Tough times had hit us in the past week.
Super typhoon Rolly whipped the nation last October 31st leaving blown-off roofs, causing flash floods, power outages, damage to infrastructure, blocked roads, almost 400 thousand evacuees, and even some dead people due to catastrophic winds and rains. Rolly hit the main Luzon Island particularly Catanduanes, Albay and Manila. And while the storm was still wreaking havoc the next day, a fire at night razed the 400 homes in a fisherfolk community in Bacoor, Cavite reclamation zone. It took four hours before the fire was put out.
These ordeals are indeed heartbreaking and we are sending our heartfelt empathy to our affected brothers and sisters. We pray for their immediate recovery from the losses they suffered and wish to offer uplifting words from the One we can trust in times like this.
Psalmist David sang to the Lord, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.” (Psalm 57:1).
We can always count on the mercy of God. Peter encourages us to “Give all our worries and cares to God, for He cares about us.” (1 Peter 5:7)
We must not think twice in coming to God for He will attend to our cries. As written in Psalm 107:28-30, “Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble. And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.”
To all my countrymen, let the current challenges lead us to heed Psalm 46:10, for the Lord is saying, “Be still, and know that I am God!” Deep and true knowledge of the real God will let us pass through different calamities in life and still be able to come out triumphant.
Shalom! Shalom! God bless the Philippines!!!