I’ve been in a whirlwind this week. My 18-year-old son graduated from Security Forces training with the Air Force on Monday. He called me on Tuesday to announce he would be leaving the next morning for Turkey.
We knew his first duty station was going to be Turkey. But originally he wasn’t scheduled to go until February or March. So our family was hoping to take a short trip down to San Antonio sometime in February to say goodbye.
But suddenly I was given less than 24 hours notice that my son would be traveling halfway around the world. He couldn’t talk much throughout the day because he was finishing up with processing and other details that needed to be sorted through.
Since I have a large world map up on the wall in my office, I decided to use pushpins to track his travels. Stops would be made in Washington D.C.; Munich, Germany; Istanbul, Turkey and then his final destination, the other side of Turkey (might I add his base is just 60 miles from the border of Syria).
My heart was heavy. At moments I thought I was going to be physically sick. I asked God, “How am I going to do this?” But then I looked up and at the top of the map is this scripture verse, “For it is His mouth that has given the order” (Isaiah 34:16).
The Lord brought that verse to me the day after my son first told me about his duty station being Turkey. It serves as a constant reminder that He gives the orders. Not just for this child but for my other children as well. Not just for this trip to Turkey but for every step my children take.
Psalm 139:13 tells us that God created us in His inmost being, He knit us together. But it goes on to say in verse 16 that ALL of our ordained days (which means He knows beforehand what is going to happen) were written in His book.
Sometimes it’s easier to rest in that than at other times. When things are going well for our children, we give God the glory. But when we face uncertainty or struggles, then we ask God, “Where are you?”
Never is He more present than those moments. He knows and understands the heart of a mother. And He is with her, through the great and glorious times and the hard and difficult ones.
Remember…He gives the order.
© 2012, Stephanie Romero
Oh Stephanie, as the wife of a twenty year military man, my heart and prayers are with you at this time of need. There is nothing that tears at your heartstrings more than to not be able to have any control over a situation, especially in that section of the world. It is at that time when our faith and trust in God is paramount. Blessings and prayers to you, my dear friend.
Thank you so much! Greatly appreciated!
AMEN is all I can say and all that is needed!