Praying for Strength and Faithfulness

Witnessing the strong typhoon (Glenda) raging from the 8th floor was quite an intimidating experience. I saw loose metal roofs being violently blown away and torrents of rain just pouring sideways; then the loss of electricity and water that lasted for many hours.

While we were safe inside our home; I can't help but pray for those living without even a roof over their heads to shield them; families of those who lost loved ones; and homes totally devastated.

Let us pray for the Philippines -- a constant recipient of typhoons and earthquakes. May we Lord, as a people, draw strength from You and remain faithful despite the many blows and punches we take. Endow us with the power to rise up -- ever resilient, more heroic, and with higher hopes.  

"...storms that rage may blow the day, but let your hearts rest in our God. He will shield us all the way" (from the song: Strong and Faithful)

Faithfulness Amidst the Storm

The storm surrounds us.  Strong winds blowing, rain pouring, streets flooding, trees uprooting. It's "Pedring." My wife said, "What's the purpose of a storm? Surely everything has a purpose."

In our lives, storms arrive. Most of the time, it's unexpected. Some storms are the result of our sinfulness. But some storms just come, and we ask, "Whatever did we do to deserve this?"  Job certainly went through "life's storms" like no other. Everything was taken from him, he even had boils. Yet, he was faithful and at the end the Lord gave back more than whatever he lost.

Not all things that happen to us can be explained by man's limited knowledge and wisdom. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom...(1Cor 1:25). But we hold on to God's truths.

1. If we are faithful, God will bless us.

Storms are tests of our faithfulness. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We cannot rationalize everything that happens to us.  We just need to know that there is a purpose behind it, and we have to be firm in our faith. Blessings are not always monetary, God's blessings are what we need. It might be blessings of virtues we have developed through the storm like forgiveness, love, and patience.

2. If we are faithful, God will strengthen us.

Our purpose on earth is to do God's will. Each challenge is meant for us to go from strength to strength with the Holy Spirit. One who does not go through a storm will find it hard to obey when much is demanded from us.  God will not lead us to something we cannot bear.  But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me (2 Cor. 12:19).

I remember "Ondoy." It was the worst of storms but it brought out the best in the Filipino. We became brothers and sisters to one another. We visited homes and helped the victims clean the mud, we gave food, and the nation prayed along with the rest of the world.  Let our faithfulness shine amidst the darkness of the storm. Let us not resort to blame and frustration, but seek hope in the great God who created us for His purpose.