Today’s reading from Isaiah calls us to ‘Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not [our] courage fail.’  As a child I was fearful of the unknown, especially scary dreams and nightmares, dark places and the unknown.  For comfort I would cry out to anyone who would hear, mostly for Mom or Dad.  I asked for explanation and meaning, and for ease, simply turn on the light.  And with the light, or explanation, or even understanding, I found courage to rest through the remainder of the night.  With no thought to why I was scared, the light, Mom, or Dad, brought comfort to me..

As I've grown older, those unknown nightmares and darkness are replaced with grown-up fears – work, relationships, finances, children.  I still want understanding and meaning and realize while my fear is irrational, explanation sometimes does not provide the comfort I am seeking. I need more.

The similarity, I’ve found, between childhood and adulthood is in the source.  As a child, it wasn’t the understanding of the fear, it was simply the parent who came in and allayed my discomfort.  Now, my comfort must come in faith and belief in the Lord so that I can remain tranquil and ‘let not [my] courage fail.'

As adults, that is where our comfort lies.  The Lord has always been there and encourages us to be strong.  

"Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised.” PS 48: 2