When SFC Mannarino was stationed in Taji, Iraq, he could count on one thing he would be fired upon every day.
“I didn’t know if I’d live another five minutes let alone make it through the deployment,” he said. “We got shot at, mortared, attacked constantly. It was a daily occurrence, two to four times a day. I wasn’t in a great place.”
One day, an 82mm mortar landed five feet from Mannarino in the spot where he had been standing a moment earlier and blew up in the air. “Mortars are designed to blow out, but it blew up, away from me,” he said. “I felt the Holy Spirit protecting me.”
Another day, two of his soldiers were hit with mortars and needed to be flown to Germany for medical care. Mannarino also witnessed an Iraqi security guard across the street get his face blown off from sniper fire.
These are experiences he didn’t write home about to Sonja and the kids. In fact, he didn’t even have time to process the danger and loss of life surrounding him on a regular basis. He knew his life was at risk, but he also knew God was watching out for him. Mannarino read Psalm 91 daily and left his Bible open to it even when he was not in his room.
“I became very desensitized, but now that I’m home, it does catch up to me,” he said. “I’ve been back for two years. I still have moments where I’ll talk to guys about Iraq, and I’ll have to quit because it really brings back a flood of emotion that I never dealt with.”
Soldiers like Mannarino may not come home with visible injuries, but their spirits might need some healing after what they’ve experienced. Jesus, the Great Physician, has the power to heal not only our bodies but our minds, hearts and spirits as well.
Lord, heal my troubled spirit and renew my soul again.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.” (Psalm 90:14–15)