Are you a Christian woman considering Military Service? Our next encouraging post in this special series dedicated to the Month of the Military Child comes from a young woman who knows what it is like to have a parent serve her country.
For the Christian Woman Considering Military Service
by Lydiaruth Thompson
Your heart pounds and eyes strain as they attempt to stay open. You hear the pounding of the footsteps as they come closer to the door. The only thing on your mind now is more sleep or food. You can’t imagine standing up let alone getting dressed. As the door flies open, the drill sergeant marches into the cool and dirty bunkers, you jump up immediately to hold salute as you stand barely clothed. Once she finishes screaming the instructions, she storms out.
Everyone quickly begins to get dressed. As your bruised dainty fingers begin to lace up your dirty boots, you have only one thought. This is not what I signed up for. This is just the second day and you feel as though it is the eighth day. Feeling as if you are inside a never-ending nightmare you begin to doubt. Your resolve weakens and your motivation wanes. Suddenly, you doubt this is even where you are supposed to be. You begin to despair and regret as you picture your family’s concerned eyes back home.
You begin to doze off imagining the inside of your home, even seeing the unfolded clothes in your room, unlaced shoes by the door, and your dog tearing up the back door, eager to play. The things that once annoyed you have become aspects you miss terribly. You would do anything to be home rather than in training.
Although I don’t know what it is like to be in the military, my friend shared her stories with me.
She showed me her bruised hands, yet her face seemed different, tougher somehow. She had come home for a quick visit after basic training before her next course of instruction. Most importantly, she shared her heart with me. Even though my dad is in the Army, and I have some understanding, I realized I did not truly understand the huge physical, mental, and spiritual sacrifice it takes to be in the military.
Yet, I want to remind every woman considering military service that God is with you.
Take heart young woman, you are still God’s child. You are still in the palm of his hand. You have been placed where you are because people need you. See it as both an honor and privilege wherever God places you, especially in an occupation like the military.
Occasionally we tell ourselves we will never do a certain thing in life. Whether it is a certain kind of relationship, career, or even a sin. We tend to also have in our mind a map of the life we want. Sometimes God will “recalculate” your GPS. This could very well be a certain occupation that never crossed your mind, but at the end of the day, he knows you best. He wants you to enjoy life and live abundantly. Besides, he is the one who made you.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Therefore, you can trust Him.
Everything happens for a particular reason. When it feels like more than you can handle, trust that God is working in you and will provide what you need. He is with you every second, minute, and hour of the day. Whether you are in training, out of training, sitting in an office, or on the battlefield, he is with you.
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
If you are a Christian woman considering military service, we would be honored to pray for you. Submit your confidential prayer requests here.
