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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Week(s) (02/10/11)
It is difficult for soldiers to fight in a different country. That was true for John who was deployed in Iraq. He had to deal with temperatures that were over one hundred. The heat made things difficult because they could not fight in shorts and a T-shirt.

John was far from home and it had been weeks since he heard from her. John was in the Army reserves; his real job was an accountant. He would call his wife about something and some days he would never hear from her. He would start to worry and finally at the end of the day, he would call her and find out that she had gotten busy and forgot to call him. It‘s hard to call from Iraq because it’s so expensive. E-mail does not work because it is hard to have a computer out in the middle of the desert. The only way was through the US Mail.

Finally he decided to talk to Chaplin Roland who always was an encouragement to him. "Pastor Roland I haven’t heard from my wife; I’m worried about her."

Pastor Roland was glad to see him; he greeted him with a big smile. "What makes you think there is something wrong?"

John looked down on the ground because his heart was broken and started to cry. "I used to get a letter from her every week. I haven’t heard from her in eight weeks. I just know something is wrong."

Not knowing John's wife, Roland had to ask a few difficult questions. "Has she been a faithful wife?"

The question made John cry even more, "Yes she has, I know she loves me very much."

"Are you sure you haven't had any fights? How do you get along with her?"

This was very emotional for John; he took a deep breath, "We fought early in our marriage, but we've learned to communicate better. We have not had a fight in five years."

Pastor smiled and his voice sounded reassuring. “Okay then, what could possibly be wrong?"

John's face looked worried, "Maybe she got into an accident. Maybe she's gotten sick."

“How old is she?”

"She's 28."

"Maybe she's just busy. I wouldn't worry about her. You’ve just have to trust that she is okay."

"I am just so worried. There has got to be something wrong."

Pastor Rolland gave him a pat on the back. "Don't worry, God will take care of her. Just because she hasn't contacted you does not mean anything is wrong. Have your prayed about her?"

"No I've haven't. I should say that when I'm home and I will call her she gets busy and forgets to call me back."

Pastor smiled, "Okay then, maybe she just got busy. Pray for her and trust the Lord. He will take care of her. Just trust Jesus."

"Okay I will."
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This article has been read 765 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Lisa Fowler
02/17/11
May God bless those who serve to protect us. Would have loved to hear more and to know "the rest of the story." Unclear how well this fits in with the topic, but you held my attention throughout. Thanks for sharing.
diana kay
02/19/11
awww it is such a pity that the chaplain had no means of checking that all was truly ok. I could see the connection with the theme. The weeks of seperation and the weeks of no connection between the wife and her soldier husband.
i think the story needed a bit more of a "ending" on way or another as it felt incomplete
Bonnie Bowden 
02/22/11
It must be devestating fighting a war in Iraq, and not nowing what is happening to family members at home. I think prayer is a good beginning, but sometimes actually knowing that nothing is wrong is even better.