"… Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26
"… for we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Even people of faith can sometimes throw up their hands in despair and say, “This is too much; this is too hard; it is impossible.” This is a simple reality of human weakness – we want to believe but sometimes we give in to our unbelief. Hallelujah that we have a Savior, Jesus Christ! What is not always possible for us, is always secure in God’s hand.
Today, I mean this about Korea. I hope you have heard the news! President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (South) and Chairman Kim Jong-un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North) crossed the military demarcation line (MDL) to meet at the Panmunjom Peace House on April 27. There they crafted the “Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula.” This, brothers and sisters, is an answer to millions of prayers across decades. This historic many have come to say “is too much; is too hard; is impossible!” But celebrate together a miracle in our day – what may seem impossible to mortals is never impossible to God. We must hold on in faith; we must believe.
When times in life seem so bleak and so disheartening, it is too easy to lose hope. It is one reason why we need each other in community. When some are weak, others are strong; when some lose hope, others hold them up in love. And when what we see with our eyes breaks our hearts, it is what we know to the depths of our souls that must keep us going. As I reflect on the miracle that is now happening on the Korean Peninsula, it renews and restores my faith in what we face in the United Methodist Church. If our God can bring restoration and healing to the two Koreas, can God do any less to the divisions in our United Methodist global fellowship? Come on – God is a great God.
Sometimes miracles unfold over time; and very often God uses human beings to confirm, strengthen, and develop miracles. It will take time for healing of hurts in Korea. It will take time for trust to build. It will take time for families separated by time and space to unite again. We each can play a role in this wonderful miracle taking place before our very eyes.
Please pray for the upcoming summit between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Pray for President Trump and the critical leadership that he can offer for peace and goodwill. Pray for Chairman Kim Jong-un and President Moon Jae-in, and the continuing partnership that they have launched. Pray with all our brothers and sisters in Korea for long-term peace, and safety, and a nuclear-free, less-fearful world. And let us declare ourselves committed to peace in big and small ways, in our homes and churches, in our communities and nation, and in our world and growing global community. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God!
Grace and Peace,
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
Author
Hee-Soo Jung
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung has served as resident bishop of the Wisconsin Annual Conference since September of 2012. Prior to leading the Wisconsin Conference UMC, Bishop Jung served eight years as bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference (Chicago area).