Five years ago this month I walked across a stage to receive my last Bible Bee Nationals participation medal.  Five years ago I stood beneath bright lights reciting God’s Word for my first and final time in semi-finals.  Five years ago my time as a Bible Bee contestant ended.  While I haven’t competed in five years, I’ve stayed involved in the Bible Bee arena as a local host group leader, so when I realized it has been five years since I last competed, I was surprised.  It seems like yesterday, and like forever ago. 

I’ve been thinking about my competition days a lot this past week, comparing my competition days to life right now.  I went straight from Bible Bee competition to a full-time course load at a Christian university, where I majored in counseling psychology and minored in both writing and Biblical studies.  I went from competition study to academic study, which flowed easily.  But memorization became challenging to fit into my busy schedule.  In this past year, since graduating college, I’ve spent most of each day at work giving hugs, wiping noses, picking up toys, and playing the floor is lava.  I’m trying to learn how to make inductive Bible study and memorization a regular part of my routine now that I’m a working woman.  And I’ve found myself a bit frustrated at how much harder it is to work into my schedule than I thought.  Granted, I’m writing a devotional book which inherently means spending time in God’s Word (praise the Lord!), but I’m not able to devote 8+ hours a day to study and memorization.  Motivation can be difficult after a tiring work day and it’s easier to veg on my favorite tv show than to do memory work.  But I miss the days where I recited Scripture so often that passages would literally get stuck in my head on repeat, like a song.  It was effortless to meditate on Scripture then, to talk about Scripture all the time then, and my spiritual growth felt almost tangible during those days. 

As I thought all of this and expressed my discouragement to the Lord, I was reminded of this verse:

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NASB95)

I am so thankful for my Bible Bee season.  It prepared me for my college studies, for children’s ministry, for writing ministry, and for everyday life.  It gave me what I call my “spiritual antennas”—the scriptural knowledge to discern between truth, almost-true, and straight up falsehoods.  But that’s exactly what it was: a season. 

I’m no longer in a season of preparation for ministry; I am ministering, living out the gospel in the workplace, in my relationships, at church, and through writing.  Just because I am in a new season of my life and my walk with God looks different than my high-school years doesn’t mean that my growth is stagnant.  God is still at work in me, and His work is always beautiful, even when it isn’t what I always expect. 

This isn’t an excuse to not devote time to the study and memorization of Scripture.  No matter how busy we are, we should always prioritize the Word of God. 

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:9-11

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1-3

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

So, as I learn how to prioritize the Word in this season of my life, I’m also learning to embrace the season God has me in.  Instead of wishing to go back five years, I’m thanking God for the memories, friendships, and growth I gained through Bible Bee.  I’m rejoicing in the opportunity God has given me as a host to share the blessing Bible Bee has been in my life with the next generation.  And I’m trusting that God will continue to sanctify me through His Word and His Spirit in my life, no matter the season. 

With love,

Kelsey