Reading the bible makes me anxious!

[Ben Collyer]

Hi all, I want to improve my spiritual health and so decided to get back into reading the bible, but whenever I read scripture I find a horrible sense of anxiety coming up in me, its a similar kind of anxiety that you get when you withdraw from anti depressants (if anyone can relate), I also feel my sense of contentment and peace eroded when I read the word of God and pray.

I pray that God would speak to me through your replies.

 

[brinny]

Pray to God before reading the Bible, asking Him for wisdom and His guidance.

 

[Chinchilla]

Hi all, I want to improve my spiritual health and so decided to get back into reading the bible, but whenever I read scripture I find a horrible sense of anxiety coming up in me, its a similar kind of anxiety that you get when you withdraw from anti depressants (if anyone can relate), I also feel my sense of contentment and peace eroded when I read the word of God and pray.

I pray that God would speak to me through your replies.

Proverbs 9:10
2 Corinthians 5:11

Gospel is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Fear of God is not wrong you should fear him , you should not feel anxious tho if you are born again you are promised heaven no matter what , you can only be anxious about losing your inheritance in heaven .

 

[AnnaDeborah]

If it's a specific anxiety, then it may be because you are being challenged by something you're reading and need to take action on it. But if it's a generalised thing (which it sounds like from what you've said) then it could be a spiritual attack. The last thing the devil wants is Christians who are going to be serious about their faith so we can expect opposition when we are!

Pray before you read, asking the Lord to shield you from attack and help you to read and understand His word. I struggle a lot with anxiety myself, and I often quote verses that remind me I don't need to fear and that fear doesn't come from God. Remind yourself that the truth of God's word and your relationship with Him doesn't depend on your feelings and persevere. I will pray for you, that God helps you overcome this.

 

[SkyWriting]

Hi all, I want to improve my spiritual health and so decided to get back into reading the bible, but whenever I read scripture I find a horrible sense of anxiety coming up in me, its a similar kind of anxiety that you get when you withdraw from anti depressants (if anyone can relate), I also feel my sense of contentment and peace eroded when I read the word of God and pray.

I pray that God would speak to me through your replies.

Great. Here you go:
How does a person get their prayers answered?

 

[Dave G.]

If you don't mind me asking, what's your Christian background ? I ask because I was raised Roman Catholic in a time where it was advised to not to try and read the bible on your own. And when I did pick one up I remember my hands trembling and the words making no sense to me, so I would just put it back down. After I came to Christ upstairs in my bedroom it was another matter. I went to a bible study actually and of course without a bible . This was not a Catholic bible study, in fact back then I don't think there was such a thing, but after about my third time there I was politely informed that this is a bible study, it's recommended you bring a bible !! And the bible has spoken to me ever since. I find peace and joy, sometimes admonishment, but always real teaching in it. And I don't tremble.

All that to say, some of this may be in your background.

 

[Ken Rank]

Hi all, I want to improve my spiritual health and so decided to get back into reading the bible, but whenever I read scripture I find a horrible sense of anxiety coming up in me, its a similar kind of anxiety that you get when you withdraw from anti depressants (if anyone can relate), I also feel my sense of contentment and peace eroded when I read the word of God and pray.

I pray that God would speak to me through your replies.

I don't have an answer as generally folks would speak of experiencing the opposite effect. So, it could be a spiritual thing but I would tend to think that perhaps God is allowing this so that you can work through it for a purpose known only to Him. Sometimes Ben, He allows us to go through certain experiences or battles so that it molds us into whatever it is He desires us to become. I am not saying this is what is happening with you here, but it certainly could be just that.

My suggestion would be the same as @brinny ..... relax and pray before reading and ask God to share His shalom, His peace with you. And that He remove the anxiety and open your heart to deeper understanding.

 

[Ben Collyer]

If it's a specific anxiety, then it may be because you are being challenged by something you're reading and need to take action on it. But if it's a generalised thing (which it sounds like from what you've said) then it could be a spiritual attack. The last thing the devil wants is Christians who are going to be serious about their faith so we can expect opposition when we are!

Pray before you read, asking the Lord to shield you from attack and help you to read and understand His word. I struggle a lot with anxiety myself, and I often quote verses that remind me I don't need to fear and that fear doesn't come from God. Remind yourself that the truth of God's word and your relationship with Him doesn't depend on your feelings and persevere. I will pray for you, that God helps you overcome this.

Most likely a spiritual attack then, I can't discern whether its a specific anxiety or not, but what happens is that I tend to read the new testament as portraying the standard of righteousness, and when I am reminded that I fall far short, my self esteem is rocked and my anxiety increases

 

[Dave G.]

Most likely a spiritual attack then, I can't discern whether its a specific anxiety or not, but what happens is that I tend to read the new testament as portraying the standard of righteousness, and when I am reminded that I fall far short, my self esteem is rocked and my anxiety increases

You seem to be opening the bible with a pre determined notion or idea or ideal. Try opening it with 0 expectation and let it speak to you. And yes, those saying to pray first are correct. I've even prayed for certain answers and just randomly opened the bible and the print almost looked bold to me the answer was so clear. Don't try to be a director, let God play His role in this !

