Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

A number of years ago my husband and I had an evening together with four young adults that we love. A couple of them were walking through a time of profound pain; so we put aside the plans we had for the evening and we just sat with them, held their hands, put our arms around them and then all six of us wept together. Their pain became our pain. We wept with deep intercession for them and tender love poured out upon them.

I keenly remember how present Jesus was that night— as if he was weeping with us and embracing all of us as we embraced the one’s who were in pain.

At one point the young man, who was hurting so deeply, began to offer his pain as praise. Through his tears he cried out to the Lord,

“You are worthy of my praise even in this pain.”

His tears became like fragrant drops of worship and it reminded me of the costly perfume poured over the feet of Jesus. The pain in the room that night was so tangible but the praise offered out of the pain released a sweet aroma that filled the room with His presence and beauty. The perfume of the sacrifice of praise in that moment covered us all.

We were all undone as we entered into the hope and the offering of praise in the face of pain.

Romans 12:15 says,

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

It is so important to become acquainted with both weeping and rejoicing with the ones that we love. Jesus wept and he rejoiced with those he loved. We must learn to as well.

What we do not want is to sleep while others weep. Too often people that we love are left weeping in their pillow at night alone while those that they love sleep. Just like Jesus, when he was in the garden weeping drops of blood while those he loved slept.

Let’s be awakened to those who are in pain so that we can watch their tears become a costly perfume poured out at the feet of Jesus.

I believe that the night with this group of young people was what brought the turnaround for them. Had they been left alone in their pain, their tears may have become bitter waters but because others surrounded them, wept with them and acknowledged their grief— praise was produced out of their pain.

All too often people are quick to try to “cheer someone up” or give them an answer that they think will make things better. What if we stopped and wept with those in pain with no answers or words? I have had precious people in my life that have done that for me in times of pain and it made all the difference in my ability to respond and heal.

I hear the words, “Nothing is wasted, nothing is wasted…” Not one tear is wasted. I want you to know: your pain is not wasted, your tears aren’t falling upon the ground but rather upon His feet. Not one is wasted.

Remember, Jesus wept!

He weeps with you. He turns the tears and pain offered back to him into a beautiful fragrance that fills the atmosphere. Because every offering produced out of the presence of pain is far more costly than any other offering.

For those who are in a night of weeping, even a long night, let it be poured out until it intermingles with his presence where it will become a sacrifice of praise that fills the room.

And for those who know of a loved one that is in pain— be present. Weep with those who weep because then you will get to rejoice with them when “joy comes in their morning.”

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