Honoring Veterans: Bringing Hope Through Presence

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Veterans Day, we pause to honor the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniforms, those brave souls who answered the call to serve something greater than themselves. As we reflect on their sacrifice, we’re reminded that the notion of honorable service runs deep throughout Scripture.

The Weight of Service

The apostle Paul understood something about service and sacrifice. He wrote to the church in Rome, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1), while also carrying his own scars from beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonments. Our veterans, too, carry both visible and invisible marks of their service.

They understand the grave discomfort and deep inconvenience of carrying the self-sacrificial cross that is the very cross Jesus commends those who will follow Him to carry.

Some bear physical wounds. Others carry burdens we cannot see; memories that surface unexpectedly, relationships strained by deployment, struggles with purpose after military life ends. The writer of Hebrews reminds us to “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3). How much more ought we to remember those who voluntarily placed themselves in harm’s way for our safety and security while giving up their own?

The Ministry of Presence

Jesus modeled for us the ministry of presence. He didn’t just speak to people from a distance; He entered their world, ate at their tables, and touched their wounds. For our veterans, sometimes the greatest gift we can offer isn’t advice or platitudes, but simply our presence, our willingness to sit with them in their struggles without rushing to fix or minimize their stories.

Consider Job’s friends. Before they opened their mouths and got themselves in trouble, they did something profoundly right: “They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great” (Job 2:13). Sometimes our veterans need us to simply be present, to bear witness to their stories without judgment or quick solutions.

Practical Soul Care for Veterans

As believers, we’re called to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Here are just a few ways we can meaningfully support the veterans in our communities:

• Listen Without Fixing: Many veterans have stories they’ve never fully shared. Create safe spaces where they can process their experiences without fear of judgment or unsolicited advice.
• Honor Their Complexity: Military service often involves moral complexities that don’t fit neat categories. David, a man after God’s own heart, was also a warrior who shed much blood. God can hold both truths simultaneously, and so can we.
• Address Practical Needs: James reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Connect veterans with resources for employment, housing, healthcare, and counseling. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is help with a resume or go with someone to an appointment.
• Include Families: Military service affects entire families. Spouses and children also serve through sacrifice, uncertainty, and repeated adjustments. Extend your care to include them.
• Recognize Ongoing Battles: For many veterans, the battle doesn’t end when they come home. Post-trauma distress, survivor’s guilt, and the challenge of finding purpose in civilian life are real struggles that require patient, long-term support.

The Hope We Can Offer

While we honor earthly service, we point ultimately to the Prince of Peace who “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Revelation 21:4). We serve veterans best not by offering hollow optimism, but by walking with them through their valleys while pointing to the hope of restoration in Christ.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah: “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1). This is our calling too—to be agents of healing and freedom for those who have surrendered their own freedom for ours.

A Prayer for Our Veterans and Their Families

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the men and women who have served our nation with courage and honor. We pray for those who bear visible and invisible wounds. We pray for their families and the struggles they have faced when a loved one was away serving the nation. Grant them all Your peace that is beyond human comprehension. Give us wisdom and grace to support them with genuine love and practical help. Help us to listen well, to be present in their struggles, and to point them to Your healing grace. May our churches be places of refuge where veterans find understanding, community, and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Final Thought

This Veterans Day, let’s move beyond mere acknowledgment to active engagement. Reach out to the veterans in your congregation and community. Ask how you can pray for them specifically. Invite them to share their stories when they’re ready. And remember that honoring their service is not confined to a single day but is a calling we carry throughout the year.

As we practice “one-another care” in our communities, may we be especially attentive to those who have borne the burden of military service. They have watched our backs; now it’s our privilege to stand with them.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Warren
Truth in Love Biblical Counseling