He's been faithful...

Yesterday, Dan and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary!

Two years ago, we came before God, and he made us one flesh. Two sinners saved by the grace of God joined together as a symbol of Christ's relationship with his church.

Praise God!

Ever since D-Day, I have found myself rejoicing in anniversaries, and yesterday, it was my turn to celebrate our anniversary and to praise God for all that he hasdone in our marriage over the past two years.

And boy, do I have a lot to praise him for.

Two years ago, I stood on a stage with the man who I now call my husband. Young, in love, we eagerly exchanged our vows, ready to embark on this journey we call "marriage."

To have and to hold.

Little did we know that there would be nights when Dan would literally have to hold me for hours as I wept at the sin that had torn my family apart...

For better or for worse.

Nor did I know that the next two years would be two of the worst years of my life...

In sickness and in health.

Battling anxiety and depression. Sometimes even struggling to get myself out of bed in the morning...

To love and to cherish.

Learning that love is truly a choice, and that if you don't fight for it, it can be lost in the blink of an eye...

Until death do us part.

Not knowing that this last vow would be broken by my own parents just a year later and would rock our world.

After we exchanged our rings, we turned to light the unity candle. Wrapped up in the moment, I blew mine out before I was able to light the unity candle. To this day, we still joke about how Dan had to re-light it.

But as I think back on that moment, it's quite poetic, really. A beautiful picture of our first two years of marriage. So many doubts. So many restless nights. So many tears. So many times my flame blew out, but my dear sweet Daniel offered me his shoulder, his ear, his strength, his flame.

And even more importantly, he pointed me back to the source of all of our strength, and light, and hope. He pointed me to Christ.

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint."

-Isaiah 40:28-31

When I am weak, my bridegroom is strong. When I am weary, he carries me. When I am burdened, he lightens my load. When my flame has been extinguished, he lights my path.

And as we joined our candles into one, a song began. Yesterday, tears streamed down my face as I watched our wedding video and listened to these words, even more true today...

In my moments of fear,
Through Every Pain Every Tear
There's A God Who's Been Faithful To Me

When My Strength Was All Gone
When My Heart Had No Song
Still In Love He's Proved Faithful To Me

Every Word He's Promised Is True
What I Thought Was Impossible
I've Seen My God Do

He's Been Faithful
Faithful To Me
Looking Back His Love And Mercy I See
Though In My Heart I Have Questioned Even Failed To Believe
Yet He's Been Faithful, Faithful To Me

When My Heart Looked Away
The Many Times I Could Not Pray
Still My God He Was Faithful To Me

The Days I Spent So Selfishly
Reaching Out For What Pleased Me
Even Then God Was Faithful To Me

Every Time I Come Back To Him
He Is Waiting With Open Arms
And I See Once Again
He's Been Faithful
Faithful To Me
Looking Back His Love And Mercy I See
Though In My Heart I Have Questioned
Even Failed To Believe
Yet He's Been Faithful, Faithful To Me

We couldn't have picked a more appropriate song to begin our marriage with. Through it all, he has been faithful. And the love and mercy that my earthly husband has so graciously bestowed upon me over these past two years has been a sweet glimpse of my true bridegroom's unfailing love for us.

Today I'm linking up with Women Living Well for Women in the Word Wednesday.