A verse of great comfort personally is Psalm 23:4:

כִּי-אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת, לֹא-אִירָא רָע– כִּי-אַתָּה עִמָּדִי

“Even though I walk through the valley overshadowed by death, I will not fear the bad or the evil, for You are with me” (personal translation).

David speaks words of profound faith. He recognizes the risks of life, but he does not hide or stop, he keeps going.

David recognizes the journey of life, a journey where risk is present. The destination, while in mind, will not be fully known until arrival. Is the journey worth the risk? Yes, because, as he writes, “You are with me.”

The risk, the danger, the uncertainty is calmed by faith. Faith provides the strength to keep going as the soul leans on the Shepherd who is ever present.

In the great struggles we face, on the most difficult of journeys, we press on because we know we are not alone. Faith provides the certainty to keep going toward the destination, when it would be easier to give up.

We will not know the beauty or the value of the journey until we arrive at the destination, no matter how overshadowed by difficulty it proves to be. Messiah confirms David’s words in the lives of His disciples, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

The journey is difficult, and even scary; but you are not now, nor will you ever be alone.

Be well. Shalom.