As I [John] prepared to go to war my wife and children tried to continue normal life in a new city. There is nothing normal when a family is separated by deployments. There is no point at which things become easier. Few can understand the depth of the trial. As you reflect back on the stories from this week remember those at home who have the hard task of keeping the home together and dealing with all the daily struggles alone. The following was a journal entry from my mother as I left the mobilization site heading for Iraq.
“Older women are to… teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women” (Titus 2:3–4)
Father God, this morning I pray for John and Julie. Julie is struggling so very hard with John’s decision to join the Army National Guard and all that has resulted from that decision. She is grieving his leaving for Iraq and dreading his being away from them for seven months. Please give her strength and hope, peace and grace. Help me be an encouragement to her. Father, I pray for contentment and joy to fill her life. Help us know best how to support her while John is away.
Bless John too, Father. I know his heart is heavy with concern for Julie and with missing her and Caleb and Katie. Thank you for the love they share for each other and for you. Please keep him safe, Father, as he leaves Ft. Bliss this weekend and flies to Kuwait and then on to Iraq. Bless him in every way, every day. Keep him surrounded with your angels who will “guard him in all his ways” (Psalm 91:11). Thank you for your Word that promises: “Because he loves me, says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation’” (Psalm 91:14–16).
Bless John right now, Lord. Lift his spirit. Lift Julie’s spirit. Restore their joy in their relationship. Bless Caleb and Katie. Protect and bless this little family, Lord I pray. Thank you for them. Thank you for being near us all during this time. Thank you for your love and grace and for getting us through difficult times. Thank you for your faithfulness, Father God. Be with all my loved ones this day, I pray.
May we draw ever closer to you, Lord, when separated from those we love. May we cling to your Word, may we walk in your ways, and may we seek your will each step along the way.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)