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.

KERALA – When we hear the words typhoon, cyclone, or hurricane our first reaction is a heightened awareness of potential danger. This was especially true in India in 2018 as the monsoon season “caused extensive damage [and] left many marooned in their villages or houses for weeks.” Not to mention the lives that were lost during the flooding “as more than 40 rivers running from the mountains to the sea in a matter of hours.”

We tend to focus on the tragedies wrought by these storms. And, the love of Christ compels us to come to the aid of those in need. Being attuned both to the potential dangers before the storm and the need to help others after it passes is right and proper. But we also need to understand that these rains bring abundant blessings.

Blessings from the Monsoons

The monsoon season signals relief from the scorching summer heat. The long-awaited rainfall is something for which South Asians are grateful. Scientists describe monsoons, typhoons, and hurricanes as a kind of thermostat that helps to keep the temperatures of the region within a livable and reasonable comfortable range.

Scientists have also concluded that monsoons naturally decrease the ocean temperature which, if they did not, could result in the depletion of oxygen in the seas which, in turn, would destroy an abundance of sea life, both plant and animal.

The monsoons in India are essential to provide the surface water upon which many of India’s farmers depend.

Farmers across the country await the monsoons as the . . . rains are very important for the growth of crops. During the monsoon, the fields, crops, trees, and plants come alive. The whole of nature comes to life in a ‘sea of green’ during the monsoons.

It is vital that the rains come in time or else delayed monsoons may cause drought; and farming also gets affected. Despite modern methods of farming, the monsoon rains are a reservoir for the farmers and his fields, which in turn is the source of our sustenance.

A variety of plants, vegetables, and crops grow in the monsoons. Beautiful flowers also blossom in this time. Dry rivers are filled by the rains that are a source of water for many across the country.

The Ultimate Blessing from the Monsoons

We would in no way want to diminish the tragic effects of monsoon-induced flooding. However, we should keep in mind that we are a contributing factor to that disastrous aftermath.

Prior to denudation of forests – which is being done worldwide – the multiple canopies of India’s tropical forests broke the rainfall, slowing its descent to the ground so that it was more easily absorbed and fed to the rivers. Prior to denudation, the monsoon rainfall sustained India’s rivers throughout the year. Today, the rivers convey the water to the sea in a matter of hours.

It is, however, the flooding that leads us to the ultimate blessing: Providing compassionate relief in the name of Jesus to those whose lives have been disrupted. The Lord has blessed Gospel for Asia (GFA) and other faith-based organizations with the resources to come to the aid of those who have suddenly found themselves in despair physically and emotionally.

The greatest blessing we have as believers is to be able to allow the love of Jesus to flow through us so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

You can learn more about GFA’s ongoing relief efforts for people caught in the flooding from the recent typhoons via the following articles, Bridge of Hope Students, Missionaries, Pastors, Locals Rally to Help Kerala, Crisis Remains Months After Kerala Flooding, and Indira’s Story: Survivor of Kerala Flooding-2018.

To read more news on the 2018 flooding in Kerala, India on Missions Box, go here.