Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God – Isaiah 40:1
Have you ever noticed that parental tendency to repeat important words or phrases to our children, especially in a moment of crisis? “It’s okay, it’s okay”… “don’t be scared, don’t be scared”… “be careful, be careful.”
It may be partially due to the assumption that the child is not at first listening to us, especially if some other loud or frightening object has temporarily captured his or her attention. But it may also result from our desire to plant our words firmly into their minds and hearts in the midst of the crisis.
Similarly, God speaks here in order to comfort his people in the midst of their otherwise frightening surroundings: comfort ye, comfort ye. He purposefully impresses upon us the fact that his message is not one of alarm, but of consolation.
And perhaps the most comforting words of all are found in the two phrases that follow: “my people” and “your God.” God assures us that we are no less his when we are trembling under some terrible trial, and that he is still our God when our feelings may betray us and tell us otherwise.
No matter the loud or frightening trial that you may be facing, no matter the fear or discouragement that you may be feeling, listen carefully to these comforting words from your heavenly Father: “you are still mine, and I am still yours.” It’s okay. It’s okay.
