The God of Every Story

"...You're the God of every story,

No matter what I'm going through.

I may not understand, You are God and I am just a man.

Yeah I'm forever trusting in Your plan.

One thing is certain

You are faithful, You're a faithful God…"

Laura Story "God Of Every Story"

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I happen to love the music that Laura Story makes. Her songs are personal, inspiring, speaking truth I need to surround myself with, and always point me towards our good God. I've been dwelling on this song: "God of Every Story" a lot this last week, thinking about how true it is that God's faithfulness is so easy to see in our lives, when we simply take the time to look back on our individual stories. Our God IS The God of every story, and He's writing our lives out in such a perfectly orchestrated way. 

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I look at my life right now, with my husband sitting next to me, my baby girl lying in her crib across the room, and our other two daughters sleeping upstairs, and I am completely blown away at how drastic a life can change in just a matter of months. 

26 months ago, I didn't even know Andrew. I didn't know if I'd ever get married, and I didn't think I'd ever have any kids. I dreamed and prayed for the day when I would meet the man I was supposed to marry, but for years and years that prayer went unanswered. I waited a long time, not dating anyone, and somewhere after college, I began to believe that I would stay single forever. I believed God was calling me to a life of singleness, and that His plan for me wouldn't ever include a husband or children of my own. 

My heart ached for years, as I watched all of my friends and family fall in love, marry, and begin to have babies. I rejoiced with them. I loved being an aunt and bridesmaid, but in the back of my heart, I was broken. At the end of each celebration, and holiday, I wondered in my lonely heart if I'd ever have anyone to love. 

I remember knowing in my heart that God was still good, but I hurt. Despite the ache in my heart, I did my best to maintain a good attitude, and I remained faithful to what God was asking of me. I remained single, I remained pure, I worked hard at my job and photography business, and I tried to be happy in the life that I had, even if it wasn't what I wanted. 

When I first met Andrew, I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. I kept waiting for him to change his mind. I kept waiting to wake up from the dream, because it was all so foreign and unexpected. In the middle of a dark winter, God brought joy into my heart, and finally answered the prayer we had all prayer for for so long: a husband, and children. 

My life changed in a matter of days, and when God's plan was finally revealed, I never looked back. I knew Andrew was the one, and my parents knew too. I had been waiting all those years for him, and for his daughters. And all the waiting made sense, and all the heartache didn't matter anymore, because God had been faithful. 

I look at my life now, through tear-blurred eyes, and I can tangibly SEE God's faithfulness. I see His hand of mercy and goodness, because here I am, married, and a mom. God not only allowed me to marry the man I love, and give me children to care for, but He also allowed me to be pregnant and carry my own baby within me, because He knew my heart longed for that. I look at Katelyn, and the beautiful little gift that she is, and she's my proof that God's plans are worth waiting for. My family is God's grace to me, God's answered prayers, God's faithfulness, on plain display for all the world to see. 

You are faithful. You're a faithful God. 

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I went on a date with my cousin, Brittany, the other day, and sat listening to her talk about her life, and I don't think I could have been happier or more filled with joy. I could see the change in her, I could see God's love reflected in her heart, and in every minute that passed, I saw answered prayer. 

I thought back through the years we had grown up together, through the hard times we had faced, and I remembered specific times when my heart had been broken for hers. But sitting in that donut shop the other day, my heart was rejoicing, because I could see God's faithfulness being played out. I saw God heal my cousin, I saw Him change her. 

Brittany has always had a special place in my heart. She's 2 years younger than me, and growing up, she was always the cousin I gravitated towards. When we got older, Brittany became my heart project. She may not have known it at the time, but I had made it my mission long ago to help her and look after her. I tried to protect her, I tried to keep her close enough so I knew what she was into, even if she didn't know I knew. She kept things pretty well concealed, but when you know someone so well, it's impossible to hide completely. I knew where Britt's life was headed, I knew the pain in her heart, and I knew she was searching in all the wrong places. But what's cool about this story, is that Brittany and I never talked about this stuff. We knew we loved each other, and that was as far as it ever went. I kept my prayers to myself, kept my concerns wrapped up, and quietly watched from afar, asking God to look after her and keep her from harm. I knew God would save her, I just didn't know when. 

Last year I began to see changes in her, and Andrew and I began praying even harder. We knew God was working, and doing big things, and I knew it was our job to reach out and help her. Her heart was finally ready for council, she was finally listening, and it was amazing. 

It's still amazing, and I am still rejoicing! My God answered one of the biggest heartaches in my life, He saved my dear cousin. The one who grew up beside me, laughed with me, cried with me, allowed me to be myself, supported me, stood up for me in our wedding…my dear Brittany, God saved her. And in so doing, He proved again just how faithful He is. 

God heard every prayer. He walked with her through every lost day. He protected her through every poor choice, and He worked His perfect plan out in her life, even when she wasn't looking for it. 

God was faithful. 

And the beautiful thing, is that this is only the beginning of her story, and what God will do. He is just starting a new life in her, and He won't leave her unfinished. Her story will be beautiful and complete, reflecting God's goodness, and bringing Him glory. He will keep doing a good work in her life, and He will see her through to completion. I'm so excited to see it unfold, I'm so excited to see what God will do, because we serve an amazing God, and He is in the business of restoration. 

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These testimonies and personal and true. My life is living proof that God is good, and that God is faithful. He is the God of every story, and He does care about what we're going through. Nothing is too hard or too big for Him. No heartache is too deep or too dark for Him to heal. He is always working for our good, He is always restoring, and answering prayer. 

I am so overwhelmed, my heart is so full. 

God is good, and He sees you, right where you are tonight. 

Trust Him to work in your life, trust Him to answer your hearts desire. 

He will, He's always faithful.