Spiritual Training

Let’s admit it—there is a certain loneliness that comes with military service. Deployment brings geographic separation from loved ones. And even when there is camaraderie in the deployed unit, one can still feel a certain loneliness which accompanies maintaining a constant alert at a remote location or experiencing encroaching fear in battle.  Even when home there is a certain isolation which can occur because loved ones might not understand or appreciate the mission and calling . . . especially given the demands on schedules and families because of the ops tempo.  So whether active duty or the spouse of an active duty service member, loneliness can accompany the realities of aloneness, even if surrounded by others. So I don’t think we can remind one another too often that we are never alone. The presence of God is real and sure, and this week is a good time to say it again.

Have you ever needed some encouragement? Have circumstances brought you to a place where you are fearful, impatient, confused, or losing strength in the midst of life’s battles? I believe that discouragement is one of Satan’s favorite, and most effective, “fiery darts”. If this is the case, then perhaps one of the greatest gifts that we can give to each other are words of encouragement.

“Identity Crisis” is a long devotion—one of the longest we have posted. Knowing your ops tempo we are surprised when the numbers come in as to its popularity. That speaks to us of the need for spiritual material dealing with growth during deployment, and we are grateful to God. We were already planning on a follow-up piece using JJ Heller’s “What Love Really Means.” So we post it tonight with joy and anticipation for how God is going to use it to affirm you in your spiritual walk with Him during this time of war:

Because of the rigors of deployment and the struggles of life, have you started asking yourself, “Who am I anymore?” Perhaps you can call that an “identity crisis”—when you begin to question or contemplate or doubt what makes you important or what makes you worthwhile. Many people tie their importance or identity to a number of different things: career progression, rank, relationships, checkbook & savings balance, housing, car, what parents or spouse or sibling or supervisor or physical appearance or even the past says about them. What is the major problem with this list? It leaves out God and what He has to say about who you are.

We have turned the calendar’s page to 2025. Does that make you feel older? Certainly it marks a passage of time, and for those of you experiencing deployment that comes as good news or bad news. If you’re getting ready to come home, you probably want those days to pass quickly. If you’re waiting to deploy, you might want time to move slowly. But whether it moves slowly or quickly time is taking its toll on all of us and we’re growing older. That’s the truth of it.  When my husband would come home from work during periods of time when an assignment was not going particularly well, I would ask him, “How was work today?” He would answer, “One more day off the tour!”

As Christians, we believe our minds, souls, and bodies were created for God-ordained rhythms of work, rest, and worship. Military duty necessarily pulls us away from these rhythms. Even as I am thankful, proud, and grounded because of my military experience, the intensity of that experience has a shadow side which takes a toll on many veterans.