In just seven days, Typhoon Tino and Typhoon Uwan struck the Philippines, bringing floods, destruction, and loss. Many asked, “Why did God create a world with typhoons?”
From a scientific standpoint, typhoons are not random accidents because they are vital parts of Earth’s climate system. They form when warm ocean water rises and cool air moves in, creating powerful spirals that transport heat from the tropics to cooler regions. This process balances global temperatures.
Without typhoons, some areas of the world would overheat while others would grow colder, leading to severe weather imbalances.
Moreover, typhoons bring rain that replenishes freshwater supplies, irrigates farmlands, and sustains forests. While they can cause damage, they also play a role in maintaining the Earth’s ecological cycle. In both science and faith, we see that storms, though destructive, are part of God’s design to sustain life on Earth.
First, understand God’s design.
Genesis 8:22 says, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
After the Flood, God promised stability in creation. Storms and typhoons are natural expressions of Earth’s climate regulation.
Without the storms, the planet’s temperature would grow extreme, and life as we know it would not survive. God’s creation, though sometimes painful to experience, is marked by wisdom and purpose.
Instead of questioning why storms exist, let us trust that God’s design has purpose even when we do not see it.
Second, trust God’s presence in the storm.
In Mark 4:39, Jesus calmed the storm, showing that His presence is greater than any wind or wave.
When life’s storms come, remember that Christ is in the boat with us. He may not stop the storm immediately, but He gives peace within it. Peace is not the absence of storms but the presence of Christ.
Third, respond with compassion and stewardship.
After every typhoon, Filipinos show bayanihan. We continue to help one another rebuild and recover. This spirit reflects Christian stewardship, which calls us to care for both creation and community.
Filipinos are known for their resilience, but this strength has too often been taken advantage of by corrupt leaders. True recovery requires more than endurance; it demands honest governance and responsible stewardship.
What could have prevented much of the flooding are genuine efforts in reforestation and sustainable flood control systems, not empty promises and ghost projects. As Christians, part of our stewardship is to speak against corruption and to advocate for the proper care of God’s creation.
Typhoons will continue to come each year because they are part of God’s design for the balance of nature. Let us therefore live wisely and faithfully: prepare for the storms, protect our environment, and entrust our lives completely to God, who remains our refuge in every season. | NWI
