Fallen Soldier

When you are an obedient soldier, you do as you have been commanded, but what happens to the soldier that has taken so many hits that they can’t stand anymore?

I was out driving one night and the Holy Spirit had me stop to help a person sleeping under a bus stop bench. It was around 11pm, and I had to park my car and walk over to this person through some bushes and a ditch. It was one of those times when I wanted to find a way out of this, because it seemed like a lot of work that could end up being an unsafe risk. The Holy Spirit would never lead me into a dangerous area that I wasn’t equipped to handle, but I was debating this assignment for awhile.

Finally I had the items that I was going to bring the person and I prayed over them and decided there was no getting out of this, so I put on my big girl pants and made the short hike to where the man was laying behind the bus stop bench. As I approached him, I could hear what seemed to be sobbing. Instantly my heart ached to help him.

I walked over and placed some water, money and scripture cards and a book on the ground. I whispered, “I brought you some water and other items to help you. God bless you!” He reached out his hand to take them, and I saw that he was a soldier with military attire. He was really big too, but with a soft voice he said, “Thank you so much. This means more then you will ever know.”

I had never been at a loss for words as I was right then. All the people that I usually help are drug addicts, prostitutes or people that have no self esteem or confidence, but this guy looked like a navy seal and someone that was known as a brave and strong soldier. How could I possibly have any words or advice to give him?

I started to walk away, and I let him know that he was not alone and that the Lord had sent me to help him. I told him to read the book that I brought, because it would help him get through the struggle he was facing. He said that he would read it and thanked me again.

I drove away and prayed for him with tears pouring down my own cheeks. I thought about how many people would have jumped at the chance to help this brave soldier if they had only known the battle he was facing alone that night. Then I realized that we are all facing battles everyday and most of us would rather die then have to share the things that are tearing us apart inside.

I heard a pastor preach on pride shortly after that, and he said that pride was how Lucifer fell and that we were not to have pride. He claimed that anyone who doesn’t confess their wrongs to another person is in pride and will fall. I realized that night when I was instructed to help that soldier behind the bus stop that God wasn’t going to make anyone fall, but He would lift us up with His righteous right hand and keep us from the evil one that would try to cause us shame, fear, anguish and misery.

It is of great value to have an intimate relationship with the Lord and not just follow what a church leader tells you about God. God can’t be contained in a box or a religion, because no one can fully know all that there is to know about Him, but He does invite us into a sweet adventure with Him to grow in our understanding and expand our thinking to rise up in Love.