To the men and women veterans of our military forces who have served on our behalf, particularly followers of Jesus:
You are God’s warriors!
You have fought bravely in air, on land and sea. You have risked your personal well being. You have sacrificed time away from family and homeland. You have delayed life goals related to education and career. God knows this, and he stands by your side.
You are God’s warriors!
You have come home, but for many of you home is not what you dreamed. The scars still hurt physically and emotionally. The memories are more vivid than everyday life itself. The relationships with family and coworkers are different than the bonds you forged while serving in the military. God knows this, and he stands by your side,.
You are God’s warriors!
Your calling to serve and sacrifice, to defend, to excel, to lead, to fight—and even to kill on behalf of our great nation—is an honorable calling that many civilians do not understand or appreciate as it deserves. God knows this, and he stands by your side.
You are God’s warriors!
Your life now is different. You are different. You still need to fight. You still need to excel. You still need to lead. Perhaps in the military, perhaps again in active duty, perhaps now as a parent, a spouse, a sales agent, a supervisor, a consultant, a pee wee soccer coach, a neighbor, a citizen, a church board member, a friend. That battle continues for you. God knows this, and he stands by your side.
“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12).
Dear veterans, remember this. As much as you must fight new battles that many don’t understand. As much as you once engaged in a battle that many don’t understand. You are still God’s warriors, and he stands by your side in new battles. He understands. He leads. He excels. He fights and will not lose.
“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name” (Exodus 15:3).
Your Lord and Savior knows battles, and how to win them. He knows what it means to fight. Jesus knows the struggle against temptation and the feeling of different wanted and unwanted emotions. Jesus certainly knows victory, having risen from the dead. He is the Lord. Like you, he is a warrior.
He will not let you lose. He will always understand.
And today, Veteran’s Day 2021, we remember and recognize you, dear veterans. More importantly, your Lord God does, too. Always and forever.
PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for the veterans of the United States of America. Their service and sacrifice both in the military and at home is a blessing to us. Be with them now. Stand by their side. And may the freedom they’ve fought for be appreciated and lived fully by all. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Take 10 minutes and be grateful in appreciation for those veterans who have served. What was serving like for them? What sacrifices did they make? How is life now? What can you do today to show them your appreciation?