“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
Have you ever read a book again only to realize that you missed some crucial details the first time? I certainly have. But instead of getting upset about it, I am always delighted that I’ve discovered something new and different in the familiar. Maybe that’s because God has changed my negative thoughts into positive ones. I don’t know. But I can honestly say that I look forward to that experience, instead of beating myself up for not getting it all the first time.
In early recovery, I remember being told that spending quiet time alone with God and growing spiritually was extremely important to maintaining my sobriety. “You grow or you go,” they told me.
In addition, I was to read something spiritual that would help me learn more about God and how He works. There are meditation books I’ve used for many years to the point that many of the illustration stories are familiar. But every so often, I read a page and think, I don’t remember reading that—ever! But there’s one Book I like to read every day that brings me more joy than any other, and that’s my Bible.
A few years ago, when my father passed away, I was given his Bible—the one he used most often in his later years. Its pages are well-marked with highlights and notes in his careful cursive handwriting. And while most of those notes seem to be in the book of Revelation, they also appear in odd places in the Old Testament, too, telling me that my father read his Bible from cover to cover.
Currently, I’m reading the stories in 1 Samuel, and I am amazed at how much of it I’ve forgotten. Oh, I remember the general storyline, but I certainly have not retained all the details.
As a writer, I know the details we put down are important to a story. Details matter because they make the story feel real, meaningful, and alive. Details anchor us in the place and with the characters. Things like what time of day it was, what something tasted like, or a clue about how the person spoke or felt. And the odd detail is delightful because we always try to make sense of it. Yes, well-chosen details can reveal the character’s personality, mood, or theme without more explanation.
The genius of Bible writers is that they chose their details under inspiration.Some writers focus on genealogy, showing how the righteous line obeyed God, and the wicked line kept sinking lower. Others, like Luke, focus on stories of Jesus’ miracle healings—and that makes sense, because Luke was a physician. Some authors focus on events, while others seem more focused on dialogue. But taken together, the Bible is a wonderful collection of books that reveal God’s amazing love for us.
It is interesting to note that the Bible carefully leaves some things open-ended, however. And that’s where we engage. We struggle sometimes to fill in details we don’t have, but I believe that’s God’s way of getting us to think about the deeper mysteries of His love and grace. It also increases my faith, since I must choose to believe that He will someday reveal those details to me face to face. Yes, details are important, but God’s goal isn’t to describe everything, but to describe the right things at the right moment!
I am so grateful for the amazing work done by scholars whose commentary is written down in my Andrews Study Bible. And I can honestly say that I go to bed each night looking forward to what new details I will get as I read my Bible first thing in the morning.
Oh, and there’s another benefit I’ve discovered from reading through the Bible again and again. Whatever details are revealed to me that morning invariably apply to some situation I’ll face that very day in my recovery journey. Maybe it will be about forgiveness. Or listening. Or encouragement. Or telling the truth. Maybe it will be about choosing to believe that, no matter what, God will take care of things. Maybe it will be about being consistent, faithful, or kind. Or maybe I’ll have to store it for a while and think about it some more.
Either way, I always get so much from the quiet time I spend in God’s Word. When I dig deep, it pays off.
“… Seek, and you will find …” (Matthew 7:7). Funny how that happens.
Thank you, God!
