Redeemed in the Aftermathಮಾದರಿ

The Battle Within
The hardest battles often begin once the mission is over.

As a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, I was trained to push through pain, to compartmentalize, to stay on mission no matter the cost. And I know many of you were trained the same way. In the military, that mindset keeps you alive. But when the mission ends, that same wiring can work against us. The body leaves the battlefield long before the mind and soul ever do.

Countless veterans describe the same invisible fight—hypervigilance that won’t shut off, guilt that lingers, emotions dulled by years of discipline. Trauma changes how we see ourselves, the world, and even God. Identifying those scars doesn’t make us weak; it’s the first sign that healing is possible.

When King David wrote, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18), he wasn’t speaking from theory. He was a warrior who carried deep wounds—loss, guilt, and isolation. Yet through it all, David cried out to God. He didn’t try to ignore his pain. He met it with honesty before his Creator.

Healing starts there: acknowledging the war inside and inviting God into it. Jesus doesn’t just patch up our brokenness; He redeems it. The fight within doesn’t end by pretending it’s not there. It ends by surrendering it to the One who already won.

If you’ve spent years defining yourself by your role, rank, or service, it’s time to remember who you are in Christ. You are not a mission, not a mistake, not a diagnosis. You are a son or daughter of the living God.

Daily Journal:
Take 10 minutes today to write about what your “battle within” looks like right now. What thoughts or memories won’t seem to let go? Don’t censor yourself—just write. Then, in prayer, ask God to show you where He’s already present in those memories.

If you or someone you know is in crisis:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988