Strength

O Lord, be gracious to us;
we long for you.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.

Isaiah 33:2

This evening the cool weather set in and it looked as though we would soon experience a storm. Rain fell, and the trees began to blow, but all is calm again. As I sit here listening to one of my favorite songs - Mighty to Save by Hillsong, reflecting on the greatness of the Lord, I am reminded of the strength He gives. One simple verse can speak volumes to the heart. One simple verse can also cause us to think of others who need our prayers.

I have several friends whose husbands are deployed right now. The wait for their return is long. I understand the exhaustion, the loneliness, the longing for their return. It can seem unbearable at times. Lasting only minutes, or perhaps hours or days. Not being able to feel their loving arms around you for months on end can cause extreme pain to the heart. Knowing they are in dangerous situations can lead to sleepless nights and, if we allow our minds to go there, great anxiety and fear.

The verse above, along with one other I read earlier, caused those friends to come to mind and I wanted to take a few minutes to pray for them and ask that those who read my blog please pray daily for those experiencing seperation due to deployment. We have thousands of soldiers and families far from each other right now and they need our prayers. Deployment in the military is inevitable, but there is strength for those difficult times. His name is Jesus!

God of peace and comfort, be their ever-present help in times of trouble; may they be strengthened with each new day, and, for the moments when the loneliness lingers for more than just a few minutes, may they feel Your presence and know that You are there to hear their cries. Lord, hold them close, watch over their homes and their families and bring their husbands safely home soon. In Jesus name, Amen!