Get through today. Get through the next day. Then the day after that. Count down the days until they jump back into your arms... Then they're gone again for another three months. Same cycle.

It's hard to maintain a long distance relationship. Especially if you're like me, and you believe fully that God specifically placed that one person in your life by His will. The hard part isn't so much about keeping the feelings; I know in my heart that the girl I'm dating is the one for me, and she's the one for God. She makes me better, every day she strives to love and be more for the Lord, and she makes me so beyond happy.

The tougher part is just the waiting. Waiting through all the FaceTime calls at one o'clock in the morning and waiting through the random texts saying "Hey I miss you and hope your day is going great!" Waiting, and just trying to get one day closer to them.

But waiting can't be the only action we take in the tough times. God's got it under control and trusting His plan is the best way to go. When you're sitting there, wondering what in the heck you're supposed to be doing, just watching the clock tick on by, think:

I'm waiting for my story to unfold. What can I do right now to make it the best story when it finally comes?

Your story is right now. Maybe your life is boring, maybe you're just going through the motions, grinding it out until your person comes back home to you. But your story is right now.

A few lines from a song by John Waller called "While I'm Waiting"...

"I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord // And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord though it is painful, but patiently I will wait // While I'm waiting, I will serve You while I'm waiting, I will worship while I'm waiting, I will not faint, I'll be running the race even while I wait"

Active patience is a really tough concept to grasp. We must still trust and stick to God's plan while we wait for the good to come back. Your story is still unfolding even though the other half of it may be 500 miles away.

I am learning firsthand that missing your loved one is really not fun, but loving them long distance is made so much better and more rewarding if your story is developed away from them. You both will return as changed people, ready to love better and more than ever. The past few days I've already noticed myself being thankful and loving in a more full way to not only my girl, but to everyone around me too. Actively waiting makes time go faster and love last longer.

So all you couples out there long distance: serving God at the center of your relationship is the key. Faith and love always emerge victorious. There may be pain in the night, but joy comes with the morning. My relationship is stronger than ever with my loved one because it comes second to my relationship and trust in God. Your heart will grow fonder, so don't lose faith.

-JM