What particular Bible Verses helped you through particularly hard times in your military career?

SCPO Charles Thomas "Tom" Canterbury — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 12:36:07 -0500

This is intended to be a discussion on the Bible. If you do not subscribe to the Bible or Christianity - please move on to the next post. I respect your right to believe as you will - please respect mine.

We all have our highs and lows as we wore or are still wearing the cloth of our Nation. During the tough times, i.e., deployments, family separation, divorce, loss, or many other things that affect so many - what particular Bible passages sustained you and helped you through it?

During my combat deployments, Psalms 91 was a passage I would frequently read. When I was going through a divorce, Revelations 21:1-4 was something I read everyday.

What particular Bible passages have you held close during your tough times?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 6 at 2016 12:50 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 12:50:59 -0500

IS 40:31 "Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."
has helped me through many circumstances. The Lord has brought that verse to my mind many times over the decades. In recent years, I have seen Him heal my wife of Lyme disease after doctors and insurance gave up hope. He has healed her scalp and also one infected fingernail. He has been telling me to wait since June 17, 2013. In that time I have seen Him resurrect three hopeless marriages. I have learned to ask Him to do what it takes since He knows exactly what each of us needs and He is perfect in Love, Grace, Mercy and Justice.
When I have been bombarded in my thoughts I have pleaded for the Helmet of salvation to protect my mind.
PHIl 4:8 is also very useful when battles of the mind are looming "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2016 1:19 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:19:30 -0500

This is also true for life: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven
2 A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.
9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? 10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. 11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; 13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. 15 That which is has been already, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by."

Expect change, Accept limitations, and just go with it. Enjoy yourself while you can.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Jan 6 at 2016 1:27 PM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:27:06 -0500

1 Cor 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

So simply put, ALL things, not just the things that you like to do or the things that will bring you the quickest, easiest recognition. I kept this, and many other, verses close to my heart. I still remember a particularly tedious task of scrubbing the office carpet on my hands and knees, there were quite a few passers by that would remark about "better you than me" and "sucks to be you", but I just smiled, mentioned 1 Cor 10:31 and kept on. Ultimately the carpet turned out great, and my team was congratulated on a job well done and for the upbeat attitudes we held through the task.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2016 1:54 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:54:34 -0500

SCPO Charles Thomas "Tom" Canterbury Proverbs 3:5-6 -
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Jan 6 at 2016 2:27 PM

SGT Forrest Stewart — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:27:20 -0500

Psalm 23 and Phillipians 4:4 are my all time favorites. Another is "and it came to pass" and is found throughout the Bible.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2016 3:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 15:53:38 -0500

Psalms 23

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2016 4:09 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 16:09:01 -0500

John 15:13...It helped me balance my belief that the first mission of a follower of Christ is peace, with my decision to serve in a combat capacity.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2016 4:33 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 16:33:47 -0500

Before I get fired upon, just try to read and understand, as I did, where others gain inspiration from their holy book, and how it influences their actions -

From the Holy Qu'ran, Chapter 60:
060.008 God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith
nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for God
loves those who are just.

060.009 God only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith,
and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from
turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these
circumstances), that do wrong.

Think about that for a moment, and you will gain understanding of the mindset of "refugees" leaving Syria to seek refuge in the West.

Know your enemy. One of my favorite teaching points.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jan 6 at 2016 7:23 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:23:07 -0500

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Jan 7 at 2016 10:58 AM

LTJG Robert M. — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:58:58 -0500

1 Chron 4:10

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Jan 7 at 2016 11:00 AM

LTJG Robert M. — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:00:14 -0500

Daniel 10:12

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 7 at 2016 2:58 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 14:58:47 -0500

There were many days when I was anxious about what was coming and I could read these verses and be calm and could focus on God leading me through.

Matthew 6: 25-34. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Response by SSG Karl Fowler made Jan 7 at 2016 3:27 PM

SSG Karl Fowler — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 15:27:17 -0500

Psalm 91 The soldiers prayer. My favorite

Response by SSG Karl Fowler made Jan 7 at 2016 4:03 PM

SSG Karl Fowler — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 16:03:09 -0500

Psalms 91 Soldiers prayer