This morning’s verse of the day on the You Version Bible app is Psalm 105:1. (I encourage you to read that psalm in its entirety, but I’m just focusing on that first verse, too, this morning.) I felt like the Spirit asked me to. I’m sure I’m not the only one who could use the reminder.

It’s easy to give thanks when life is calm, when the sun is shining, prayers are answered quickly, and joy comes easy. In those moments, we echo the words of Psalm 105:1 without much effort, “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.” Gratitude flows naturally when the blessings are visible.

But what about when the waters rise?

Praising God in the storm is a different kind of worship. It’s not blind optimism or the denial of pain. It is faith. When we can still say “God is good” while the wind howls and the boat rocks, we are not ignoring our suffering, we are acknowledging our Savior.

Jesus is in the boat with us. He has not abandoned us to the waves. And the Holy Spirit, ever present, moves with us, even in the crashing waters, whispering comfort and courage to our weary hearts.

Praising God in difficult times doesn’t mean we don’t cry, grieve, or struggle. It means that even in our pain, we remember what He has done before, and we trust that He will move again. We’ve seen His mighty works. We’ve felt His hand steady us before. And we trust, we believe, that He is still at work, even when we can’t yet see the shore.

So today, whether you’re sailing calm seas or bracing against a storm, give praise. Proclaim God’s name. Let your life be a testimony of faith, a reminder to the world that our God is with us, and our God is for us.