Knowing how to get started reading the Bible can be tricky. But don’t get discouraged! No matter how far you’ve come in your faith, everyone has struggled with reading the Bible at some point. That’s why we put together some Scripture meditations like this one to help you get started.

I’m Worried I’m Falling Behind

We’re at the age where the people we grew up with are all at drastically different stages of life; some are married, some are single, some have careers, some are still in school.

When we see everyone moving on to new things, it can make us feel like we need to catch up. But we don’t. God has a unique timeline for us all, and he doesn’t want us to compare the one he’s given us to another; he just wants us to focus on where we’re going with him. 

Peter struggles with this kind of comparison when Jesus asks his disciples to follow him in John 21. Instead of focusing on Jesus, Peter asks questions about Jesus’s plan for another disciple. Jesus tells Peter not to worry about what’s going on with anyone else—just focus on following him.

Navigating life is hard, so looking to see how others handle it might feel like the natural response. But God doesn’t want us to get stuck in comparison; he wants us to walk in his timing for us.

John 21:21-22

19 …Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them…21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

Observations from the Text

• Jesus calls us to follow him (v. 19)
• Even the disciples had trouble focusing solely on Jesus(v. 20-21)
• Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we should focus on following where Jesus is leading (v. 22)

Prayers of Response

Crafter of Plans, I struggle with staying focused on you, especially when I think about _________.  

Lord Who Provides, I often compare your plan for me to your plan for others’.

Prayer Requests

God of Purpose, help me understand that just because someone else is in a stage I’m not, doesn’t mean I’m behind in life. 

Everlasting God, stop me from judging the timeline of my life based on _________’s life.

Prayers of Readiness

Lord Who Leads, keep my focus on you today when I start to feel behind in _________.

Faithful Creator, remind me you have perfect timing for everything, and even when I feel behind, I can never fall behind in your plan for me.

One way to start reading the Bible is through Scripture meditations. They help recognize reasons why the Bible is relevant today. Click here to see more!

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™