Isaiah 57:18-19 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal him.
The Yamim Nora’im, the Days of Awe, are not only a season of reckoning but also of hope. God does not expose sin to condemn us — but rather He reveals it so He can bring healing. In this passage, the Lord declares, “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him.” The God who knows every failure also speaks a word of restoration. He sees us at our worst, yet offers to lead us, comfort us, and place new songs of praise upon our lips.
This is the heartbeat of teshuvah — repentance that leads to reconciliation. Turning back to God is never met with rejection but with mercy. The ancient rabbis taught that “repentance was created before the world,” for God always intended to make a way back for His people. Isaiah’s prophecy confirms it: those who return are promised not just forgiveness, but healing and peace.
Yeshua (Jesus) embodies this promise. Paul writes that He came to proclaim peace to “those who were far off and to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:17). In Him, the estranged are brought close, the broken are mended, and the restless are given shalom. Yeshua is the One who leads, restores, and comforts all who turn to Him in contrition.
Beloved, during the Days of Awe, this passage resounds with a message of hope: repentance does not end in despair but in restoration. The Lord sees your ways — every stumble, every failure — and still declares, “I will heal.” This is the season to return, for His arms are stretched wide, ready to lead you into peace. Do not linger in shame or hide in fear — the shofar has sounded, the King is near, and He is calling His Bride to wholeness. Let these days be more than reflection; let them be a time of renewal, for the God who sees also heals.