A Trinity of Warriors By Cortney Donelson

John 3:16 (NLT)
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

This is not about politics.

This is not about war or peace.

This is about love and sacrifice.

One of my cousins just kissed her husband goodbye for the next 13 months. He is a Marine and was deployed, leaving behind his wife and two children – ages 4 and 7 – for a whole year. I cannot imagine the emotions that must be swirling around that family and the many other families whose lives revolve around a deep fear that one of their members may be deployed for such an extended time. As I thought about my cousin and prayed for her family on the day her husband left, God laid the idea of this devotional on my heart. I view it as a testimony to the love and sacrifice military families share with us – our whole nation. I am dedicating this devotional to them.

In my prayers, God showed me that our soldiers are kind of like Jesus. They share some of the same characteristics: courage, honor, strength, and discipline, to name a few. While Jesus hung on the Cross so we could have eternal life, our soldiers enter war zones and put themselves in harm’s way so we can live with liberties most people in other countries will never know. While Jesus resisted the enemy and taught people how to follow Him, our soldiers battle human foes and teach others how to defend themselves. And, just as Jesus bled and died for our sins, our soldiers are wounded and killed for our freedom. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NLT)

Then, God showed me that the families of these soldiers are kind of like Him. These family members – wives, children, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers – love and support these soldiers. But, it’s more than that. They love and support those who love others enough to choose a soldier’s life. Just as God sacrificed His Son for us, these family members sacrifice an enormous amount. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)

My cousin’s children will not see their daddy for 13 months. They will miss him on their birthdays, on holidays, and on a first day of kindergarten. They will miss him when they lose their baby teeth and as they skin their knees learning to ride their bikes. They will miss his hugs, his jokes, his bedtime stories … at times even his voice. My cousin will miss the mate God handpicked for her. She will miss date nights, shared glances, breaks from her now single mom’s life, his safe arms wrapped around her, and more. My cousin is sacrificing a year without her best friend and parenting partner. While God knows the gut-wrenching pain of the death of His child on that Cross, these military families know the torture of many months living in anxious waiting. Some even know the pain of losing their loved ones as well.

As I thought about these similarities, I was overwhelmed by the love these soldiers and their families must have for us all – even though we are strangers to most of them. God’s overpowering love for us was displayed when He sent Jesus to earth, knowing the life His Son would lead and how He would die. The love these military families have for us is truly amazing. It is displayed by the dedication they have to protect all the things we tend to take for granted.

Finally, God reminded me that there is a Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. I asked God, “Who represents the Holy Spirit in this equation?” Then it hit me. We do! Every American who lives within the freedoms these soldiers have battled and preserved for us represents the Holy Spirit. Think about it. The Holy Spirit is that soft voice in our hearts. He encourages us. He motivates us. He cheers for us. He gives us truth. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit down to earth when He ascended to our heavenly home so that we would have the support and guidance we would need to make it.

We are the encouragers for these families. We are the supporters. We whisper our thanks as we also fill the cheering section. We are their helpers. We are warriors too – prayer warriors. We are the ones responsible for lifting these soldiers and their families up to God in prayer. Did you know the Holy Spirit prays on our behalves when we are not able? Romans 8:26-27 (NLT) says, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” That is precisely what we can do in exchange for the love and sacrifice we receive from these families.

We are all warriors. The soldiers are physical warriors. Their families are the emotional warriors. The rest of us are the spiritual warriors – a full trinity of warriors. Thank you to all our military. Thank you to every military family. Thank you!

Prayer – Lord, protect our soldiers. Keep them safe until their missions bring them home to their loved ones. We lift up their families to You as well. Give them a peace that surpasses their understanding of their situations. Hope is found in You, God. Help them find it every single day they wake up and desperately need it just to keep going. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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