American Bible Society has just released the fourth chapter of the State of the Bible: USA 2021 report entitled, “The Good Life”. In this chapter, we learn about two central components to living the good life.

The good life isn’t about financial security, achieving success, and enjoying a relatively worry-free existence. The good life is about holistic well-being across many domains of life. It’s about a better life both today and in the future. And this report explores what would help Americans feel hopeful about both.

Flourishing, Hope, and the Bible

Far too many Americans have experienced a traumatic event, and many of them continue to feel the impact of that trauma in their daily lives. But can people who have suffered still experience the good life?

The answer is yes!

Researchers at Harvard’s University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health have developed a 12-item measure of Human Flourishing across six essential domains. According to the Flourishing Index, Scripture engaged Americans are thriving despite the stresses they face today. As people consistently interact with the Bible, their sense of hope tends to increase.

The Flourishing Index also revealed that church engagement is correlated with increased well-being. High scores on the Index may indicate that Scripture engaged individuals experience meaningful relationships through their church community and may also find their interactions with the Bible enriched when experienced in relationally close community.

This research shows that while we live in a broken world, filled with stress, trauma, and struggle, Americans with deep roots in the Bible and Christian community experience higher levels of hope and holistic human flourishing.

How You Can Pray

In the Bible, Jesus says, “I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness” (John 10:10b GNT). The key to living life in all its fullness is frequently and meaningfully engaging God’s Word and Christian community. Join us as we pray that people everywhere will turn to these two things and thus begin to flourish. Let’s pray.

Father, thank you for your Word that fills us with hope. We pray that all people will have an opportunity to engage your Word and be transformed by its power. We pray that people will find friendship, belonging, and purpose in their local church. We believe that the church is still the light of the world. It is still the place where people can encounter you and begin to experience life in all its fullness. May your Word and your church bring true healing and change to our world. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen.

To download the first four chapters of the State of the Bible: USA 2021 ebook, visit: StateoftheBible.org.