Hope of Glory by Lisa Thacker

"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:1-10

When I read this portion of scripture, I am reminded of our troops over in Iraq and the necessity to pray for them everyday. The things our troops go through, the things they must endure, the danger they are always in, the loneliness they experience, the families they leave behind, the emotional roller coaster they feel, the lack of peace in a place of war. I can’t imagine living through such an experience, especially without the Lord as my Saviour.

Having had a saved son-in-law, Wayne (Captain in the Army) be deployed after only 3 weeks of marriage to our oldest daughter Kira, puts a mothers heart in quite a quandary. Tears over-flowed my soul. Not that I questioned God for His purpose or plan for my son-in-law, but the fact of the matter is, will God question me when I pray for protection for Wayne and the troops? Is my heart right before God? Should I have my prayers answered? Have I disappointed my Lord and Saviour so much that the reflection of my life would hinder my prayers of protection for Wayne and the troops? I began to weep and ask God to look beyond my faults and see the need as I went to Him in prayer for them.

Not knowing what was ahead for our family or what we were to endure, we knew that God is the one in control of our lives and that He leads us where ever we go. We learned that we have to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, in order to endure the hardness that comes our way. We must believe that God Almighty will take care of us. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12.

Knowing that “…faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1 and verse 3 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were famed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” God would and did bring Wayne home to our daughter. We trusted God, they endured the tour of duty and are together again.

Having been through deployment, I know in my heart it will never be the same when I hear that a soldier has to leave for war. May I encourage you now to please pray for protection for our troops and their families! They truly do need your support, encouragement and prayers! God will Bless!