Wiser and Happier: Special Military Edition from Time of GraceSample

Waking Up: Remember who you are Imagine that someone was claiming that you were a fraud, that you never really earned your rank or your medals. It wouldn’t be difficult to demonstrate that they were wrong. You would show them proof of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. You would point to the certification letters (“To All Who Shall See These Presents, Greetings”) that accompanied each award and promotion. Satan tries to steal your joy and persuade you to doubt your legal identity. Don’t let him. Through your adoption papers (i.e., baptismal certificate), God is named as your Father. St. Peter called you no less than God’s chosen people, God’s royal priests. Sometimes a person’s rank actually means military life is a little bit more difficult for them because of their added responsibilities. But even given the extra difficulty, that person would never willingly give up the promotions he or she earned. In the same way, your royal identity ironically explains why your life is so hard sometimes. “The LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:12). Yet you would never willingly give up the identity that your Savior earned for you. What a comfort it is to know that our loving Father has an eye on our hardships to make sure that we are not overwhelmed. What a comfort it is to know that none of our suffering is in vain—he will make every bit of it work for our good in one way or another.