I have not experienced adult life outside of the military. I joined the Marine Corps when I was just 18 years young, and spent 10 years immersed in it. I married my husband (also a Marine) 6 years into my own career as a Marine and have been happily married to him for 10 years. I went from being an active duty Marine to a Marine wife. We have also added 2 children to this oftentimes, crazy life. I have always felt that God placed us (all 4 of us) in this life, because it is where we would flourish to our fullest potentials as faithful followers, believers, and disciples.
Military life comes with lots of challenges, and unknowns…
As a self-proclaimed “type A” woman who loves structure and schedules, this life can cause a lot of anxiety. Things hardly ever go as planned. Our family had orders to go to Okinawa, Japan this summer. This seemed like a dream for us, and our family excitedly began preparations for the long and grueling process of moving overseas. The process was going to be worth it though, because we would be in paradise. But of course, the Marine Corps had other plans for us. Just 2 months before we were to move, they changed my husband’s orders to Yuma, Arizona. My heart sank when my husband delivered the news to me. However, instead of getting depressed and mad at the Marine Corps, I reminded myself that God always has greater plans than the world has for us. While I could not see or understand why He chose Yuma over Okinawa for our family, I put my faith in Him that this is where we could best represent and serve Him.
Hebrews 11:1 says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (NKJV).
I am still blindly relying on God to show me His purpose for moving our family here. Moving here has come with lots of challenges. Everything from making new friends, establishing a home, and putting our kids in new schools has been difficult. Add homesickness and loneliness to that equation, it’s hard to see God’s purpose for us. And yet, as believers, we continue to put our faith in God.
In the story of Job, he did nothing wrong and was a faithful follower of God. God allowed Satan to bring about suffering to Job even though he already knew how faithful Job was to Him (losing all his children, becoming ill, becoming poor, etc.). Even though Job’s life was tortured and miserable by the hands of Satan, Job stayed faithful to God. In the end, “the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part…” (Job 42:12 NIV). I am not comparing our woes of moving to Yuma to Job’s life, but I can most definitely use Job’s perseverance in keeping his trust and faith in God through the tough times as an example for us. I know that one day, we will look back at our family’s time here in Yuma and see the big picture. God has always abundantly blessed our family with wonderful friends, amazing experiences, and immeasurable love at every address we have lived at from California to Massachusetts to Texas, and now, Arizona.
Just like our time here on earth is temporary, our time here in Yuma is as well. As a military family, I see it as a unique blessing to be able to spread the love and joy of God in different parts of the country and even the world. The promise that God will abundantly bless us, Click To Tweet
Whether it be in heaven and/or earth is what continues to motivate our family to faithfully serve Him.
I know our work as God’s disciples is never done until we are in heaven, but I like to think of Jesus’ prayer to God before his crucifixion in John 17:4 where he prays, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (NIV). Our family continues to pray that we are bringing God glory here on earth at every place the military sends us.
SCRIPTURE
“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.” 1 Chronicles 16:23 NASB
ABIDE
Father, no matter where we go, we are in your faithful and loving hands. Send us, Lord, to the place and people you have prepared for us. We thank you for your perfect and loving will for our family, knowing that it will turn out VERY GOOD in your hands!
OVERFLOW
Take time to write a note of encouragement to the “new kid” in town (even if the new kid has been there 5 years!). Let them know what they mean to you today. Sometimes, edification only takes pen, paper and a stamp!
AUTHOR
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