Why Don’t I Get Anything Out Of Reading The Bible?
Learn why scripture can feel dry, how unrealistic expectations affect Bible reading, and practical ways to reconnect with God's Word.
Hi friends. I’m Pastor Chris McKinney and I write Faith Unplugged. I write for those who’ve ever asked themselves, “Why don’t I get anything out of reading the Bible?” you’re not alone. If this article helps you, please consider subscribing or sending a one-time gift.
Have you ever finished your Bible reading for the day and immediately realized you couldn’t tell someone what you just read?
I’ve been there.
You open your Bible. You read the assigned chapters. You finish the plan. You close the book. Then ten minutes later you struggle to remember a single thing that stood out.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why don’t I get anything out of reading the Bible?” you’re not alone.
The Bible itself tells us that God's Word is living and active.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
So if scripture is powerful, why do so many believers walk away from their Bible reading feeling unchanged?
In fact, I think many sincere Christians ask this question but are afraid to say it out loud.
We know we’re supposed to read scripture. We know it’s important. We know God’s Word is powerful. Yet sometimes reading the Bible can feel more like completing a task than spending time with God.
The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with you.
It may mean you’ve been approaching the Bible with expectations that scripture never intended.
The Problem With Treating Bible Reading Like A Checklist
Many of us were taught that consistency is important. That’s true.
But somewhere along the way, many Christians unintentionally replaced understanding with completion.
We celebrate finishing Bible reading plans.
We count streaks.
We track chapters.
We measure progress by how much we read.
None of those things are bad.
The problem comes when our primary goal becomes finishing instead of understanding.
I’ve had seasons where I was reading multiple chapters every day and growing very little because I wasn’t slowing down enough to think about what I was reading.
I was consuming scripture without actually engaging with it.
Imagine sitting down with your spouse for dinner every night and talking as fast as possible so you could check a box that says “spent time together.”
Technically, you spent time together.
But did you actually connect?
The goal of reading the Bible is not to finish a reading plan.
Jeremiah 9:23–24 tells us:
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”
This is one of the strongest verses in scripture about knowing God rather than merely accumulating information.
The goal is to know God.
Why We Expect Too Much From Our Emotions
There is another problem that often gets overlooked.
Many Christians have been taught, either directly or indirectly, that every time they open the Bible they should experience something powerful.
They expect:
A life-changing revelation
A powerful emotional moment
A fresh word from God
An overwhelming sense of His presence
And when those things don’t happen, they conclude that their Bible reading wasn’t effective.
But scripture never teaches that spiritual growth is measured by emotional intensity.
2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us:
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Faith is not primarily driven by feelings.
Some days God’s Word will move you deeply.
Some days you’ll fill pages of a journal.
Some days you’ll feel convicted, encouraged, challenged, or inspired.
Other days will feel ordinary.
Most days, if we’re honest, are ordinary.
That’s because spiritual growth usually happens much slower than we want it to.
Growth Often Happens Before You Notice It
One of the mistakes we make is assuming that if we don’t feel immediate change, then no change is happening.
But that’s not how growth works.
A farmer doesn’t plant a seed and expect a harvest the next morning.
Roots develop long before fruit appears.
Isaiah 55:10–11 says:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
In the same way, God’s Word is often doing work beneath the surface that we can’t immediately see.
You may not notice a difference after reading your Bible today.
But after months of faithfully spending time in scripture, you may discover:
You’re more patient.
You’re less anxious.
You react differently to conflict.
You recognize sin more quickly.
You trust God more deeply.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Don’t grow weary because growth takes time.
They happen through the steady work of God’s Word over time.
What If The Real Problem Is Understanding?
Sometimes people say they don’t get anything out of reading the Bible when the real issue is that they don’t understand what they’re reading.
That’s not a spiritual failure.
The Bible was written in a different culture, different languages, and across thousands of years of history.
They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. Nehemiah 8:8
Some passages are naturally easier to understand than others.
This is why slowing down can be so helpful.
Instead of asking:
“What chapters do I need to finish today?”
Try asking:
What is this passage teaching me about God?
What is happening in this story?
Why was this written?
What does this reveal about God’s character?
How should I respond?
You might discover that one paragraph studied carefully feeds your soul more than five chapters rushed through.
How To Get More Out Of Reading The Bible
Here are a few practical things that have helped me.
Read Less Sometimes
Don’t be afraid to spend an entire day in a few verses if they’re speaking to you.
Ask Questions
Become curious about the text.
The Bible was meant to be explored, not merely completed.
Use Good Study Tools
A study Bible, commentary, or Bible dictionary can often unlock passages that feel confusing.
Pray Before You Read
Ask God to help you understand what you’re reading.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18
Focus On Knowing God
Don’t read looking for a feeling.
Read looking for Him.
Keep Showing Up
If you’ve been discouraged because you feel like you’re not getting anything out of reading the Bible, let me encourage you.
Don’t quit.
Don’t assume God is absent.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Don’t believe that every quiet day is a wasted day.
Sometimes we overspiritualize Bible reading and expect an emotional experience that God never promised.
Other times we rush through scripture so quickly that we never stop long enough to understand it.
The answer is not to abandon God’s Word.
The answer is to slow down, pay attention, and keep showing up.
Because the goal isn’t to finish your reading plan.
The goal is to know the God who wrote it.
And relationships are built through faithful time together, even on the quiet days.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1–3
The goal of reading scripture is not to feel something every day. The goal is to know God, understand His Word, and be transformed over time.
The next time you open your Bible and nothing seems to jump off the page, don’t panic. Don’t assume God is distant. Don’t conclude that you’re failing as a Christian.
Some of the most important work God does in our lives happens slowly and quietly. Long before fruit appears, roots are growing. Long before we notice change, God is shaping our hearts through His Word. The goal is not to finish a reading plan or chase an emotional experience. The goal is to know God more deeply today than you did yesterday.
Keep showing up. Keep reading. Keep asking questions. Keep listening. God’s Word is doing more than you can see.
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