Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Emma
It’s been almost twenty years since I said, “I do” to the love of my life and a world which I knew nothing about that would send me far from home and bring me to my knees crying out to God for comfort. Every military wife I know- and I’m blessed to know many at this point in my life- has a story of both love and loss, adventure and sacrifice, new friends, and gut-wrenching goodbyes.
My military marriage had a rocky start as my husband missed our wedding when he was deployed just weeks before our big day. Once he did come home and we were married, he was then deployed again when our first son was born while. We were stationed in Germany at the time, and I remember feeling so alone and so far from home.
I was young, in a foreign country with a new baby, and so scared every day for my husband. Over the years, he’s missed countless numbers of birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmases. We’ve moved eleven times and established homes and communities all over the world. We’ve had four more children and had some amazing adventures.
In each place we’ve lived, the Lord has faithfully provided friends who have become like family, and we’ve gotten to experience new places again and again. But each and every time we really feel settled, it’s time to say goodbye again and start over. I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything, but it’s so often so hard.
The physical demands of caring for five young children during my husband’s deployments were exhausting. Comforting them while they missed their dad while also trying to keep it together myself was almost impossible. Watching them grow and continue to have to say goodbye to dear friends is painful. There is so much beauty in this life but there is certainly sacrifice.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV
This is one of my favorite verses to lean on when I am facing the most difficult days. The Lord is with us wherever we go! He prepares a place for us, comforts us when we are scared of the unknown, provides us with people to come alongside us to share our burdens, and gives us hope.
We can be strong and courageous, knowing that the Lord is holding us through even the hardest of moments. He’s there in the goodbyes and rejoicing with us in the homecomings. We can find contentment and peace in the most difficult moments when we fix our eyes on the Lord.
Friends, this road can be hard, and knowing I have friends who understand this life and are praying for me has made all the difference. If you are a military spouse or love someone in the military, comment below so that we can pray for you.
Short Prayer For My Husband In The Military
Father, I come before you today, asking for your help for my anxious heart as I worry for my husband in the military. Give me the strength and courage I need as I navigate the challenges of separation and uncertainty. Provide my husband and me comfort in our moments of loneliness and grant me peace in the midst of my worries. Surround me with a community of compassionate friends who can encourage me and help me to trust that You are always with me. Lord, watch over my husband, granting him strength, courage, and wisdom. Guide his steps, shield him from harm, and bring him home safely. Amen.
Prayer For Soldier Husbands
Father God, Today I come asking for your divine protection for my husband who serves our country with unwavering dedication. Guard him from harm and danger. Give him strength in the face of adversity. Provide him with the wisdom to make sound decisions under pressure and strengthen his resolve to uphold justice and freedom even when the path seems uncertain.
Father, I pray for his emotional well-being. It’s so hard to be separated from your family and I worry about loneliness and sadness creeping in. Comfort his heart and provide connections for us through our letters and calls. Give him faithful friends while he is away who share his sacrifice. Help them to lift each other up and encourage one another on the days that are hard.
Lord, I ask for a swift and safe deployment and reunion. Guide and bless my husband each day that he is away from us. Help him to always remember that he is cherished and loved back home. Give him the strength he needs to keep his eyes fixed on you each and every day. Amen.
Prayer For Military Spouses
Father God, I come seeking your guidance and comfort as I am filled with worry for my husband. There are days that I am filled with fear and feel like I cannot think of anything else but my husband’s safety. Father, fill my heart with Your presence and grant me peace amidst the challenges.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NIV
Help me to remember that through your strength, I can face any circumstances that come my way. Grant me the strength to persevere, knowing that You equip me with all that I need. I know that I am not alone and that You are with me every step of the way.
Father, I ask for your guidance and wisdom as I navigate my role as a military spouse. Grant me patience and understanding as I adapt to ever-changing circumstances. Help me to make decisions with grace and wisdom, knowing that you are guiding my steps.
Lord, I also ask that you help keep the deep connection between my husband and me. Protect our relationship and fill it with resilience, trust, and unwavering support. Help us to communicate openly and honestly, bridging the distance between us. Help my husband to always remember the deep love I have for him. Amen.
Prayer For Military Children
Father, I pray today for courage, strength, and comfort for my children. They have had to say goodbye to their father more times than I can count. They are afraid for his safety and miss seeing him every day. They are often confused and don’t fully understand why he can’t have a job that keeps him home.
Lord, protect them from resentment and feelings of anger that their dad isn’t always home. Give them your perfect peace and comfort when they feel sad and worried. Help them to understand why their father makes the sacrifices he does and help them to always know how much he loves them.
My heart breaks for them every time we have to move away from all they know. They have such good friends here and I know how hard it is for them to have to leave their schools, friends, teams, and home. Give them the courage to start over again and help them to lean on one another when they are lonely. Amen.
Father God, you have faithfully provided me with a strong military community everywhere we have lived. No one can understand the daily challenges I face like other military families. As I go into another season of moving, provide me with friends who quickly become like family.
Help me to find other Christian women to come alongside me and pray with me through the hard days. Provide my children with friends that accept them quickly and understand what it is like to be the new kid.
Lord, help me to always remember what it’s like to be the new neighbor and to seek out those families who have just arrived. Give me the courage to ask for help when I need it and to be an encouragement to all of the military families around me.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NIV
Lord, provide me with the community I need to carry each other’s burdens. It’s too hard to do this alone, and I put my trust in You, Lord, to continue to surround me with the people I need to draw me closer to You. Amen.
Final Thoughts
Being a military spouse is hard. It’s beautiful and messy, filled with pride and heartache, and is a life I know I wouldn’t trade for anything. Over the past twenty years, I have leaned on the Lord each and every day. Through the best days and the hard days, I know that God has been holding me through them all.
I have held fast to the Lord and trusted in Him to provide me peace that surpasses all understanding. Friends, the best thing we can do for our spouses is to pray. I pray for my husband, and for my kids, and I pray for you. If you are a military spouse or someone who loves a soldier, comment below so we can pray for you.