When Surrender Means Victory

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" -Jeremiah 29:11.

Ever since the first day he left for his deployment, since that moment I watched his bus drive off until I could see it no longer, some days have been very difficult. Some days the only thing I can do is break down and cry. The bad part is, I never know what is going to 'set me off.' It could be a song I hear on the radio, it could be an American flag flying in the wind, it could be something I see on tv, it could be seeing another soldier wearing their uniform...it is always something different. But there comes a point where you are no longer crying because you miss him, but rather because you simply cannot believe how incredibly blessed you are through this experience.

And the biggest blessing of them all: knowing God is in control. Completely.

There came a point during the deployment that I had to learn that the only way I was going to survive this deployment emotionally and spiritually was if I truly believed that God was in control. He was in control before he left, He's in control in Afghanistan where he is, He's in control here in Iowa where I am, and He's going to be in control when this is all over. And truly believing with your whole heart that God is in control is not an easy thing to do. But it's only when you do that you're able to let go of fear.

Over the past month or so there has been a song by a Christian group, The Afters, that has really spoken to me in the issue of letting go and giving it all to Him. It speaks to how even when we're weak and feel like we can't possibly go on any further, or when we cannot see what is ahead and we're full of fear...He is there lifting us up. It's a really powerful song, and I encourage you to listen to it and really take in the words. You can watch the youtube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fgESAD2ibU

When we surrender to Christ, we are surrendering not to an enemy (as done in war), but to our greatest advocate. By letting go and giving up our control to One who is much more powerful and wise than we will ever be, we can trust that not only will our basic needs be met, but we will be spiritually nourished as well. "For us, to surrender to Christ is resounding victory for God's glory!"

Accepting the Assignment

"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set befor us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." -Hebrews 12:1-2

Deployment is difficult. It is hard to have your spouse halfway across the world for a year, especially when those twelve months take place during the majority of your first year of marriage. It's a struggle not only for the family left back at home, but also for the soldier who had to leave them. But it is during this difficult time that we need to accept our circumstances from God, and trust that He unerringly knows what is best for us. We need to ask God 'how can I use my difficult circumstance to serve You and to glorify You?'

We must accept our assigned roles from God. And through that acceptance we need to dwell on the positive aspects of that role in our lives. If instead we are to dwell on the negative aspects, we will never be content and accepting, and we will always be wanting something different from what we have been given.

If we truly believe that God is sovereign and that He is sovereign over all things, we can believe with full confidence that the assignment He has given us is one that has been entrusted to us by God. And with that, there are two options of action on our part that could be taken. We could squander the opportunities that will come with this assignment, OR, we can choose to make the most out of them for the glory of God.