Praise You in This Storm
There are some songs that just stay with you.
For me, Praise You in This Storm by Casting Crowns is one of them.
It’s kind of strange because it feels like this song has followed me for years. Like, it always shows up again when life is heavy. Not even on purpose, just somehow I hear it at the exact time I need it. I remember the first time it really hit me was when my first family pet passed away. I was younger, and I think it was the first time I felt real grief. It might not seem like a huge thing to some people, but it was to me. Losing something that was part of everyday life hurt more than I expected. And I remember hearing that line, “I’ll praise You in this storm,” and thinking… I don’t even know how to do that.
But I also didn’t know what else to do. I just needed something to hold onto. Then years later, when my aunt passed away, the song came back again. Grief feels different as you get older. You understand more, and somehow that makes it harder. I didn’t have the right words. I still don’t. But that song reminded me that God is still there, even when nothing makes sense. And honestly, one of the hardest seasons it found me in was postpartum.
Postpartum depression was not something I expected. I thought that time in my life would feel joyful, and parts of it were, but there were also moments that felt really dark and confusing. I felt like I wasn’t myself. I felt guilty for struggling. I didn’t want to admit how hard it was. And then I heard that song again. Not like it fixed everything, but it reminded me that faith isn’t just for the good days. God doesn’t disappear when things get messy or when you feel numb or overwhelmed.
Sometimes praising Him in the storm isn’t a big, brave thing.
Sometimes it’s just a quiet, tired prayer.
Sometimes it’s just choosing to keep going.
And I will say, I’m just really grateful for music in general. I don’t think a song has to be explicitly “Christian” to be a gift from God. God created creativity. He created beauty. And sometimes He uses something as simple as a song to reach people in ways words can’t. Also, my Spotify lately is honestly all over the place. One minute it’s Baby Einstein or nursery songs for Isla, the next it’s country music, and then suddenly Casting Crowns comes on when I didn’t even plan it. But I kind of love that. It feels like God meets us right in the middle of everyday life, even in the mess of a very random playlist. I think that’s why this song has stayed with me for so long. It keeps bringing me back to a verse I hold onto a lot, especially lately.
Psalm 46:1 says:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
And honestly, I feel like that matters so much in today’s world. Life feels heavy for a lot of people right now. Everyone is carrying something, even if you can’t see it. Grief, anxiety, loneliness, stress, uncertainty, burnout. Sometimes it feels like the storms just keep coming in different ways. That verse reminds me that God isn’t far away from any of it. He doesn’t wait until things are calm or easy to be present. He is an ever-present help, even when life feels messy or when I don’t feel strong. I think songs like Praise You in This Storm bring me back to that truth. Not that everything suddenly gets fixed, but that I’m not alone in it. Sometimes this is what coping looks like for me. Returning to reminders like this. Holding onto Scripture. Letting worship be the thing that gently pulls me back when I feel like I’m drifting.
I don’t know why this song has been such a constant for me, but it has. It’s been there in grief, in loss, and in moments where I felt like I couldn’t see the other side yet. And every time it comes back around, it feels like God gently reminding me: I’m still here.
With grace,
Emma