What is true kindness?

Though the Mountains be Shaken and the Hills be Removed

(2nd painting of Pursuing Love Series)

Artwork inspired by Isaiah 54:10

Keiko Yamada

Acrylic Painting on Canvas

24 x 30 inch

Today’s artwork is titled “Even If the Mountains Move and the Hills Shake.” In the upper right, you can see mountains and valleys trembling and shifting.

In contrast, a vividly colored tree stands firmly planted by the water.

Looking at a scene where mountains move and hills shake may feel strange or surreal.

But in our daily lives, don’t we also experience moments when the very things we thought were secure and unshakable suddenly shift and collapse?

When an unexpected conflict arises with a close friend at school. 

When work does not go well. 

When someone you trusted betrays you.

In such moments, don’t we find ourselves longing for stability, trying to cling to something that will not be shaken?

The title “Even if the mountains move and the hills shake” comes from Isaiah 54:10 in the Bible.

This passage speaks not only of shifting mountains and hills, but also of something that will never be moved.

As you reflect on this artwork, I hope you will also take time to encounter that message.

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📖　Pause & Reflect

Does anything truly unshakable exist in this world? Have you ever experienced something you believed to be unshakable, only to discover that it was not?

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God's kindness shown in isaiah 54

Isaiah 54:10 (ESV) says:

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

 says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

To whom God was speaking this to? People who loved God and did something deserving of such love? It was completely the opposite. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel, who had been ignoring Him, continuing in sin, and heading down a path of self-destruction.

Broadly speaking, the Book of Isaiah can be divided into two parts. The first half (chapters 1–39) contains God’s warnings that if the people continued on their path, they would be taken captive by a nation called Babylon.

The second half (chapters 40–66), however, contains promises of salvation.

Knowing the stubbornness of the Israelites who would continue in rebellion, God, through Isaiah, wrote in advance to the future generation of Israel—the people who would be in exile in Babylon—to give them comfort and hope.

Today's passage, Isaiah 54:10 was also written to bring such comfort and hope, even to people who continues to ignore Him.

Even if everything else changes, God says, “My love for you will not change; it will not be shaken.” The phrase “my steadfast love,” is the word ḥesed in Hebrew, which means “everlasting kindness” It is a love that acts for the good of the other person, because God Himself is love—even if that person rebels against Him or harbors hostility toward Him.

However, this does not mean that God “kindly” overlooked their mistakes or ignored their sins. Because sin only leads to self-destruction.

He could have said, "You are the one chose to leave me, so you deserve it."

But He did not.

Also, He did not force people to listen to Him either, because we are created to 'willingly' love God or not love God by our own choice.

True kindness does not desire that a person perish, but that they truly live and flourish.

In the case of Israel, despite receiving long warnings through the prophet Isaiah in chapters 1–39, they did not repent—that is, they did not change their direction—and as a result, they were taken into exile in Babylon.

God allowed this to happen.

Yet He did not abandon Israel; rather, even through this situation, He wanted them to realize the reality that continuing on that path would lead to destruction. Because He cared for Israel, He warned them and disciplined them.

The word “discipline” may sound harsh.

After all, those who receive it do not immediately feel, “I’m glad I was disciplined!”

On the other hand, from the perspective of the one giving it, discipline may be the most troublesome act—one that carries the risk of being disliked. This is something I have personally experienced.

At my first job after graduating from college, I struggled with a supervisor who constantly corrected me. At the time, I did not appreciate it. But now I understand that it was a form of kindness—pointing things out so that I could function well in society.

In this way, kindness that truly seeks the good of the other person, rather than how one is perceived, may sometimes appear harsh and may not initially feel like “kindness.” In this world, there may be more “false kindness” that is meant to make oneself look good. But God’s kindness does not change depending on circumstances or emotions. He continually works in every possible way to give us life and to save us.

🙏 Suggested Prayer：  

God, everything we can see will one day be shaken and pass away. But I thank You that Your kindness and love toward me will never be shaken. Please help me to build my life upon that unshakable foundation.

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Thanks for reading！God bless you!