When the going gets tough, people who love the Bible tend to start loving it even more.

According to the State of the Bible survey by the American Bible Society (ABS), people who read the Bible multiple times weekly and say that it impacts their daily lives experienced more stress and anxiety in 2020 than others. They had more of something else: hope.

“A strong relationship to the Bible often coexists with—and could even be compelled by—the hardships of life,” says the study. Hurt and hardships, healing and hope: they all seem to be woven together in the lives of people who keep the pages of Scripture close.

When we’re struggling or suffering, sometimes the last thing we want to do is read anything at all, much less words that may challenge or convict us. But personal experiences and data both remind us that the Bible does not merely call us out. It lifts us up when we are low.

Next time you find yourself feeling weak, heartbroken, or exhausted, remember: it’s okay. You’re allowed to be. God is your strength, your comforter, and your resting place.