The YouVersion Bible app announced that Isaiah 41:10 was the platform’s most shared Bible verse in 2022.
Isaiah 41:10, which highlights God’s protection, provision, and comfort, reads this way:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The verse previously made YouVerison’s top spot in 2020 following a tumultuous year, including the worldwide spread of COVID-19.
“The popularity of this verse speaks to our desire to be reminded that even when we feel like we’re alone in our struggles, we’re not,” Bobby Gruenewald, founder and CEO of YouVersion, told CBN News. “As this verse says, God is our strength, and He’s always with us.”
In 2022, Isaiah 41:10 was found to be the most-shared Bible app in several countries, including Argentina, France, Germany and the United States. Further, highlighting, bookmarking, and note-taking were used more than 2 billion times on the platform.
The mobile app also saw increased Bible engagement activity in countries across the world, with Cuba having the greatest increase (76 percent). Meanwhile, Europe and Africa had the fastest regional growth for Bible engagement.
According to YouVersion, Ukrainian-language Bible engagement saw a major spike in 2022 in several European countries, such as Poland (241 percent) and Germany (733 percent).
Generally, there was a 55 percent increase in Bible engagement in Ukraine this year.
YouVersion searches in the Ukrainian language doubled earlier this month at the beginning of the Russian invasion of the country. While initial search terms were “war,” “fear,” and “anxiety,” the word “love” became the top searched verse as the war progressed.
“These families are going through something most of us can’t imagine. In the middle of what’s likely the most difficult time of their lives, they’re turning to the Bible for comfort, peace, and hope,” Gruenewald said. “It’s an honor that we get to be a part of making God’s Word available to His people in their greatest moments of need.”
Since its inception in 2008, YouVersion has become available in more than 1,900 languages and has been installed on over 545 million devices.
Gruenewald told CBN News that he created the app to encourage people to read God’s Word daily.
“I was just trying to figure out how to use technology to help people read the Bible more consistently. And just had enough faith to start, to try something, and of course, what we’ve seen God do is incredible. Our faith has grown, but in the very beginning had no idea what it was going to become,” Gruenewald said.
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.