Friday, June 13, 2025, saw an escalation of the longstanding tension between Israel and Iran, with many deaths and increased uncertainty for the future.
We know that our questions about the violence, suffering, and brokenness we see in our world have no easy answers. But when we turn to God’s Word in such times, we find an anchor. We take heart in the promises of comfort and security in God’s love. We find in the pages of the Bible true hope for justice, restoration, and peace, both now and in the world to come.
One Bible Society staff leader in the Middle East shares these words, written in the form of a poem by her husband:
Now is the time for the Sermon on the Mount
Now is the time to pray the Psalms
Now is the time to repent
Now is the time to surrender to Jesus.
Now is also a critical time for us to pray for those in the Middle East.
As part of Christ’s body, our hearts are broken when tragedy, persecution, and war touch the lives of our brothers and sisters (1 Corinthians 12:26). But American Bible Society is also part of a global fellowship of Bible Societies, and our staff know many of the people in harm’s way. As you have been faithful in praying for these believers and their communities in the past, we invite you to respond to their urgent prayer requests now, knowing that our prayer has a powerful effect (James 5:16).
4 Ways to Pray for Bible Societies in the Middle East
Pray for the protection and preservation of life.
“We see missiles from our windows, and sirens sound every night,” writes one Bible Society staff member. We hardly dare to imagine living in such constant danger, but this is the reality that many Bible Society staff—and hundreds of thousands of civilians—face right now. Pray with us that in this time of conflict, innocent lives would be preserved. Pray with our Bible Society partners that their neighborhoods and communities would be protected, and that God would rescue those in harm’s way. Pray for those who need surgeries or medical attention, that they would be able to travel safely and receive the care they need. And pray for God to draw near to those who have lost loved ones, filling their hearts with comfort and hope.
Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety. (Psalm 16:1 GNT)
Pray for hearts of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, join our Bible Society partners in praying for God to transform hearts with his message of reconciliation through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18). Pray that believers would be bold witnesses and that the power of the gospel would overcome hatred, bitterness, division, and revenge.
Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses. (Proverbs 10:12 GNT)
Pray for wise leaders and paths toward justice and peace.
God’s Word instructs us to pray for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–2), and our Bible Society partners ask that we join them in praying for those in power in Israel, Iran, and beyond. Pray for leaders to be wise in their decisions. Pray that they would not act in hatred or revenge but would seek to preserve life and work for peace. Pray that God would make a way for these conflicts to be resolved, for justice to be achieved, and for wise leaders to guide these nations forward.
“Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!” (Matthew 5:9 GNT)
Pray for the gospel to go forth through the faithful work of Bible Societies.
For many decades, the Bible Society in Israel, the Arab Israeli Bible Society, and the Palestinian Bible Society—along with many other Bible Societies working in the Middle East and in diaspora—have labored together to advance the gospel. Now, they ask you to pray that they would be able to continue sharing the hope of Jesus in these dark times.
“We definitely see how many people are drawn to the Living Word of God and his promises as a result of the situation,” says one Bible Society leader. “May the Lord reveal his salvation in Jesus Christ to many people.” Pray that God would equip these faithful believers to continue working for the sake of the gospel. Pray for their encouragement as they rest in God’s promises to them and their families. Pray that their service to the Lord during this time would bear much fruit in the Middle East.
So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless. (1 Corinthians 15:58 GNT)
Thank you for lifting up our Bible Society partners in prayer! We invite you to commit to continue praying for these needs over the coming days.
