living. When you make a purchase that comes with instructions, do you sit down and read the manual first? While I’m making confessions, I’ll admit that I usually save reading the directions as a last resort. I try to figure it out myself first and then consult the manual if/when I fail. Would it be wise to read the manual first? Yep!
Speaking my Language
Though I knew about and believed in God growing up, Jesus didn’t become real to me until much later. I can’t provide a date on the calendar or even tell you a great story about that moment, but I can tell you this—it was AFTER I realized Jonah was a prophet, not a whale! I learned that, and so much more, when I started digging into His Word. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the words on those pages of the Bible started speaking to me like never before.
A Must-Read
If you came to my house for a visit, you would find a bookcase, but my books only take up one shelf. They all pertain to Christian living and have impacted me enough that they are worthy of keeping. But one stands apart from the rest, just like the One who inspired it—the Bible, a book of eternal significance. If you dig into it, it will dig into you. Try it and find out!
