TORMENT

After 911, many young men and women wanted to protect and serve their Country. They were willing to step forward and join the military. Jim was deployed to Afghanistan where he served for fourteen months. He returned home without any obvious physical injuries. For others, their scars were apparent: missing limbs, disfigurement, and dramatic personality changes. Many struggled with the not so obvious symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Jim was tormented by many things that he had witnessed in combat, especially the deaths of eight of his comrades, all of whom he had fought next to for many months. When Jim returned home,he kept his inner torment to himself. He felt that it would be considered a weakness if others knew what was going on in his head. In an act of desperation, with no sense of how to overcome the battles within, Jim eventually took his own life.

Many in society want to reach out to struggling vets, first responders, fire fighters, and those in law enforcement, all of whom may be experiencing difficult times because of what they have or continue to witness on the job each day. Those who are believers know that there is a way to achieve peace. Our Creator loves each of His creation in ways we will never fully understand this side of Heaven. He offers not only complete forgiveness for all our sins, past, present, and future, but He also wants to have the special peace that only He can provide. John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." We come in contact with many people every day. Most often, they don't mention any torment they may be dealing with. We need to pray that God will make us aware and give us the words to say that may help others to be victorious over their inner struggles.

"No circumstance is so big that He cannot control it." Jerry Bridges, author

Psalm 29:11, John 16:33, Philippians 4:7, 1 Peter 5:7