 

[Dave-W]

In Ezra and Nehemiah, when the biblical scrolls were opened and read for the first time in 70 years, everyone felt condemned and started bemoaning their lives. But Ezra told them to rejoice instead, that they were now hearing truth, most for the first time in their lives.

I think your reaction is normal and human; but you can decide to change it to celebrating God's Truth.

 

[narrowgateevangelist]

My first read through of the Bible also had some anxiety attached. The internal sense of self is shaken. Prejudices are revealed, arrogance is proven wrong time and again.

One must wrestle truthfully according to the real condition of the heart. Some books are mysterious because names and ethnicities have changed in the regions described.

In my first read through I skipped most of the Psalms. As well as the prophecy books. The historical accounts are more easily digested. Because basic man hasn't changed. No matter how this modern age says ma has.

So, keep it up. This is your first read through. It's an adventure into existence at this point. You have no idea how you'll be different on the other side.

God bless

 

[AnnaDeborah]

Most likely a spiritual attack then, I can't discern whether its a specific anxiety or not, but what happens is that I tend to read the new testament as portraying the standard of righteousness, and when I am reminded that I fall far short, my self esteem is rocked and my anxiety increases

I find the more we become aware of God's holiness the more we become aware of our own sinfulness. Recently I've been troubled by an awareness of some sinful attitudes in my own life that I wouldn't even have thought of as sinful when I first came to Christ. And I'm amazed all over again that the perfect, sinless God, who knows the very worst about me even better than I do myself, would still love me and save me. Nothing I have done or will do in the future is going to take Him by surprise and however many times I mess up, He is never going to lose patience with me. And more than that, He has promised that He is going to complete what He has begun in us. (Philippians 1 v 6) In our own efforts, we are always going to fall short of God's standards - that's why Jesus came!

 

[Halbhh]

Hi all, I want to improve my spiritual health and so decided to get back into reading the bible, but whenever I read scripture I find a horrible sense of anxiety coming up in me, its a similar kind of anxiety that you get when you withdraw from anti depressants (if anyone can relate), I also feel my sense of contentment and peace eroded when I read the word of God and pray.

I pray that God would speak to me through your replies.

I feel this chapter may help you feel how gracious God is to forgive you, when you truly repent and return to Him --

https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/15.htm

See? He is just and merciful and forgives you!

 

[GTW27]

Hi all, I want to improve my spiritual health and so decided to get back into reading the bible, but whenever I read scripture I find a horrible sense of anxiety coming up in me, its a similar kind of anxiety that you get when you withdraw from anti depressants (if anyone can relate), I also feel my sense of contentment and peace eroded when I read the word of God and pray.

I pray that God would speak to me through your replies.

Now what would be anxious or afraid when reading that which is Holy? "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my upon you, and learn from Me; for I Am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Hi all, I want to improve my spiritual health and so decided to get back into reading the bible, but whenever I read scripture I find a horrible sense of anxiety coming up in me, its a similar kind of anxiety that you get when you withdraw from anti depressants (if anyone can relate), I also feel my sense of contentment and peace eroded when I read the word of God and pray.

I pray that God would speak to me through your replies.

This is normal reaction , in the sense that our flesh, and the devil, the enemy of Jesus,
wants to prevent us from reading the Bible - (and usually succeeds, since most people will not read the Bible to learn nor to do Yahweh's (God's) Word as He Says).

 

[Ben Collyer]

My first read through of the Bible also had some anxiety attached. The internal sense of self is shaken. Prejudices are revealed, arrogance is proven wrong time and again.

One must wrestle truthfully according to the real condition of the heart. Some books are mysterious because names and ethnicities have changed in the regions described.

In my first read through I skipped most of the Psalms. As well as the prophecy books. The historical accounts are more easily digested. Because basic man hasn't changed. No matter how this modern age says ma has.

So, keep it up. This is your first read through. It's an adventure into existence at this point. You have no idea how you'll be different on the other side.

God bless

its not my first read through lol

 

[Ben Collyer]

If i am going to be subjected to feelings of despair and depression and anxiety every time I read the bible, Im simply going to refrain from reading it.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

If i am going to be subjected to feelings of despair and depression and anxiety every time I read the bible, Im simply going to refrain from reading it.

If that happens, the enemy or the flesh has won.

Past/present sin/sinning without Repentance is usually or likely the reason (the need for turning to God to do what He wants), (very common condition - don't wait to repent)
for despair, depression and anxiety.

King David prayed "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" .... and he repented quickly as God made known the sin, so the joy , after the discipline, could be restore.

 

[Ben Collyer]

If that happens, the enemy or the flesh has won.

Past/present sin/sinning without Repentance is usually or likely the reason (the need for turning to God to do what He wants), (very common condition - don't wait to repent)
for despair, depression and anxiety.

King David prayed "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" .... and he repented quickly as God made known the sin, so the joy , after the discipline, could be restore.

I am not aware of any particular sin that I am commiting, merely that when I read scripture I feel horrendously anxious.

 

[Dave G.]

I am not aware of any particular sin that I am commiting, merely that when I read scripture I feel horrendously anxious.

You need to get to the cause of this not stop reading lol. Are you saved ? Starting there walk in alignment with God. If you quit, Satan wins this round.