QMany Bible app users looked up Philippians 4:6 and made this passage the most engaged verse of 2024, according to YouVersion founder and CEO Bobby Gruenewald.
The passage reads, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (NIV).
Gruenewald believes this shows more people are likely to turn to God when they face daily struggles that cause anxiety.
“In many cases,” Gruenewald said, “our anxiety comes from holding on to worries that we aren’t meant to carry. To me, this verse being sought out the most this year is an illustration that our community is seeking God in prayer and choosing to trust Him to carry their burdens.”
This year, YouVersion experienced increased interest in prayer. Within the Bible App, people can share Prayers with their Friends, indicate they prayed for others, and complete Guided Prayer Sessions connecting people with God through Scripture and prayer prompts. Engagement with these features increased 46% over 2023.
The words prayer and peace were among the top search terms this year. Created by Life.Church., the YouVersion family of apps encourages and challenges people to seek God throughout the day and have been installed on more than 875 million devices worldwide, according to youversion.com.
Also indicating increased interest in scripture is a 22% rise in Bible sales in the US through the end of October, according to The Wall Street Journal (“Sales of Bibles are Booming, Fueled by First-Time Buyers and New Versions,” December 1, 2024).
Publishers attribute the jump in sales to rising anxiety, a search for hope, and worries about the economy, global conflicts, and election-related uncertainties.
According to Jeff Crosby, president of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, “People are experiencing anxiety themselves, and they are worried for their children and grandchildren.”
If anyone had reason to worry, the young virgin Mary did. This young peasant girl, highly devoted to God, suddenly had a holy interruption as God’s messenger appeared and announced God selected Mary to be the mother of the Christ child.
The angel called Mary “highly favored one” and said she was blessed among women. She had the faith, devotion, determination and strength of character God was searching for.
Her initial response was fear. Wouldn’t we be afraid if an angel suddenly showed himself and startled us with a message from God? The angel said, “Do not be afraid!”
Mary then asked, “How can I have a child if I haven’t (sexually) known a man?”
The angel replied, “For with God, nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37).
Once Mary overcame the shock of the angel’s appearance and overwhelming message, she experienced the result of leaning on God and giving Him her worries. Philippians 4:7 reads, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
What positioned Mary to experience God’s peace?
*Mary possessed a deep trust in God. Mary believed if God wanted her pregnant, God would work out the details. Too often we create our own stress when we try to help God with the details of our life instead of allowing His plan to unfold. Mary lived out her belief that “with God, nothing will be impossible.”
Does our life demonstrate we believe that truth?
*Mary demonstrated a submissive spirit. What was Mary’s response to Gabriel’s declaration of God’s ability to do whatever He needed to do to fulfill His purposes? Mary declared in Luke 1:38, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
She displayed an attitude of surrender and accepted God’s assignment for her life. “God, I’ll do whatever you ask.” That reply took spiritual guts, but she showed a willingness to obey and follow God. Do we?
Often there’s a direct connection between our obedience and the level of God’s peace in our lives. Great peace comes when we realize we’re right in the middle of God’s will.
*Mary showed a servant’s heart. Her response (“Behold the maidservant of the Lord”) exhibited her willingness and availability to serve God in this special way. That was her way of saying, “Here I am, Lord. Use me.”
Are we willing and available for God to use?
When anxiousness comes your way in 2025, remember, stop worrying, start praying, and receive God’s peace.
