In this scripture, Paul sums up the infinite complexity and simple truth of faith: that we cannot have it without the Word but without God we would not know we need faith. The Word cannot be separated from the Christian life. There is reassurance in this, that trying to be a Christian is a useless pursuit because it’s not up to our own effort. Take heart today, engaging with scripture is an act of rest, where we trust God to speak and let His words drown out our own. When we do any activity from a place of striving and anxiety about doing it perfectly, it’s difficult to take in new information, because our brains are primed for action, not reception. But if we start from a place of rest, we are primed to listen and wait for God, more able to feel when the Spirit moves in our hearts. This rest is not passive, when we read scripture with prayer and believing God speaks to our hearts,  we are actively engaging with the Author. But Bible reading is an intimate conversation with God. We are used to praying and saying the words, when we read, we are hearing Him speak instead. In the Bible we find the goodness of God, that when we surrender He is able and willing to fill us with His Word and by that, affirm and strengthen our faith. We need God so we need His Word. We don’t have to do anything to ‘get’ the Word, it’s all right there on the page, waiting for us. God is in His Word, hand outstretched.