The Lord is my shepherd,
I will not be in need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name.
Psalm 23:1-3
Throughout American history, veterans have been some of the greatest movers and shakers in our nation, becoming everything from pastors to presidents after serving in the military. They have continued to use their God-given gifts and abilities by serving in business, education and all other areas of influence with great impact.
We are quick to see someone with a veteran hat or bumper sticker and thank them for their service and get excited when we are shopping and see that a business is veteran owned.
Ahead of Veterans Day on Monday, we pause in to reflect on how we can Pour Out to the God of Hope in intercession for these men and women who have boldly and bravely served in our nation’s military.
In 2022, a Department of Defense report stated the average age of a U.S. service member is 28.5 years old. At the time of separating from the military, the youngest veterans have decades of life left to live! Unfortunately, the transition from the regimented cadence of military life to the uncertainties of civilian life can be extremely difficult. Young veterans can struggle to fit into their new roles and workplaces, and many even struggle emotionally and mentally, feeling that their civilian lives lack clear purpose and direction.
Pray that they find their life’s mission serving the Lord, and see that God has good works for them to walk in, which He has prepared ahead of time, according to Ephesians 2:10. We ask God to bless them, to cause them to be fruitful and fulfilled in their life outside of the military.
According to a 2023 study from the Department of Veteran Affairs, men and women who have served in the military experience higher rates of suicide than the non-veterans. These losses affect the service member’s family and the veteran community, with some veterans having lost multiple brothers and sisters in arms to suicide.
Veterans also experience significantly higher rates of cancer diagnosis than the non-veteran population, linked directly to exposure to cancer-causing elements during their military service. In addition to the pain of such a diagnosis and treatment, many must fight to obtain recognition and medical coverage for these service-related diagnoses.
Pray that veterans would abound in hope, as we read in Romans 15:13, and pray they would experience God’s healing hand physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We ask God to restore and strengthen them, providing all they need to experience wholeness.
As the spouse of an active-duty service member, I count it a gift from the Lord when I get to connect with veterans and their spouses and learn from their experiences. I know my husband and I stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Their courage, tenacity, flexibility, bravery, and faithfulness to the calling to service and sacrifice is an inspiration and an ideal that we should all strive toward.
This Veterans Day, I invite you to commit to praying for veterans. If you personally know a veteran, consider asking how their military service shaped them, or if they are a believer, ask how God used their service to disciple them. Let their testimony be an encouragement to you as you listen and honor their service and sacrifice!
Lord Jesus, I praise Your Holy name – You are a strong tower, and the righteous run to You and are helped. Today I pray that You would fill veterans’ hearts with hope, as You know the plans for their future. Open their eyes to see the calling You have placed on their lives. Cause them to lead fruitful and fulfilling lives after their military service, using the skills, knowledge, and abilities they gained in the military to continue serving neighbor and nation in new ways. Well up Your abundant hope in the hearts of veterans who are suffering physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Place Your healing hand on them, that they would be restored and renewed in You. Help me to honor these veterans who have sacrificed and served, and to grow in wisdom as I learn from their experiences and testimonies. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Peace and blessings,
Amy Parks