Lord, give me the discipline to stay faithful to you even in the dry spells.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
August 8
GOING TO WAR
“We’re going to war!”
I will never forget those four little words that were spoken by an ROTC instructor at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was September. 11, 2001, and we both sat speechless before a tiny 12-inch black and white television screen watching a third plane crash before our very eyes into the Pentagon.
Five years later it had seemed that those words had indeed come true for every soldier serving in the U.S. Army, except me. Having received my commission as a second lieutenant in the army in 2003, virtually every one of my fellow ROTC classmates had one or two deployments in support of the “global war on terror” in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of September 2006, I had none.
After several deployment notifications that fell through, I became convinced that it was my destiny to remain a commissioned officer in the Army Reserves, working stateside as a specialist in homeland security. This non- deployment affected me in an adverse way. It seemed that everyone else was doing their duty or deployed overseas Why am I lucky? Why do I get to stay behind? I wondered. I was single yet watched as many of my friends with wives and children were called up to go serve while I stayed behind. It’s not fair that they have to leave their families and I still haven’t gone once, I thought.
It came as little surprise when in September of 2006 I received my latest warning order from the army that I might yet again be deploying overseas. I chalked it up to another “boy who cried wolf” scenario and went about my daily life. In the two weeks between my latest alert and when I was required to report for soldier readiness processing, my life would change forever.
Lord, as I make plans for the future, remind me that you are ultimately in control.
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” (James 4:14a)
August 9
LOVE AND WAR
On September 24, I was introduced to Amanda through mutual friends. We instantly bonded. Six days later Amanda and I went on our first date. In between the day we met and our first date, I received the official notice that I was indeed going to be departing in late December of 2006 for pre-deployment training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, followed by a twelve-month tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
“Do I still follow this love?” I asked God repeatedly. With each and every date and moment spent with Amanda I felt more assurance that this woman was not only special, but a woman with a heart for Christ and a woman of encouragement. I specifically remember one evening several weeks into our relationship asking her “not to forget me when I am away.” She promised me she wouldn’t.
Then the two of us shared a moment that I had never shared with a woman before. We prayed together. Then suddenly, one of us began to slowly and very softly sing a familiar hymn. The other quietly joined in. The two of us sat there holding, praying, and singing praises with each other. How do two people find true love and then cope with the separation of that love in such a short period of time? The impossible is accomplished and expressed through intimate prayer, and unending songs of praise to a God whose plan is far greater then we could ever hope or imagine. Thanks be to God that his thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways. Never in a million years would I have imagined God would bring my future wife to me before sending me overseas in his service. Little did I know that day that it would be through song and prayer that God would draw me closer to Amanda, but more importantly, closer to him.
Lord, help me not be so intent on my own plans that I fail to see the better path you have for me.
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8)
August 10
MIGHTY FORTRESS
God truly became the focus of the year 2007 the year Stuart was deployed because the Lord was all we had to cling to. Stuart was completely in his hands, and all I could do was pray (and pray, and pray more). There were some nights that I was too distraught to do anything but read my Bible in search of comfort and peace. Psalm 77 was good for the nights I felt like I was coming apart.
Stuart always said he could feel my prayers, especially during the first days that he arrived overseas. Knowing that Stuart was lifted reassured me immensely. I prayed for him every day, usually many, many times. It was also comforting to know that the God of my mundane suburban existence was the same One who had created the spectacular mountains of Afghanistan, and the barren scrub terrain that became the backdrop for Stuart’s daily life. I remember thinking how the human spirit can adapt rather quickly to sudden life changes and great emotional turmoil.
Stuart would often remind me that “God knew what he was doing” when he brought the two of us together, and that what God brought together, no man would separate. We knew we were being challenged, but we had a great Helper on our side, holding me when I was lonely and afraid and sheltering Stuart in the face of danger. I also came to see God as not just a passive do-gooder who was amiably blessing us from above, but one who at any point could defend my soldier from scores of Taliban, stop an IED from detonating, and could shield him from any “terror that stalks by night.” The children’s rhyme leads us to believe Jesus is “meek and mild,” but the Jesus that I experienced was truly a strong and mighty fortress.
Lord, I praise you for being our shield and protection for body, mind and spirit.
“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalm 59:16)
August 11
