In seasons of disruption, loss or uncertainty, how do Christians hold onto beauty, hope and faith? Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter and worship leader Laura Story joins NAE President Walter Kim for a heartfelt conversation on learning to trust God when life doesn’t go according to plan. 

Drawing from her family’s journey with disability, her ministry at Perimeter Church in Atlanta and her years of writing songs that have walked millions through sorrow and joy, Laura reflects on what it means to follow Jesus when the path feels unpredictable. She shares how worship can serve as a soundtrack for real life — not only celebrating God in seasons of victory, but sustaining believers through grief, confusion and change. 

In this episode, you’ll discover: 

  • Why stepping out in faith can feel like a “free fall” — and why it isn’t; 
  • Practical ways worship leaders and churches can walk alongside people in seasons of grief;
  • How God is both our Savior and our Sustainer; and 
  • The surprising ways God’s goodness can shine even in the most painful and confusing chapters of life.

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Resources

Today’s Conversation is brought to you by NAE Chaplaincy.

Read a Portion of the Transcript

Walter: I’d love to begin with the story behind “Blessings.” It’s a song that has accompanied so many people through suffering. Could you share what was happening in your life when you wrote it?

Laura: Yeah, absolutely. You know, I think people often assume I wrote “Blessings” from a place of resolution — like we walked through something hard, God fixed it and then I wrote a song about how everything turned out okay. But it wasn’t like that at all. When my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor, our life just… completely changed. Nothing looked the way we thought it would, and we were learning what faith actually looks like when God doesn’t immediately make things “normal” again.

Walter: That’s such an important distinction — God as healer versus God as sustainer.

Laura: Exactly. And honestly, I didn’t want to surrender. I wanted control back. But over time, I realized that maybe the greater miracle wasn’t God removing every hardship, but God with us in every hardship. That’s what I hope people hear in the song — not answers, but presence. Not certainty, but trust.

Walter: There’s also this theme in your writing about choosing joy even in sorrow.

Laura: Yes — and I don’t mean a fake smile or pretending things are easy. It’s more like the Book of Ruth, you know? Ruth had every reason to become bitter. But she chose faithfulness. She chose hope. That choice doesn’t erase grief, but it does open the door for God to write a different kind of story. That’s been true in my life, too.

Laura Story

Laura Story is a Grammy-winning worship leader, songwriter, author and Bible teacher whose ministry centers on helping people experience the goodness of God in both the joys and hardships of life. She is known for writing the worship songs “Blessings” and “Indescribable,” and is a longtime worship leader at Perimeter Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Laura Story is committed to forming Christ-centered communities through worship, discipleship and Scripture-rooted encouragement. She is also the author of “When God Doesn’t Fix It,” “So Long, Normal” and “I Give Up.” Story holds a master’s degree in theological studies and a doctorate in worship studies.

Walter Kim

Walter Kim became the president of the National Association of Evangelicals in January 2020. He previously served as a pastor at Boston’s historic Park Street Church and at churches in Vancouver, Canada and Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as a campus chaplain at Yale University. He preaches, writes and engages in collaborative leadership to connect the Bible to the intellectual and cultural issues of the day. He regularly teaches in conferences and classrooms; addresses faith concerns with elected officials and public institutions; and provides theological and cultural commentary to leading news outlets. He serves on the boards of Christianity Today and World Relief and consults with a wide range of organizations. Kim received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, his M.Div. from Regent College in Vancouver, and his B.A. from Northwestern University.