Sa lahat ng pagkakataon si Yahweh ay aking pupurihin; pagpupuri ko sa kanya’y hindi ko papatigilin. Aking pupurihin kanyang mga gawa, kayong naaapi, makinig, matuwa!

Awit 34:1–2

Seasons change, but our Lord does not. Kapag maganda ang panahon, we praise and thank God. Minsan nga nakakalimutan pa natin. But when it starts to rain, kapag may bagyo sa buhay natin, kaya pa ba nating magpasalamat? Sabi ng psalmist, “Sa lahat ng pagkakataon si Yahweh ay aking pupurihin …” God is still God, and He is still good and worthy to be praised. Amazingly, when we praise Him in the middle of our storm, something changes in us.

Let’s take the Bible character Job, for example. In a span of a few days, he lost all his possessions and all his children and yet he could say in Job 1:21 (NIV), “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Despite tremendous losses, he chose to praise God. Instead of focusing on his painful circumstances, he chose to lean on God. God held him together. Hindi siya bumigay sa lungkot at sa tindi ng pagsubok. He didn’t give up. He experienced God’s indescribable restoration. Praising God even when it hurts invites His mighty presence to preserve us and protect us from despair.  

Dinala ni Anna ang naghihingalong laptop sa repair shop. Hindi na maaayos. Unti-unti siyang na-discourage, thinking about the online work commitments that needed her attention, so she decided to pray. “Lord, You give and take away. I bless You, God. Thank You for sustaining this unit for so many years. You have been faithful and will always be.” After giving her concern to God, nakatanggap ng kakaibang peace si Anna. Nawala ang pangamba at nagka-confidence siya na all will be well. And true enough, she was able to deliver her commitments, God’s way.