As I sit here listening to the song “Praise You In This Storm,” recorded by Casting Crowns, I’m reminded of September 21, 2022. It’s the date that should have been my granddaughter Charlie’s first birthday, but unfortunately she had passed away en utero two weeks before her due date. On September 21, 2022 my daughter wanted us as a family to attend her church together, to have a birthday party for Charlie after, and later to visit her grave together. Before church my daughter mentioned that during the service the song “Praise You In This Storm” would be played, per her request, because it had been a source of strength for her since the passing of her baby daughter.

That day my daughter was also dealing with other challenges. Her baby son Cayden, whom which she’d had a challenging pregnancy, had been born seven weeks premature on July 29, 2022. My daughter had hoped that Cayden would finally be released from the NICU to come home on September 21, for there to be something happy on a day that was so sad. But before church she got a call from the hospital, telling her they would not be releasing Cayden that day.

During church as the song “Praise You In This Storm” was played, my heart wept for my daughter; but my daughter was singing loudly along with the song, proclaiming to God her praise. As I cried, I was inspired by her strength.

We had the birthday party after the service, celebrating Charlie. And afterwards we went to the cemetery together and each laid a sunflower on her grave. Soon afterwards my daughter received a phone call from the hospital, saying they had decided to allow baby Cayden at last to finally come home. Sadness turned to great joy.

I have learned in life that often there will be hard times. And they can be very difficult to get through. For my daughter, she has clung to a song that gives her comfort and draws her near to the Lord and His comfort. For me during the toughest time in my life, I clung to a scripture, Psalm 30:5b, that says, “Weeping may go on all night, but in the morning, there is joy!” Yes, the tough times will come, but I have learned, with time, life always gets better—tough times don’t last; they are for a moment. May we all glean inspiration from my daughter, who has been through so much, and yet praises God through her storms.

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