When the Storm Hits

I don’t know how you even begin a public post about something so incredibly devastating. We are only hours into this chaos and we’re hearing news of those in and connected to our fellowship who have lost the homes they grew up in. Most, if not all of us, fled our homes in the early hours of the morning grabbing only what we deemed necessary for survival. We’re all probably asking things like: What do I do if I lose everything? Why is this happening? How do we rebuild our lives and how do we rebuild and help heal our city?

I can’t help but think of the what the prophet Jeremiah felt as he watched Jerusalem be sacked and the temple burned to the ground 

“My eyes are spent with weeping; my stomach churns; my bile is poured out to the ground because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, because infants and babies faint in the streets of the city. They cry to their mothers, ‘Where is bread and wine?’ as they faint like a wounded man in the streets of the city, as their life is poured out on their mothers' bosom. What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is vast as the sea; who can heal you?”

As we studied last night, suffering is no stranger to the human experience. We all suffer — whether we are the Jews watching their beloved city be burned with fire or whether we are residents of Sonoma County watching our homes, hospitals, favorite restaurants, and parks be wiped off the map. Suffering is not new, but this tragedy has brought it very close to our hearts. What do we do?

In the midst of the worst thing that Jeremiah had ever seen in his life, he remembers the greatest most filling and powerful force in all the universe -God’s unfailing love -

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”

I hope and pray that these words will be a foundation that you can stand upon through this tragedy. God’s unfailing love will carry us through, as it has for millions of saints since the dawn of time. Somehow, some way God will turn this tragedy for good as he always does. Hold tight, and cling to his unfailing love.

We love you all and are praying for you without ceasing!

-The Brodersens