Every day Sonja put on a brave face and tried to be strong for the children. But every night, after the kids were in bed, she was the one crying to her Heavenly Father for comfort. “At night, I felt alone,” she said. “I was trying to smile for my kids, but the pain was still there with Jason being gone. As time went on, things got easier but it was still hard, especially on certain days like Father’s Day, Christmas, and the first day of school.”
The Bible is full of heroes who faced fear even as they took the path God had set before them. Joshua had to be told four times in Joshua 1 to “be strong and courageous.” In the psalms, David cries out to God many times in fear for his life. Queen Esther feared for her safety as well. Following God’s will doesn’t mean we will not fear, but it does mean that God will walk beside us every step of the way.
Lord, turn my fear into confidence in your power, not mine.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you….” (Isaiah 43:1b–2a)
September 12
SECRET WEAPON
As Sonja held down the fort, she quickly saw the need to go on the offensive against spirits of fear, worry, resentment, anger, and bitterness. Instead of waiting for discouragement to invade and occupy her home, she countered this obstacle at every turn by wielding the Sword of Truth: God’s Word.
Her tactic was simple: she printed Scripture verses off from her computer and stuck them all around her house with Scotch tape so God’s Word would constantly be before her eyes and the eyes of her children.
Taped next to her bathroom mirror: Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might (Psalm 21:13).
Taped inside her kitchen cupboard: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me (Psalm 23:4).
Taped above her dresser: He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord (Psalm 112:7).
Taped in her living room: But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds (Psalm 73:28).
The result was powerful. Instead of dwelling on the unknown of the future, Sonja chose to dwell on what she did know that God is good, and he’s in control. Even after Jason returned from deployment the following year, Sonja left those verses hanging around her home.
“Without God, I couldn’t have made it,” she said. “I needed comfort and peace, and he gave it to me. That is just amazing. Jason and I prayed with each other through email. We would speak to each other about God and Scriptures to lift our spirits. God’s presence was really strong.”
Sonja was able to ward off attacks from the Enemy by claiming God’s truths. Meditating on Scripture cleared her mind and heart of the swirling negative thoughts that threatened to consume her. You can do the same.
Lord, give me the discipline I need to study and memorize your Word.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
September 13
DANGER AND PROTECTION
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)
September 14
FINDING PURPOSE
SFC Jason Mannarino, Iraq (2006–2007)
In the beginning of his deployment, SFC Jason Mannarino didn’t want to go on, but he did anyway. It wasn’t his own hardship that was on his mind, however. It was his family’s.
“I know Sonja and the kids had a tough time coping with the entire thing,” he said. “I told her, ‘There has to be a purpose. There’s got to be a reason that this is happening to us in this portion of our lives. God’s got a plan. I don’t know what it is, but he has a plan.’”
The hardest part for Jason, he said, was knowing that his wife and children were having an extremely difficult time. “I thought about them every minute of every day. They were my drive to come home. They are what I live for.”
Looking back on the deployment now, Sonja said the experience invigorated her marriage and brought them closer to each other and to God. “Before, we didn’t have the greatest marriage,” said Sonja. “We didn’t hate or yell at each other, we were just kind of far apart. I see now that there was a purpose for this deployment; God opened
