Kathi Pelton
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
With so many natural disasters and horrific events like what we witnessed in Las Vegas it’s tempting to try to encourage someone too soon when the more important thing to do is to merely “weep with those who weep”.
As our home city of Santa Rosa, California is even now going through unimaginable loss of life, homes and even the landmarks and scenery that make the city “Home” it is time to weep. Take the time to just hold someone, to look in their eyes with deep compassion, to listen and to merely be there. Love is the greatest encouragement that you can give.
When you meet someone who is hurting or grieving, be slow to speak and long to embrace.
Words can’t fill the loss but love can comfort the heart. I have no doubt that Jesus was a good listener. Compassion flowed from Him and healed those that He passed by as well as those that He sat with. He is still listening and still comforting today. The Spirit is often called the The Comforter, let Him move through you with ears to hear and arms to hold. Let compassion flow forth from your life into those who are hurting. Let your eyes weep as He weeps with the grieving.
There will be time for encouraging words and even understanding, but in the moment of pain, love in action is the message we must live out. Rejoicing will come again and we will dance with the very ones that today we mourn with. There are seasons where we learn the art of comforting and weeping; those tears become the water in which beauty arises from the ashes.
Today, wherever you are and whatever you are facing; especially for our family and friend in Santa Rosa and the surrounding areas, this is my prayer for you,
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:16-20
If I could, even now I would hold you.
We will be reaching out to help those who have lost homes in the Santa Rosa area. To donate go to:
Oceans in the Desert 
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