Why I Started "By the Word"

Written by Lucy Methum | February 6. 2026

I have always loved to read. While normal kids counted down the hours until summer break for endless pool parties, family vacations, and days filled with playdates, I was counting down for the library to release their summer reading challenge. Don’t get me wrong–those other things excited me too–but I was set on completing that challenge. 

And don’t get me started on my birthday, the one day a year when my personal library sees a ten-book increase without me having to spend a penny! Let’s just say, I. Love. Reading. 

That love for reading has not stopped. In fact, I truly believe it has grown into a deeper and more meaningful pastime as the years have gone by. A few years back, I made the decision to go all in and study English at The Master’s University, which I would still categorize as one of my best decisions to date. Not only did my love for the written word grow, but my heart for the Lord did as well, even more so. 

However, one question was always at the forefront of my mind in each of my classes: “As a believer, should I be engaging with these texts I am being asked to read, and if so, how can I do so in a way that brings glory to God?” As I read The Picture of Dorian Gray, a novel centering on the decisions of a man who indulges himself in all that the world has to offer, I asked this question. When I found myself trudging through the works of Freud, Marx, and Fish, I wondered how I could fill my time reading their philosophies when I knew they were missing the mark. 

It is with this question in mind that I came to create By the Word. My heart behind this brand is to be a helpful support and create meaningful tools to help the everyday believer engage with the culture around them, specifically in the realm of literature. I am still learning and growing in my discernment when it comes to what I read, but by focusing on reading everything for the glory of God, my time spent doing what I already love has grown into a far more fruitful activity. 

By the Word exists for readers who love literature but want to engage with it in wisdom, discernment, and faithfulness to Christ. Here, I’ll be sharing reflections, tools, and questions meant to help believers read widely without reading blindly. If you’ve ever wrestled with how to honor God while engaging culture through books, I’d love for you to join me.

For His Glory,

Lucy Methum