I (Almost) Can't Read Anymore

I used to love reading. It was one of my favorite things to do. I’d go through 30 to 50 books a year—everything from my Bible to Christian living books, Puritan classics, fiction, and even books on health. Mornings started with coffee and a book. Evenings ended the same way. I’d squeeze in reading during lunch breaks or any spare moment.

But now? It feels like I’ve almost forgotten how to read. Sure, I can still read, but focusing is a struggle. I’ll sit down with my Bible or a book, and before I know it, my phone is in my hand, or I’m off doing something else. Even when I try to focus, I can hardly make it through more than a few pages without losing steam.

When I think about what changed, it all seems to go back to 2020. Working from home during the pandemic threw my routines out the window. Suddenly, I was glued to screens all day—my phone and my computer. And then the short videos came. YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, Instagram Reels—they sucked me in. I’d tell myself, “Just one video,” but 30 minutes (or more) would disappear before I even realized it.

Here’s the thing: I know I’m wasting time. I know it’s not what I want to be doing. But it keeps happening. My attention span has taken a hit, and it’s harder to focus or think deeply like I used to.

As a Christian, this hits even harder because reading is such a big part of my faith. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Whether it’s listening to sermons, listening to an audio Bible, or reading Scripture, I need that time in the Word. But more and more, I find myself distracted, skimming a few verses before my mind wanders back to my phone or something I have going on around me.

And then there’s Ephesians 5:15-16: “Make the best use of your time because the days are evil.” Can I really say I’m doing that when I’m watching shorts or scrolling through social media for hours? Probably not. I think about all the time I could be spending with God, with my wife, or with my kids. Instead, I’m stuck in a cycle of distractions.

I don’t want to live like that. I don’t want my life to be defined by short, silly videos or endless scrolling. I want to live with spiritual depth and purpose. I don't want to be a shallow Christian. I want to read again, to think more deeply, and to grow in my faith and understanding of God and His Word.

So, I’ve started making some changes. I’ve added limits to my phone. I’ve grayscaled my screen to make it less appealing. I even downloaded apps that block scrolling feeds on social media. But more than that, I’m working on rebuilding my reading habit. I’ve set small goals—5 minutes of reading, then 10, then 15, and so on. If I can waste an hour on my phone, I can spend an hour reading something that matters. I just have to build the muscle memory back up.

My daughters are a big inspiration. Two of them love reading and will curl up in their bunk beds with books for hours. I want to join them—to read alongside them and show them how valuable it is. In fact, my oldest has been staying on me about reading throughout the days and evenings. It's been helpful to to have her prodding me to read more. 

Now is the perfect time to start. It’s Advent season, so I’ve picked up Paul Tripp's Advent devotional to help me refocus and prepare for the new year.

What about you? Are you ready to put your phone down and make space for something better? Let’s do this together. Find a book, start a devotional, or even just set a timer for 5 minutes to read something meaningful. Let me know in the comments how you’re making changes—I’d love to hear your ideas!

​Photo by Dom J: https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-books-45717/