My journey 1 year through the entire Bible

I started this year and resolved to go through the entire bible. I just wanted to get God, to be honest. It wasn’t a walk in the park; some days were great, and some were like, ‘what did I just read?’ I moved on so quickly from chapter to chapter, and there were days I felt like dwelling more on some aspects, instead of just moving on to the next; however, this is something I had always wanted to do.

Some of my observations going through the entire bible in chronological order (i.e. in how events are believed to have occurred):

• The major shift for me is that I have moved steps from questioning God’s love to accepting it. I realised in my journey and reading through the stories that I actually struggle with God’s love. Then one day, this question came to me — why are you struggling? Just accept it — it’s that simple.
• So many things jumped out to me for the first time. Even with parts of the bible, I was initially familiar with.
• Some unlearning needed to happen.
• We also quote things out of context, usually for personal gain.
• Many of us are fighting and arguing about the bible, a book we have no relationship with.
• God is just as gentle, patient, and kind with me in my questions and doubt. We can question God.
• Context matters. Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse I often remember and quote a lot, especially when I want a quick fix. But when I understood the context of Jeremiah’s full letter, I realised this isn’t about a quick resolution of a difficult season. Instead, it is a “we must thrive while we wait”, and we have to go through that season to be.
• We don’t know all the things we know.
• Nothing changes in God or man’s nature.
• Our relationship with the bible never ends. As we are reading the bible, it’s reading us back.

I am grateful to have completed this journey this time, and for the shifts I have.