Every year, YouVersion announces which Bible verse is the most shared, bookmarked and highlighted by its users. For places like Bible Gateway, this verse is always Jeremiah 29:11 or John 3:16.
But YouVersion had a bit of a deeper cut for its top verse this year: Isaiah 41:10.
The scripture reads: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (NLT).
This year, it makes sense Isaiah 41:10 would be the top verse, with so many different people feeling oppressed, threatened, or marginalized.
This verse comes from a larger passage about salvation. In it, God himself is the one who announces, “Do not fear.” These words are the clear gospel message God has for Israel when they are far from home and feeling crushed. The enduring threat of Babylon forced Israel to live continually in the face of intimidation, even when they’re unsure they’ll survive their threats.