When an area that many have called home has suffered severe devastation, can that place truly be called home again? What happens to memory when there has been incredible damage, not just to the land, but also to the emotions of the communities that lived in the are? The sense of recovery becomes not just a single issue, but multifaceted, because of the multitude of factors involved. Considerations such as health and safety and returning home are fairly obvious, but there are new considerations, like caring for the community and land, as well as the need for assistance (Whether that be physical, emotional, or spiritual), that begin to emerge.

Isaiah writes of the reality of mourning, recalling faint spirit, ashes, and former devastations. These were true times of despair, wondering where God was in the midst of turmoil and confusion. The Israelites may have also had their memory play tricks on them, thinking that God caused their despair. Instead of causing their pain, God was with the Israelites in the midst of their suffering, lamenting with them and journeying with them to the land of their exile. God was also present in their celebration and homecoming, restoring their homeland after the disaster of war. This history of God being with God's people is repeated in the most incredible way: God enfleshed in Jesus Christ dwelling with us. Christ lived in the fullness of human existence, embodying joys and sorrows. Jesus also experienced the greatest devastation in the crucifixion.