When I share this, I'm speaking of myself as a military veteran that served 21 years of service to this country. And went through many ups and downs and had many doubts.

I also would like to share with not only veterans but everyone.

Christian service is noble, sacrificial, and life-changing. At the same time, serving as a Christian soldier is challenging and often lonely. As a result, veterans who identify as Christians sometimes feel isolated from their faith and unprepared for their post-military life. Thankfully, several Christian organizations support veterans with unique benefits and services. But you don't need to be an active member of any organization to remain vibrant in your faith, pursue God's will for your life, and transition smoothly into civilian life. This quick-read ebook podcast will explore Christian veterans' challenges, specifically as they transition from military service into civilian life. From there, we'll get you ready to take the next step toward becoming a thriving veteran who knows what you believe and why you believe it!

Christian veterans struggle to find their place in civilian life.

For many veterans, the military is the only way they know how to make a living. As such, veterans often struggle to identify their new selves in civilian life. What do you do with your skills and expertise? And where do you belong if you can't remember a place for yourself? Veterans often find themselves alone, sitting uneasily between civilians and fellow veterans. This can create a "no man's land" where you struggle with your own identity as you question where you belong. This feeling is familiar among veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. While many civilians can walk away from service knowing they made a difference, veterans often don't. They were caught up in the mission and the mission alone. While the task was necessary, the veterans frequently asked what their service meant.

Christian veterans struggle to maintain a healthy relationship with God.

Veterans who walk away from active duty often wonder how they can continue to trust and follow God. For many, the decision to walk away from military service was to walk away from God. This makes it challenging to maintain a healthy relationship with God. Where do you start? How do you trust again after putting your trust in yourself and others who ultimately failed you? As a Christian veteran, you must seek a healthy relationship with God. This relationship will help you regain your faith and grow as you trust God to see you through your post-military life.

Christian veterans struggle with depression and anxiety.

While we don't have enough data to know how prevalent mental health struggles are among veterans, we do know that veterans who identify as Christians are more likely to struggle with anxiety and depression. There are many reasons for this. Among them, veterans who identify as Christians often struggle to find their place in civilian life. They work to maintain a healthy relationship with God, and, as a result, they struggle to understand the point of their service. As a Christian veteran, you must understand the signs of depression and anxiety and seek help as soon as they arise. You must also realize what an unhealthy relationship with God looks like. You can challenge these issues independently, but you will likely face significant challenges and setbacks. It's best to seek the help of a qualified and experienced mental health professional.

Christian veterans have difficulty finding purpose and meaning in their service.

As a Christian veteran, you may need help understanding the point of your service and the service itself. The challenge here is to recognize that your service's effectiveness differs from the service itself. The fact is the impact of your service on those around you. The best way to understand the point of your service is to ask yourself a straightforward question: "What difference did my service make, and how did it make a difference?" If you're having difficulty answering this question, it may be because you have yet to witness your service's impact. If this is the case, you can continue to trust God during this waiting period. Trust that God has a plan for your kindness and service itself. As you await God's plan, you must remember that the point of your service is the impact of your service on others.

Christian veterans struggle to understand where they fit in the Church.

As a Christian veteran, you may have difficulty understanding where you fit in the Church. After all, you're no longer in uniform and not a part of a specific unit or community. While your service will inform your role in the Church, you'll likely find that you're not restricted to any single position or community. As a veteran, you may find yourself in various settings, including in a civilian congregation, a veteran's Church, online, or even in prison. Whatever role or community you find yourself in, you can learn more about your faith and how you fit into the Church by reading the Bible (both the New Testament and the Psalms are great places to start), attending a Bible study, or even joining a veteran's Bible study.

Conclusion

When you're ready to jump into your post-military life and know who you are and what you believe, you'll find it easier to be the best version of yourself! As a Christian veteran, you must understand the challenges you face in becoming a thriving veteran who knows what you believe and why you believe it. You can use the information in this article to prepare for the long and challenging journey ahead.

Why I Choose To Celebrate Veteran's Day As A Christian

The Bible contains plenty of information about serving in the military. While many of the Bible's references to the military are only analogies, several verses directly relate to this question. The Bible does not explicitly state whether or not someone should serve in the military. At the same time, Christians can rest assured that being a soldier is highly respected throughout the Scriptures and know that such service is consistent with a biblical worldview.

The first example of military service was in the Old Testament (Genesis 14) when Abraham's nephew Lot was kidnapped by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his allies. Abraham rallied to Lot's aid by gathering 318 trained men from his household and defeating the Elamites. Here we see armed forces engaged in a noble task—rescuing and protecting the innocent.

Late in its history, the nation of Israel developed a standing army. The sense that God was the Divine Warrior and would protect His people regardless of their military strength may have been why Israel was slow to develop an army. The development of a regular standing army in Israel came only after Saul, David, and Solomon developed a robust, centralized political system. Saul was the first to form a permanent army (1 Samuel 13:2; 24:2; 26:2).

What Saul began, David continued. He increased the army, hired troops from other regions loyal to him alone (2 Samuel 15:19-22), and turned over the direct leadership of his armies to a commander-in-chief, Joab. Under David, Israel also became more aggressive in its offensive military policies, absorbing neighboring states like Ammon (2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Chronicles 20:1-3). David established a system of rotating troops with twelve groups of 24,000 men serving one month of the year (1 Chronicles 27). Although Solomon's reign was peaceful, he further expanded the army, adding chariots and horsemen (1 Kings 10:26 ). The standing army continued (though divided along with the kingdom after the death of Solomon) until 586 B.C. when Israel (Judah) ceased to exist as a political entity.

In the New Testament, Jesus marveled when a Roman centurion (an officer in charge of one hundred soldiers) approached Him. The centurion's response to Jesus indicated his clear understanding of authority and his faith in Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus did not denounce his career. Many centurions mentioned in the New Testament are praised as Christians, God-fearers, and men of good character (Matthew 8:5; 27:54 ; Mark 15:39-45; Luke 7:2; 23:47 ; Acts 10:1; 21:32 ; 28:16 ).

The places and the titles may have changed, but our armed forces should be just as valued as the centurions of the Bible. The position of a soldier was highly respected. For example, Paul describes Epaphroditus, a fellow Christian, as a "fellow soldier" (Philippians 2:25 ). The Bible also uses military terms to describe being strong in the Lord by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20), including the tools of the soldier—helmet, shield, and sword.

Yes, the Bible does address serving in the military, directly and indirectly. Those who honorably serve in the military deserve our respect and gratitude. Christian men and women who serve their country with character, dignity, and honor can rest assured that our sovereign God condones and respects the civic duty they perform.

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There are many national holidays that Christians may struggle with. Veteran's Day is one of those. Many Christians perceive it as a secular holiday and perhaps even a bit un-Christian. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. When we look beyond the surface, there are many Christian principles within Veteran's Day that can help us grow in our faith. Let's explore why as Christians, we should embrace Veterans D