My husband returned four months ago from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. This was our first deployment, and we were stationed in the United Kingdom when he was given the orders. We quickly had to decide whether I would stay in the UK or return to the States to be closer to family while he was gone. My husband thought I would be happier being close to family, but I felt the Lord telling me to trust Him and stay in the UK, even if it meant I was going to be alone. This was a hard decision because I felt I was staring my biggest fear right in the face—I was going to be left alone in a foreign country while my husband went to war. Scary!
Rainbow over Afghanistan
Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights.
The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. Psalm 145:13
I’m not a young Army Wife.
This is not my first, or my second, or my third or my (you get the picture) deployment. And it doesn’t matter. I miss my soldier as much as the next wife. My kids miss their Daddy as much as any kids would. Deployments are hard regardless of who you are and what number this one is for you.
We are nearing the end of this fifteen month deployment, and while I would so love to be closer than we are, I can wait. How? Because you see that image above? It is one of the most perfect reminders I can think of how God’s promises are forever and they are changeless. No matter what is going on in our lives or in the world, God’s promises stand. What a comfort that is! What peace that brings. When my soldier husband sent me the image, I just couldn’t stop looking at it. I was so amazed to see a rainbow in Afghanistan! I’m not sure why I thought that was some type of great world wonder, but the image is just so powerful to me with the rainbow in the background of a place of combat.
I have so much to be thankful for in regards to everything that has happened since my soldier deployed. But one of the biggest joys I have is that as exhausted as I am at the end of each day, I wake up every morning and push through another day.
I am thankful, so thankful that we have a Gracious Heavenly Father.
I am thankful for rainbows and the reminders they are of God’s word to us.
And I am thankful I have a soldier who loves me, but who loves Jesus more.
We are still in waiting mode for our reunion, but the days are getting much shorter!
Many of our unit’s soldiers have already returned to their families. Mine will be one of the last, if I am blessed to have him return. I can’t wait to feel him breathing next to me again. I have missed his presence in our lives so much. And I know he’s missed ours in his. How blessed I am to have the life I do. I pray God will not let me forget the struggles I’ve faced and the lessons I’ve learned about my heart and my faith through the last 15 months. And I pray as I move forward, that I use those lessons to His glory.
Questions to Share:
1. Can you identify with this soldier’s wife’s perspective, now that she is near the end of their umpteenth deployment? Why or why not?
2. What about God’s character and the faithfulness of His promises has helped sustain you through deployments?
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