Ako ay Mayroong Dangal.

“You don’t see yourself worthy.”

Bro. Sadhu’s words echoed in my head. When he prayed over me, those words felt like it has uncovered a reality that I have been burying deep inside. A truth I was reluctant to face but had to. He was right. Deep inside, I did not see myself worthy.

A season came and went. In that time, I drifted. I made impulsive decisions I now regret. I broke a promise I had made with the Lord. I messed up. I felt disqualified, like I had lost my place. In my heart I was starting to believe that, “Maybe I’m no longer worthy to receive His promises… maybe I'm not worthy anymore"

But during our second day of soaking for our outreach here in Benguet, the Lord spoke to me:

“My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.” - Psalm 62:7

This verse was a gentle but firm reminder: “Your honor comes from Me. Not from your achievements. Not from your perfection. Not even from your faithfulness. Honor is not something you earn, it’s something I give.”

Then, on the third day, I was led to Isaiah 43. I’ve clung to this chapter before. It reminded me that God is with me and He loves me. But this time, verse 4 gripped my heart in a new way:

“Others were given in exchange for you.

I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me.

You are honored, and I love you.” - Isaiah 43:4

Although I have read this passage multiple times in the past, for the first time, I noticed the word honored.

I searched the meaning of “honor” in Tagalog and found that there are two words to describe it: karangalan and dangal.

Karangalan speaks of achievements.

Dangal speaks of identity, of who you are.

And it hit me: The honor God gives me is not karangalan. There’s nothing I’ve done that could earn that.

It is dangal. A declaration of identity and worth rooted in His love.

I am honorable not because of what I do, but because of who I am to Him.

Because I am loved, I am honored.

Because I am precious to Him, He gives me back my dignity—even when I felt like I've thrown it away.

His love restores honor.

His love gives us back our name.

In His love I have found a quiet confidence that my worth, my honor, my identity comes from being loved by God.

Ikaw ang aking tagumpay.

Ikaw ang aking pag-ibig.

Ikaw ang aking dangal.