praise you in this storm.

listen to this story...

there once was a girl who fell in love. she met him when she was a sophomore in college. he was unlike any other man she'd ever known. and he loved her too.

she can remember right before christmas of that year. they'd only been together for about three months, but she remembers laying on the floor of her bedroom while he looked at her.

"what do you see in my eyes?" she asked.

"christmases. and babies. and forever," he answered.

she knew. she'd spend the rest of her life with this man.

life was blissful.

but for the next three years, the obstacles they'd face in order to be together were immense. they'd be threatened, begged and ordered not to be together.

the engagement came and her happiness overflowed.

but the monday after, she sat in her dark apartment and talked to her mother on the phone while he sat by, wondering silently, "why..." she sobbed and yelled and utterly exhaused herself, trying to defend what she held most dear.

dad wasn't walking her down the aisle. mom, brother, grandparents weren't coming. parents weren't paying. he was completely banished.

but the sun still shined. blessings abounded. people rallied for them.

but still her heart broke. the irony of a broken heart on the way to her wedding made it hurt even more.

they relied on Him. still wondering, "why? why us..." but trusting.

months flew past. she sat alone in her apartment at night, planning her wedding. she tried on dresses alone. sometimes with friends. but never with her mom.

tears were constant.

the details were solidified. the day drew nearer.

and then miracles.

one night in a quiet, dark library, her dad took her hands. "i want to walk you down the aisle," he said. "i want to be at your wedding."

and mom's coming. and mom's helping with flowers. and grandparents are coming.

and people are celebrating!

the wedding happened like something off a movie set. the director was the Heavenly Father. His lighting was immaculate. He cued the fluttering leaves just as tears streamed down her face and she whispered her vows.

everyone hugged. everyone was there.

everything was as it should've been. finally.

_____________________________________________________

that story is about me. i was listening to a song this morning called "praise You in this storm." it's about no matter how many tears fall, how bad things are, God is holding you in His arms. His will is being done. and if you will have faith in Him, the peace that passes all understanding will abound in you. and while this story i just told was happening, that peace abounded. i think back now, and it's so funny how the best time of my life and the worst time of my life were happening simultaneously. and i look at how things turned out, and i'm amazed by His grace and His mercy.

our wedding was a miracle. God knew what He was doing. He was taking His time and working things to His glory. both landon and i and my mom and so many other people involved are stronger for it.

it's because we praised Him in the storm. and in the next storm, we'll do it again.

"no matter where i am/every tear i've cried/You hold in Your hand/You never left my side/and though my heart is torn/i will praise You in this storm."