What can we do for our sons and daughters in Iraq?
A father prays – for family members in the military and for citizens of war-torn nations.
from the March 26, 2007 edition
Page 1 of 2
Our son, a Marine, has served two tours in Iraq and recently informed us that he may be sent to Afghanistan. Our son-in-law, a soldier, has served in Afghanistan and faces possible deployment in Iraq.
Besides the concern this raises in my heart as a parent, I am deeply concerned by the violence that average Iraqis face every day.
At times the situation seems overwhelming. What can I, a concerned father and grandfather in Virginia, do to support not only the troops in these war zones but also the citizens of these countries, who yearn for peace?
For many years, I've turned to the Bible for comfort, inspiration, and healing. Often a Bible story or verse has served as a springboard for prayer. This prayer is a desire to understand God better and to be able to help others.
One helpful story is found in II Kings, when the prophet Elisha finds himself surrounded by hostile forces. His servant is terrified, but Elisha prays, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.... Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (II Kings: 6:16, 17).
The vision of God's protection is not an empty promise. Elisha, continuing to trust God, is able to lead the invaders out of the land, finding a peaceful solution.
In stressful situations both in business and my personal life over the last several years, I've followed Elisha's lead and prayed to see God's protection, and peaceful, nonviolent solutions were found.
During the last few weeks, when the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan have seemed increasingly hopeless to me, I've again turned to the Bible for help. I was struck by this simple verse from Psalms: "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord" (33:5).
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