While everyone was busy preparing for the Christmas holiday, Typhoon Odette arrived on December 16, 2021, and devastated several provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao. In its wake, Typhoon Odette destroyed homes, caused power outages, limited the water supply, and disrupted means of communication (such as phone and internet). When I first went out of the house on December 18, I was at a loss for words at the sight of damaged infrastructures, large trees uprooted from the ground, bent poles, and long lines formed at gasoline and water refilling stations. It seemed like a scene from a movie, not real life.

As the scale of the devastation became clear, God moved Restore’s leaders to act and extend hope to the clients and their families who were greatly affected by the onslaught of Odette. The Restore staff distributed relief packages to help alleviate their basic needs. One of the clients who received the relief items shared about how difficult it was for her to see her children trying to cope with the disaster and its effects. They relied on the remaining stock of food that they had and the donations they received from their neighbors. They were overjoyed when they heard that they would be receiving a relief package from Restore. The client was comforted knowing that there are people, like Restore staff, who are compelled by God’s love to care for her and her family’s wellbeing during times of crisis.

Indeed, even though the typhoon was above our head, it was still under God’s feet. God reveals Himself time and time again as the God who is bigger than any storm. I need to be reminded of this truth daily. Though the night may be dark, and it may seem like tomorrow may not come, may we anchor our faith and hope in Christ for He promised to never to leave nor forsake us.

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” – Hebrews 6:19-20