How to Pray for Our Military Families

It’s important that we remember to pray for the families as well as the troops of our military. Do you know someone in the military from your church or community you can pray for by name? Ask God how he would have you support those in the military and their families. When we support their spouses, children, and grandparents with our prayers and kindness, we are supporting our troops and honoring God.

Ask your grandchildren if they have friends whose parents are in the military. If they know someone, encourage them to pray and reach out to their friend and its family with kindness. We are all part of the family of God. We are to share each other’s troubles and problems by being intercessors for those in the military and their families.

Struggling Teenagers of Deployed Parents

Recently, I read an article in the “Parade” magazine about the struggles of our deployed soldiers. I read, “When mothers and fathers are deployed overseas, their children are also in danger. A new report from the Rand Corporation suggests that teenagers in military families suffer much higher rates of emotional distress than other teens. Across all age groups and genders, soldiers’ children had significantly greater emotional difficulties . . .” [1]

Pray for the hurting children and families of our military. Children of all ages greatly miss their deployed parents and find it difficult to cope. However, the article goes on to say that the teenagers have greater emotional problems compared to the national average of teenagers. The older children are more aware of the dangers their deployed parents are facing each day.

Suggestions To Pray For The Military And Their Families

• Pray for grandparents of the children left behind by the deployed military to provide spiritual covering, encouragement, and intentional ministry of hope in Christ to their grandchildren.
• Pray the grandparents will be able to give the support these children need during this difficult time in their lives, especially the teenagers.
• Pray for the grandparents to be strong as they face the uncertainty and anxiety of their sons, daughters, and possibly grandchildren in potential danger daily.
• Pray the grandparents to have wisdom and direction as they support the spouses and grandchildren left behind.
• Pray for peace for the families as their soldiers face both physical and spiritual warfare in these foreign and hostile environments.
• Pray for comfort and consolation for those who have lost and wounded loved ones coming home.

[1] Soldiers’ Children Struggle, Too, Parade Magazine, December 20, 2009, p.6.

By Lillian Penner