No matter how often she scanned the pages of her Bible, the words wouldn't settle in her heart and mind. The book seemed old, out-dated, and had little relevance for her. Yet, determined to discipline herself in the study of His Word, she continued.

Her determination was soon tested in a time of crisis. During this time, the Holy Spirit moved her to search for answers to throbbing questions. The more difficult and hopeless the search became, the more she hungered. In the process, when her ache seemed the most intense, God's Word comforted her. At one critical point, these words spoke silently to her heart: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty ... He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart ... "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." (Psalm 91:4, 14-15)

In God's time, her husband of 17 years died-but she rested in the shadow of the Almighty and found additional comfort through the Holy Spirit, as He guided her spiritual study. Three weeks later, her father died-but she rested in His shadow and began to seek God's goodness revealed in His Word. She suffered an acute time of brokenness, trying to handle her crumbling world on her own-but she rested in the shadow of the Lord and cried out for Him. She sought not answers, not solutions, not direction-but Him. She ached terribly to understand the God in whom she had believed for 40 years.

Gradually, healing began. A great and awesome God began to appear before the eyes of her heart, and she realized how He was using her struggles to turn her eyes to Christ-who had given His all for her. She knew that, in order to understand Him, she first needed to understand His pain. Grasping the ultimate love involved in saving her, she prayed for the Holy Spirit's guidance and comfort. In the process, she grew in love for an amazing God.

But the difficulties in life didn't end, even with a second marriage. The adjustments to an individual so different from her first husband required prayer, a seeking of God's will for her in His Word, and prayers for an understanding and forgiveness of her own faults and mistakes in the process. Watching her children go through the difficult adjustments left her drained and helpless. The pain, however, only motivated her to again rest in the shadow of the Lord's wings.

As months moved into years, the Holy Spirit's power manifested itself through His Word, helping her discover exciting images of His grace and a deeper understanding of the goodness of Christ's sacrificial love. No longer was the Bible merely words written on a page. It was a revelation of Jesus Christ Himself and His grace to us. His Word constantly abides within her, and neither man nor circumstance can remove that from her. She spiritually embraces Psalm 19:10: (His words) are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

How do I know so much about this young lady? I was that young lady. And today, as I fast approach the age of sixty, I continue to "eat" from the Bible daily. I look for words that carry incredible significance for me. I never sit down without a pen or pencil in hand. I mark, circle and underline phrases that stand out before me as God's love touching my life personally. My Bible is full of markings, from the Old Testament to the New. Some are marked more than others, but only because the Holy Spirit has pulled me into some sections longer than others. I desire to learn it all. I want to absorb as much as I can. His Word is no longer dead, but alive and filled with amazing wisdom found only in Christ. Continuing to pray for the Holy Spirit's wisdom, I trust Him to lead me to the true Wisdom-the person of Jesus Christ.

Today my heart's burden is to motivate others to seek Christ in His Word. I pray that the Holy Spirit develops a hunger and thirst in today's women for a daily meeting with the Triune God. Many may say they are too busy, or even too disinterested, to view God's grace, mercy and joy found in His Word, but I trust in a powerful God who will restore and strengthen those whose eyes turn to Him in faith. Lord, give us such a faith as this!

Jan Brunette is a wife, mother of four, step-mother of seven and grandmother of 18. She is a frequent contributor to Lutheran Woman's Quarterly.