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Isaiah 54:10

NASB	NLT	VOICE
10 For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My favor will not be removed from you, Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.	10 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.	10 Even if the mountains heave up from their anchors, and the hills quiver and shake, I will not desert you. You can rely on My enduring love; My covenant of peace will stand forever. So says the Eternal One, whose love won’t give up on you.

A Stable God in an Unstable World

In the ancient Near Eastern context, mountains and hills were considered immovable and eternal. For these to shake or disappear, shows a time of great change. It’s a reminder to us that if the stable elements can be disturbed, God’s promises last forever. God’s love is unwavering and faithful. It remains loyal to all that receive it and will never leave us. God also promises peace – a place of well-being and harmony. It’s a prophetic statement that will later be revealed through the Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ.) God says all this with compassion, sharing his mercy and care for all His people. God’s compassion is centered on restoring and comforting His people despite their unfaithfulness to God. Jesus was able to show this type of compassion through His healing and ministry to those He met.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: God’s promises are eternal. What promise of God do you see fulfilled in your life and how?

Reconciliation Happening Right Now

The covenant between God and His people focuses on reconciliation and peace. This is something that we have been focusing on in our world as of late. We are starting to reconcile the relationships that have been separated and divided through war, policies, racism, stereotypes, prejudices, and more. These are changes that happen both personally, and socially through our workplaces, government structures, and more. These things are inherent based on the current systems in place and through our learnings as a child, teen, and even as an adult. We allow these things to guide our words and actions and often don’t reflect on if these beliefs are healthy and loving, living according to the standard God has for us.

The church has done a variety of acts towards reconciliation, especially within the United Methodist Church (my upbringing). I know our pastors have been working through racial reconciliation training to learn how the church has caused harm to different ethnicities and how we can work to both hear those stories and ensure that nothing like that can happen in our communities. They’ve also have recently allowed LGBTQ+ clergy and leaders to have open positions now and started affirming a more pro-choice stance towards abortion. They recognize, in my opinion, how to recognize life regulations and commands that would work for the greater good for the world. It’s not necessarily pushing a Christian agenda onto the world but showing the world both the position that we upheld and how we can live into this the way that God called us to live. These changes work to reconcile the unjust systems in our world. The shifts that I see the UMC doing is the actual church repenting of their harm and working towards better reflecting God’s covenant love.

The ways of God are eternal, but the decisions and choices we make a temporary. His love for us is unwavering and loyal. His peace is something greater than anything the world can give. His peace leads us to a place of reconciliation and wholeness – to be able to stay strong in the middle of our trials no matter what is thrown at us. This peace extends to social issues including racism, prejudice, and harmful policies. God’s compassion allows us to look at ourselves, and others, to see how we can be restored and comforted in our world today. To see how we can work on restoring one’s soul and being is the best way we can care for our neighbor – body, mind, and soul.

PRAY Action

Praise God for the promises He makes. To realize that they are “Yes” and “Amen” each and every day for our lives. It’s not a promise that our lives will be made easier, but it’s a way to show that God is always with us.

Read Hebrews 9:15

Ask God for this peace, one that exists beyond anything of our understanding. A source that allows us to remain calm in the middle of trials.

You are worthy of all of God’s promises. No matter how much like trash the world makes you feel, you are a masterpiece in God’s eyes.

Next slice of manna: God’s Call to Reconciliation and Mercy || Jeremiah 31:3 || Manna for the Mind #314