My first gut response was: not at all. I was not raised in the church. I was raised with faith, but I never had the biblical knowledge to go along with it. My father was raised as a Catholic, and through his different personal experiences, he and my mother decided to allow me to come to “church” on my own rather than lead me. They taught me faith, but removed the “church” aspect. I never attended Sunday school. I never was involved in church youth groups. I never had the background.

I could write about 1,000 different blog posts about the good and bad aspects of this decision of my parents, and perhaps I will someday, but I will save that for other posts. For this post, it is simply important for you to understand that I have always been insecure of others knowledge of the Bible. I have felt that my lack of knowledge put up an invisible wall. They are better. They are more Christian.

Why do I share this with you? Because this blog post is scary for me. It is rooted in those childhood insecurities; my lack of knowledge makes me insignificant. My lack of the appropriate background keeps me apart. It is that very insecurity that brings me to write this post.

I just want to share with you Scripture that has such beauty for me (and you). As a Christian, it speaks much needed truth. As an imperfect human, it is so important to hear.  As the girl that has those insecurities that I shared with you, it breathes life and pushes away lies I believed for a lot of my life (and I am sure will continue to sneak up on me).

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower

And bread for the eater,

So is my word that goes out from my

mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I

sent it.

Isaiah 55: 10-11 NIV

Read it again.

The part of this verse that stands out the most to me is that His Word will “accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” I like the Truth that God has a specific desire for me to be in his Word, and He has a purpose in mind for each verse my eye catches. Just like the tree and animals and flowers and bees do not need to possess any sort of special qualities are knowledge to receive the rain and be impacted and sustained, I do not need any special qualities or knowledge either to receive His truth and be in the Word.

As the girl that was always scared to approach the Word because of my lack of knowledge, it is nice to know that even with my lack of knowledge and imperfection, it is like I am never alone in reading the Word. I will be guided. The words I read will be sent to me with a specific purpose.

I want to invite you to open your Bible today, whether it be paper or digital. Whether its cover is bound tightly or broken from frequent, disciplined use, I invite you to the beauty of these verses. Even if it is scary, just give it a try.