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July 6, 2011Thoughts on Afghanistan from a Marine Wife
The 'drawdown' announced last month gives me another opportunity to be sore afraid — or to trust God.
Less than three weeks ago, I watched as my husband, Nathan, became the commanding officer of a U.S. Marine Corps infantry company. About 160 men, most of them barely adults, stood at attention in their camouflage and combat boots and waited as he became their leader. Moments earlier, some of the troops had curbed their cursing and offered startled greetings — “Afternoon, Ma’am” — when they saw me standing there in my dress and heels. It was a Friday.
The following Tuesday, I watched via televised address as my President announced a plan to dramatically decrease the number of troops in Afghanistan. The network-worthy news that evening was that we will be reducing our forces from the current 100,000 to about 67,000 by next summer. That’s a quick decrease of nearly a third — “a drawdown,” President Obama called it, which in many ways sounded altogether promising.
War-weary like everybody is, as a military wife I have perhaps more reasons to be overjoyed at prospects: Another war over! We’re getting out of there, finally! But my response to the announcement was instead lit by the light of the week before, by my husband and 160 other living, breathing men lined up in a dusty military gym. By how much he means to me and by my fears of what could happen to any one of them. In many respects, the concerns I have are not unfounded; in fact, I justify them by the fact that they are bona fide news stories.
For instance, it was reported only months ago that the number of troops killed by IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices — roadside bombs) in Afghanistan rose by 60 percent last year, while the number of troops wounded by them tripled. Ask any 19-year-old deploying to Afghanistan, and he’s not worried about the Taliban so much as he’s worried about some guy who took a lucrative job rigging trip wire and fertilizer, blowing up U.S. convoys.
And recent military operations in Afghanistan seem to suggest that the presence of troops brings stability to a region. Last year, Marines settled into the Sangin province of Afghanistan and began patroling aggressively to root out drug lords and Taliban militants. At first, the fighting was so fierce that Sangin became known as the “Fallujah of Afghanistan,” but in time and at great expense, the Marines battled until the majority of insurgents had left. The region began to experience something like peace and even had a visit from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who noted the “dramatic turnaround” brought by the Marines’ presence.
In Iraq, where another drawdown and another U.S. mission are yet to be complete, last month was the bloodiest since 2008 for U.S. forces in the country. It could be argued, then, that when large numbers of troops leave, for a time things become far more dangerous for those who remain.
I’m afraid that when Nathan’s company leaves for Afghanistan on schedule next year, the decrease in troop numbers will mean a higher likelihood of ambush or attack. I’m afraid that because the ratio of troops to terrorists will be significantly smaller, there will be significantly more chances that the man I love could be shot, captured, tortured, you name it. I’m afraid that fewer U.S. troops will mean larger areas for those troops to cover, which will mean travel, which will mean IEDs. And I’m afraid of all the typical 21st century combat risks, like sniper fire and traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.
And yet: “Fear not.” The Bible says it over and over: “Don’t be afraid.” “Do not fear.” “Fear not.” Even a minimal amount of time spent in churches will teach you that this is the most often-made commandment in all of Scripture. But why?
The thing about fear is that it does not ultimately trust. This is why it feels insecure entirely, why it can grip so wholly. Fear refuses to believe that even the terrible and horrific events of this life can be used for God’s glory, for ultimate good. It denies that our individual health and wealth, that all our lives and all our hopes are subject to God’s purposes. It rejects the biblical teaching that God is pure love and that therefore what he directs and allows is worth trusting, even when it seems to rip us to shreds.
“Fear not” — this is so much easier read than done, and there is enough mistrust in each of us to make it seem impossible. But God is pure love, and part of his loving work in us is that he gives us increased faith: an ability to trust him and believe, an assurance of the things we can’t seem to see.
Does God expect that we will never be afraid? The Bible doesn’t say that. It’s safe to assume that as long as humanity has a sin condition, not a single person will ever be fear-free. But in the midst of whatever keeps us up late at night, whatever has us most worried and petrified, we can be certain of the Voice that repeatedly commands comfort amid our unbelief. Fear not: He is holding everything well, come what may.
Lisa Velthouse is the author of Craving Grace: A Story of Faith, Failure, and My Search for Sweetness, a memoir (Tyndale House.) She blogs regularly at LisaVelthouse.com, and can also be found on her Facebook page and Twitter feed. She has written for Her.meneutics about lying memoirs.
