Hope Is In God Alone

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." - Psalm 46: 1-3

It's exactly a week since the strongest typhoon ever recorded in history hit the central Philippines. Deaths and devastation in its wake are staggeringly beyond description. Not in a million years would local people think this was going to happen. No amount of typhoon drills or tsunami drills for that matter had prepared them for what was coming their way. Even to piece the thoughts on this catastrophe is beyond heartbreaking. Where do we start from here?

Even I myself cannot imagine being in the company of those zombie-like survivors who wander aimlessly from all corners scouring for food while soaking wet. They seem to have forgotten that they left behind dead bodies of loved ones uncollected and resigned to their fate so that they should hold on to survive. Men, women and children all orphaned by the catastrophe have no answer in their minds on how this misery could end sooner than they hope for.

There's no point in weeping if what we can only contribute is a bucket-ful of tears while watching the extent of people's miseries on television. Though some of us may not be able to help in the most conventional way, yet we can pray hard enough for them that they will still see hope in God despite this unheard of tragedy. Of course some of us would say, "are you serious?" kind of thing. In this genetic age or should I say bluntly as the 'end times', most people take away God in the equation. We just remember God only as our last option when we are at the center of the 'eye of the storm' literally or figuratively.

God is awesome and takes care of His children

No one was oblivious of the fact that a super typhoon was coming, its might unheralded in recorded history. People at the paths of the typhoon were all prepared, well-drilled and grew in confidence that previous experiences will get them through. In fact, government leaders had forecast that a zero casualty is a strong possibility considering their preparedness level. And that's what they thought.

Even before the typhoon made its first landfall in Leyte and Samar provinces, I being a Christian,  did not waste time calling out to God for His divine protection for my family and relatives and all those who are in harm's way. It's the most effective and most powerful way that get results - it is tested by time and generations - because God never changes. Do I sound senseless here if I may guess some people perceive me to be? This is the confidence that we have in Jesus that when we call out to Him with faith and humility He will hear us.

Just four days ago, power had been restored in my home province of Negros Occidental. My family instinctively knew how it was like waiting in agony to hear how everyone fared after the super typhoon . Our province specifically the northern part where we are located was among those places projected to be on the typhoon's path earning it a signal no.4 badge. My sister knowing I'd been on almost vigil mode since communications were cut off tersely messaged me that "we are all okay". And what a relief to know that indeed they were spared and as she puts it, "we can feel the hand of God protecting us". My younger brother has even a great testimony to tell when a flying tin roof almost hit him, but God was there, hallelujah!

In times of trouble when everything seems to conspire against you, be it frustration, desperation, crushed hopes, abandonment or even imminent death that you think there's no escape, we can still get comfort from God's promises and it takes only faith to be able to do that. Psalms 91 promises that those who trust in God will find refuge in the midst of trouble and that He delights in those who call out His name. That's His promise. And He never lies because He is God and not man. Thank you Jesus!