Trusting the Lord Through a Military Deployment

[This is a personal testimony by a former member of my church, Ashley Morgan.]

“There’s nothing that has tested my faith in the Lord quite like the deployment of my husband to a war zone. It made me quickly realize how little control I had personally, but how much more beautiful it was to rely on God’s sovereignty! My husband is in the Air Force and, after being married for several years, we began thinking of starting our family. We thought we had all of our ‘ducks in a row…’ and had done all the things in our control to ensure we began our family under the ‘perfect circumstances,’ but nothing we had done required us to rely on God. We were keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel of our lives!

“Then, days before I found out I was pregnant with our first baby, we got the news that my husband would be deployed to Afghanistan for nine months! He left when I was three months pregnant, and wouldn’t return until she was three months old, except for the possibility of a two week R&R somewhere within the deployment. I was devastated. Suddenly all of my perfectly-laid-out plans came to a screeching halt, and my dependence on God became my primary focus. It probably goes without saying, but it is a really scary prospect to be pregnant with your first child while receiving news that your husband is taking shelter due to daily rocket attacks on his base. It’s humbling to know that there was nothing, NOTHING, I could do to protect him or change the situation. To top it off, it was sad to consider that I would likely have to give birth to our first child without my husband present. It was NOT what I would have planned for myself!

“I remember praying fervently, ‘Lord, please protect my husband! Bring him home to me and our daughter safely. But if the worst may come, I trust You to provide for us. I trust that You know every detail of how this situation will play out, and that You will show up in all the details. No matter what happens, thank You for Your great love and faithfulness to bring peace to my heart, grow my reliance on You, and build my faith during difficult circumstances. I trust You that everything is happening for my good and Your glory!’ (Romans 8:28)

“True to His nature, God certainly showed up for us! My husband was able to miraculously get on an earlier flight home for his R&R, and arrived back to the U.S. the day before I went into labor. My husband was there for our first daughter’s birth, and the first two weeks of her life! My husband came home (safe & whole!) three months after our daughter’s birth. Although things worked out ‘good’ for us (as we would define ‘good’), I had to know without a doubt that I would have still experienced God’s goodness if I was left as a widow and single mom to our precious new baby. I am confident that God would have still been faithful.”

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8; NKJV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer (by, Ashley Morgan):

• Those of us who have trusted the Lord with our lives, must know without a doubt that we will still experience God’s goodness even if the worst happens in our lives. Tell Him that in your own words.
• Our faith doesn’t rely on good circumstances, but that we are able to trust God in all circumstances. Talk to the Lord about how you are trusting Him today.
• Sometimes the “good work” God has set out for us is regarding a career or ministry endeavor, but sometimes it’s learning to rely on Him during times of adversity. Praise Him if you are in one of those hard times. 
• Ask the Lord to provide ALL things that you need in abundance – spiritually, emotionally, physically, economically!
• Pray the same for those in our U.S. military who are deployed or those who are keeping the home fires burning for their loved ones.

A prayer you can pray (by, Ashley Morgan):

Lord, my heart goes out to those deployed and their loved ones today. It is hard to imagine what our soldiers on the battlefield and their spouses endure. I don’t want them to feel forgotten. Provide in very special ways for their loved ones at home. Help them know that they can experience Your goodness, even if the worst happens in their lives. 

Many are living in challenging circumstances right now. Help my family and I to lean into You to provide for us. I trust that You know every detail of how this situation will play out, and that You will show up in all the details. No matter what happens, thank You for your great love and faithfulness to bring peace to my heart, grow my reliance on You, and build my faith during difficult circumstances. I trust You that everything is happening for my good and Your glory!

For the deployed, their families, and mine, provide all things that we need in abundance – spiritually, emotionally, physically, economically! We worship You for Your good ness toward us, Jesus, for You are always good! Amen.

Today’s decree:

May our deployed military and their loved ones be safe in Your care today, Lord!