Stories: Bible Study Saved My Life
Being a part of a weekly Bible study quite literally saved my life. Although I was raised in a Christian home, the product of both a mother and father who were (and are) pastors, and had married a pastor, I found myself, at the age of 25, completely and totally spiritually dry. It was right after the birth of my first son Joey. It felt like my pregnancy had been a time of such self-focus, that by the time Joey arrived, I was thrown for the loop of all loops when I realized how long it had been since I’d paid attention to my spiritual health. I was facing some major postpartum depression, and feeling extremely isolated from others in my new position as a stay-at-home mom. On top of all that, we had just started Access while I was in the midst of pregnancy, so what little spiritual reserve I did have was being given in ministry each week.
I’ll never forget one morning when Joey was right around 5 months old. A woman that I had met a few times at a local church, called me and invited me to attend her Tuesday morning Bible study. She said that she had been thinking about me, and that (best news of all!) this Bible study offered child care, so I could come and bring Joey. Part of me was wary, because she mentioned the words notebook and homework, and I immediately cringed and wondered when I would find time to fit that in to my frazzled new mother time schedule. Still, she called me at such a time as I was extremely desperate, so I agreed to join.
You see, just a couple of weeks prior, I had gone for my bi-yearly check-up PET scan as most cancer survivors do. Instead of the glowing and perfect report that I normally received, however, I had gotten a more “suspicious” report. An area in both my neck and stomach had lit up on the scan. Of course, there are many, many reasons why things can light up on a PET scan, but when things light up and you’re a cancer survivor? It’s not considered such a casual thing. I was battling fear in a big way and had sunk into some of the darkest places of my lifetime.
And then I started attending the Tuesday morning Bible study. I would struggle to get me and my son both dressed, fed, ready, and there on time, but sure enough, once I started, I didn’t miss one week. It was amazing. Each week seemed specifically designed to speak to exactly what I was walking through at the moment. Each day of the weekly homework assignment seemingly crafted to meet me where I was each day. I can’t tell you how many days I sat in tears, in awe that God had designed this study and appointed this time just for me! It was life-changing. It literally saved my life, pulling me out of the depths of my depression and darkness, and encouraging me to fight the fight of faith.
That was just the beginning of all that God used the Bible study for in my life. While there, the woman who had originally invited me to join the study became a spiritual mentor for me. While there, I met a woman who became an unofficial grandma for my boys, a complete and total answer to prayer that I never could have dreamed would have been met in this way! Most of all, though, while there, I fell in love with God’s Word all over again. I began to learn things that I already thought I knew all over again. I found that God’s Word could change not only my life, but my day, as well. I saw His Word become my strength and reality where I had previously allowed emotion and circumstance to rule. I discovered Him all over again.
Needless to say, my health turned out to be fine, even as I sit here as a cancer survivor of over 5 years. I truly believe, though, that had that woman never called me and invited me to Bible study, my physical body may have turned out fine, but my spirit never would have recovered. If you are not involved in a weekly study of God’s Word, don’t wait! So many amazing things are waiting for you when you realize that His Word is more alive and relevant to your life today than ever before! It’ll change your life, just like it did for me.
