Killin’ It
I am a military wife. I am a homeschooling, box-packin’ (and un-packin’), commissary rockin’, chapel lovin’, sisterhood sharin’, Bible breathin’, hands lifted worshipin’, and God-fearin’ woman. I could go on and on, but I am running out of words that end in “-ing.”
Seriously, though, there are a lot of words I could use to describe this military life and how I have chosen to journey through it.
I suppose you could say that about my “Christian” life, too. But really, this “life” all belongs to Jesus. I openly confess that I haven’t always walked it well, but there have been plenty of days where I have. There have been successes and victories, and there have been failures and loss. And there will most likely be more of both in the future.
I’m ok with that.
You see, I make a decision each and every day to be courageous. I choose to watch for the movement of my Heavenly Father. I have lived long enough to realize that it is worth the effort. I watch for it so that I can step out in courage and obedience to His will. It is what I do. It is who I am and desire to be. I may stumble in the effort, but I will not fail to keep my eyes open. I refuse to remain unmoved.
I am guessing this might describe you, too, or at least a slice of what we are all aiming for.
Courage – because our God is everything we need and is irrevocably faithful and good.
Obedience – because our heart beats to live our life sacrificially for the sake of His Great Name.
Courage and Obedience. Those words often come together. They resonate. They inspire. They encourage you to hold your head up just a little bit higher. At least they do for me.
But why do they do that?
To be honest, I am not entirely sure. But I am sure that it has something to do with the fact that we are often drawn to a purpose that is bigger than ourselves. We don’t want our lives to be meaningless. We are keenly aware that what we have to bring on our own can never go the distance. We need Jesus. We desperately desire to walk in victory and in purpose.
We know there are sacrifices to be made, and we step up to that plate, set our jaw, and say, “Yes, Lord”…over and over again. We belong to a select group of people who love the Lord with our whole life and choose over and over again to lay that very life down for Jesus, for our families, and for our military communities.
It is a calling. It is a craving. Not everyone gets that. But that’s ok. We will just keep on pouring it out – our lives, our courage, our one-step-at-a-time offerings.
My military peeps get it. They walk it. They live it. Every. Single. Day.
I am writing this today to let you know, “I see you.” I see how hard you are endeavoring to slay dragons each day. I see your ferocity to defend your families and those you love. I see you choosing to become the last so those you love can be first. I see you weary, but not giving up. I see you searching for glory in the midst of the grime and in the mundane.
You, beloved, are exquisitely beautiful. Truth. I see you give it all, morning after morning, for something bigger than yourself and a future that is beyond yourself. Yes, I “see” you.
More than that…He sees you. And just in case you didn’t know (or perhaps need the reminder), when He lays His eyes upon you, He smiles. Truth.
So today, as I share this song, “Shadow Step,” (off the new release from Hillsong United’s album entitled, Wonder) my prayer is that you would feel a little pouring back into you. May you be encouraged and strengthened in this quiet moment to keep pursuing courage and obedience, watching for His shadow step.
He sees you and delights in you, beloved. Truly.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged, and do the work. For the Lord God, my God, is with you.”
1 Chronicles 28:20
So, keep slaying those dragons. Keep loving with your whole heart. Keep walking it out – one day at a time. Keep giving, forgiving, seeking, believing, loving, and rockin’ this adventure. Keep pursuing this grand life with courage and obedience. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of us.
And one faithful step at a time, we will keep on killin’ it.
With joy for the journey,
Sarah
PS – I have been married almost 22 years (whoop-whoop!) and have moved our home 16 different times. Sometimes people ask me which duty stations have been my favorite. To be honest, they have all been beloved. That love has less to do with the location than with the people I have had the privilege to live this adventure alongside. Truly.
Military women, in particular, are some of the bravest, fiercest, coolest, smartest women on this planet. Just try and convince me otherwise. (Won’t happen, by the way.) I will forever consider myself richly blessed for the time I have had serving alongside them.