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Comments
Lisa,
Thank you for these good and encouraging words. They come from someone who has been tested and tried in the area of fear. God's words "Do not fear" ring out to us (as you demonstrated) even in what could be perceived as a living hell--prayers of protection for your husband and all the troops and for the people of Afghanistan. May God bring peace to that region and throughout the earth.
Posted By: Marlena | July 6, 2011 11:14 AM
Thanks for once again reminding us all of a very simple, yet profound promise that God has given us.
Posted By: Beth | July 6, 2011 5:38 PM
Lisa,
I think it was during our second deployment that I became obsessed with IEDs. "They can use anything, even a piece of litter, to time their detonation with your approach," my husband had told me. During those six months, I was probably the only driver in North Carolina who held her breath passing street signs and discarded McDonald's bags, wondering if they were planted there by somebody with a bomb.
Trust is so easy to talk about. We encourage each other with verses about how all things will work out for our good and how God is a shepherd, a father. Things meant to comfort. What haunts you at night, though, is how God never promises "good" on our terms- safety, longevity, freedom from pain. You've hit the nail on the head; trust is not believing beyond reason that nothing will ever touch your family. It's choosing to believe that God's Good is somehow better than my good, that somehow he wants even better things for my family than I do.
Thanks!
Elizabeth Vaughn Do
Posted By: Elizabeth Vaughn Do | July 6, 2011 6:45 PM
I am in awe of all wives, moms, dads, kids, sibs, etc. who watch their loved ones depart for foreign lands, putting their lives at risk in service to their country.
I can understand the fear that they must feel, and the only remedy is, as Lisa points out, a reliance on the God who holds us all in His care.
We wil keep Nathan and his fellow soldiers and families in our prayers. May God protect them and give them strength and courage for whatever lies ahead. I know He will.
Posted By: Suzy | July 7, 2011 9:19 AM
Lisa--thanks for this perspective on the Afghanistan draw down. Gives us good reason to increase our prayers for all our warriors.
Tish Fackler
Posted By: Tish Fackler | July 9, 2011 8:12 PM
Lisa, such real thoughts and feelings! Easier said than done- to not worry when dear loved ones are in a place of vulnerability. I will be praying for you and Nathan in the months to come.
Posted By: Linda Andersoni | July 9, 2011 8:14 PM
Brother Raymond, Please review CT's Terms of Use which includes the General Use Rules. Comments are to remain courteous and without direct attack upon this purely human and fallible moderator. Furthermore, Bro Ray, the comments are to remain on topic which means the comments are to relate to the theme of the article which in this case has to do with a Marine's wife feeling afraid for her husband's safety and her need to trust in God. This article/blog is NOT about your opinion of the war or war in general. Please post such comments to articles or blogs that have to do with that theme. Off Topic and direct attacks toward the moderator will continue to be removed from this blog. Thank you and God bless you.
-BJ Community Manager.
Posted By: BJ Community Manager | July 13, 2011 11:37 AM
My husband is also a Marine, Lisa; he feels that, for now, God has called him to this career path and to be a light on a hill within the Marine Corps.
I get the feelings of fear; I felt it when I saw him off last year when he deployed to Afghanistan. I'll be praying for Nathan and his company, as well as the many others that are to go and come back. The families that are left behind will also be prayed for; they need that comfort that only God provides.
Posted By: Marie | July 22, 2011 2:11 PM
Brother Raymond, nobody has appointed you as the spokesman for God. If my father, and his cousins, and most of the men of his generation had not fought in WW2, you'd probably be speaking German now. The right thing to do was to stop Germany from conquering all of the countries and killing the Jews, many Christians such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, gypsies, and other various groups that Hitler deemed inferior. If you've read the Old Testament, God ordered the Hebrews to fight particular wars. David killed Goliath and was praised for doing so. So, you are fine to have your opinions, but that's what they are-your opinions. You don't have the right to sit there and declare who you think is deceived or not, and have never used the Bible to date as far as I know. There is a difference between killing and murder. Christians, who love God just as much as you do, may have very different opinions. You are just another man with an opinion. You don't have a certificate from God to declare others deceived, when you yourself may be the deceived one. Jesus never once told the soldiers in Rome that they were doing wrong by being soldiers. Please stop acting holier than thou, none of us is perfect yet.
