Take Heart, Military Wife: The Journey to a Heart That Reflects God’s CharacterНамуна

The Tender Heart

We were minutes away from reuniting with my husband after a long deployment at sea.

Military homecomings are joyous times. However, hiding behind the smiles are bruises and abrasions on our hearts from months of loneliness, fear from proximity to war, exhaustion, and intense decision fatigue.

I struggled with fear. This wasn't our first homecoming, and I knew too well the challenges and transitions that lay ahead of this happy day. Maybe you know that fear as well. What if this time we didn't make it? What if this was one deployment too many?

My heart was naturally sunny and hopeful when I was younger, but years of military life had been hard on my heart. My husband had missed over three years of our family's life, and I was exhausted. I felt anxious about always starting over and having little choice in the most important details of our lives. I began drifting towards cynicism, anger, and fear. At the root of my bitter heart was a lack of trust in God's goodness.

One desperate night, God showed me the damage my heart was causing. I begged Him to rescue me from the sea of fear and doubt because my heart of stone was causing me to sink. At that moment, He invited me to trust Him with not only the circumstances of my life but also with my heart, which was precious to Him. He immediately covered me with peace, and the fear left like the flip of a light switch.

We had some challenging days ahead, and we still do. Military life is exceptionally hard, but God is good! Jesus came to give us abundant life, and I'm looking to Him expectantly!

God is the softener of hearts, and He guides us in keeping them tender. Practicing gratitude helps us to recognize His presence and goodness. Serving others trains our hearts to love people the way He does. Seeking to know God more through His Word and prayer gives us discernment and strengthens our faith. God has changed my course to peace, hopefulness, forgiveness, and healing. What gifts!

Take heart, military wife. It's safe to keep your heart tender and vulnerable because God is so good and loves you with a love that never fails.

Pray

If you are struggling with a bitter heart, there is hope ahead. Ask God to give you a tender heart that trusts Him. Ask for help to surrender your fear, anger, and bitterness over to Him. Be gracious with yourself in knowing that the work of the Holy Spirit transforms your heart in His perfect time. He is trustworthy and good!