Long distance is so much more difficult than I thought it would be.

I wasn’t blind to the fact that this would be a challenge — after all, love can be such a hard and haunted thing at times, but I don’t think I was truly prepared for the ache that comes from missing someone who is so incredibly far away. 

I miss them in ways I can’t even express. I miss holding their hand, I miss hearing their voice as I wake up in the morning, I miss the comfort of walking through my door after a difficult day and seeing them sitting in the home we built together. I miss the small things, too, God. I miss sharing a meal together. I miss laughing at something random that only we would find funny. I miss falling asleep knowing that they’re right beside me, instead of counting down the days until we see each other again.

God, the distance feels heavy today. It feels like a weight in my chest, and I am finding it hard to hope, I am finding it hard to trust that we’ll be okay. Sometimes I worry and I wonder if we are strong enough to bridge this gap. Sometimes I question if our love can make up the miles. What if the gulf between us slowly turns into something deeper, something harder to weather? What if we lose sight of what matters?

God, I trust who I have given my heart to, and I trust our strength — but sometimes I doubt myself. I wonder if I’m strong enough to carry this distance, if my heart can withstand all the quiet nights, all of the missed moments, all of the endless countdowns. It hurts, God. It hurts more than I ever thought love could.

So please, help me hold onto what’s true. Remind me that love is bigger than geography, that it isn’t measured in miles, but in moments of choosing each other, again and again, despite how far we are. Help me to hold onto the small moments we do have; help me to cherish every phone call, every message, and every quiet reassurance that we’re still in this together, that we’re going to beat the odds.

And God, when my fear gets loud, when the doubt creeps in and tells me that we might not make it — help me to quiet the noise around me with faith. Remind me that love is patient, that love is strong, and that love is steady, even when the world seems determined to break it.

Give us strength, God, to hold on. Give us courage to trust the journey we’re on, even when we feel distant and removed from our hope. Give us grace to navigate misunderstandings, time zones, and schedules that never seem to align. Help us to use this season to grow, to learn about ourselves and each other, and to cherish what we have — no matter how far we may be.

And above all else, God, hold our hearts when we can’t hold each other. Be present in every lonely moment, in every tearful goodbye, and in every beautifully anticipated reunion. Help us to trust that no distance is too great for you — that you carry us both, bridging the gap, guiding us gently forward, until we are finally back together again.

Amen.