Posted By: Barbara | July 22, 2011 8:31 PM
Barbara,
Interesting they took my post down for claiming I was attacking people while they allow yours to stand. Your arguments are not scriptural. We do not live by the Old Covenant. Do you stone homosexuals and witches. Jesus is our example not David and we are told to walk in the steps of suffering as Jesus did. I am speaking to you from the scripture not opinion. Whether I am speaking German or English does not matter. God is sovereign over the affairs of men and your lack of faith in God is apparent. We, as the church, have a different call than the world. What you do not see is the Kingdom of God super cedes all other kingdoms. You assume if Christians did not disobey the bible by fighting carnal, secular wars than Hitler would have won. that is a ridiculous assumption. You forget Bonhoeffer tried to take matters into his own hands and they failed, Hitler was not killed and the man was hung for his treason. It was not God's timing to remove Hitler. God appointed me to preach His word and has given me such to be a spokesman for Him. To call all nations to repent of their bloodshed and be reconciled to God. I pray you read your New Covenant and see how you can justify killing anyone in the name of secular ideologies, even if those ideologies are good. We are called to promote the kingdom of God, not through the barrel of a gun but through the power of the gospel. If Hitler would have taken over America it might have been a good thing for the American church. It would have purified it from all the hypocrites and false professors who are not willing to suffer deprivation and death for the gospel. I am not saying God is against war. I am saying as Christians we are not called to establish His kingdom in that manner. We have no mandate for carnal war. As a matter of fact we are told NOT to fight against flesh and blood nor to use carnal weapons. Jesus never told the Jews they were wrong for trying to overthrow Rome either. He does not address every folly of men but gives us His spirit and principals to live by that make it impossible to be a soldier and kill people for a nation that hates God. It is God's word which gives me authority to say these things. I say them knowing I will stand before Christ and give account of them. The Christian church, every time it justifies using the sword has brought a blot to the name of Jesus in almost every Generation. I pray, if you really desire to KNOW the truth and wish to talk about these things to go to theshofar my website and send me a message. We can pray together and go through the scripture. if I am truly wrong I will repent. Are you willing to do the same? You demonstrate an incredible lack of faith in Gods sovereignty over the affairs of nations and the POWER of the gospel and weapons which God has given us to fight. I pray you repent.
Posted By: Brother Raymond | August 11, 2011 2:23 AM
Barbara..From a Christian of old that you may learn true faith and no longer be deceived by your Babylonian religion.
"Christ Jesus and his powerful word and Holy Spirit is the protector and defender of his church; and not the emperor, king, or any worldly potentate.The kingdom of the Spirit must be protected and defended by the sword of the Spirit, and not by the sword of the world. This is too clear to be controverted, according to the doctrine and example of Christ and his apostles."
May you learn to truly trust in Messiah and be Led by the Holy Breath, the Ruach HaKodesh of God
Posted By: Menno Simmons | August 11, 2011 4:19 AM
The Moderator took my last post off. The bible says not to be a respecter of persons, yet this moderator consistently allows others to attack what I have to say here...explains they remove my posts for attacking others..while letting me get attacked. If you are brought by God to read this let the hypocrisy of what is happening in Christian circles be demonstrated when you check back and see my post removed. They give no explanation, but I have one. Jesus said there are those who hate the light because their deeds are evil. They do not wish truth to be preached or darkness to be exposed. They do not wish a voice to cry out against the sins of Christians fighting alongside non believers in an unjust war. They do not like to hear that those who have chosen the sword as a way of life, and yet claim Jesus as their Lord dishonor Jesus by their sword. It is a cowardly move to continue to remove my post while letting individuals like Barbara personally speak to me, without letting me speak in return. It is a dishonor to your brother in Christ. How can you say you love God who you cannot see while hating your brother whom is here. How can you say you love Jesus while disobeying the scripture to not be a respecter of persons. Why are you so afraid to let opposing views be spoken in this arena? I will continue to battle for the truth of the Gospel, that real Christians don't choose war and that those who are in the military need to fear God more than the Muslims and lay down their carnal weapons. I have asked the moderator to talk to me in person but they refuse. I pray the Lord rebuke you for your favoritism. I bless you in the name of Jesus that you will be granted a walk of light where you allow the Holy Spirit judge between others and what they say and not indiscriminately wipe peoples comments out. My offer to chat is still open. For you who read this before they remove it let the censorship demonstrate to you that darkness is present in the views presented here. This is why they will not allow others to speak who tell these professed Christians that their warmongering brings a blot to the name of Jesus, endangers or brothers around the world, and will be a pit we have dug for ourselves. Repent..repent and believe the gospel of peace and come out of Babylon.
Posted By: Brother Raymond | August 12, 2011 3:35 AM