A few days ago, startling headlines and waves of outspoken opinions on social media sliced through our community.
The brutal cuts and bruises left from the untoward or suggestive memes, keyboard warriors, and harsh commentators were left untreated for many a milspouse on the following day.
After all was said and done, one thing was abundantly clear. There is a very visible divide between the military community and our civilian counterparts.
This lack of understanding, namely the unavailability of empathy in the face of uncertainty, could be attributed to many factors. The civilian culture and community just do not grasp the difficulties that multitudes of military families face on daily basis. Perhaps they can’t comprehend because they are not close in proximity- they just don’t know anyone that has made the choice to serve and sacrifice. Or worse, is that there is a lack of empathy because there is an ever-present lack of compassion- they just don’t want to know what it is really like to live this life.
For years, there has been a widening gap between the military and civilian communities. Blue Star Families, in their 2018 Comprehensive Annual Survey, reports that only 18% of military families feel like the general public understands their sacrifice. And only a mere 19% feel the general public is aware of challenges military service places on families.
As things continue to develop in the Middle East, and fears of war, creep on the horizon, now-more than ever- we need to begin to unify.
Last week was a mixed bag. Several people were wondering how they could support our service members and their families. Others were heckling and causing unrest online.
But, as Christians, now more than ever, we have the opportunity to be the voices of peace and to be the salve that starts to heal these divisive wounds. And, one thing that we know for sure is that prayer is the most powerful and effective way that we can begin this work.
Prayer is the means with which we interact with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is Scripture that I hold dear. It says “Pray without ceasing.” This word “pray,” in its original Greek (The New Testament in the Bible is written in Greek), is proseuchomai. It means to exchange our hopes and petitions for His will and provision. It is an act of faith.
What would happen if women all over the world came together and were united in prayer? On February 15th, She Loves Out Loud is making this a reality by hosting its first ever FREE prayer live stream. Women represented from over 34 states and several countries will come together for a half-day live streamed interactive simulcast.
I will be leading prayer, alongside She Loves Out Loud President, Diane Strack, Priscilla Shirer, Sheila Walsh, Carol Kent, and many other gifted women, to cover our country in prayer.
We will be praying over all of the issues impacting women today. We will pray for the restoration of marriages, for trafficking survivors, for our children, race relations, over hopelessness and hurt, and everything in between.
We will link arms to stand and pray for our nation, our service members, and specifically for military spouses everywhere. I will be sharing the story of what it really costs to serve and the impact military service has on the family unit. Will you tune in and join the movement?
Here’s how to get involved.
Join the movement.
Register to host a viewing in your home, with your small group, or at your local church. Just plug in your information and sign up to view the live stream. Remember, this event is one that will be better together, so make sure to invite a friend. This event would also serve as a great way to meet new neighbors or get plugged in at a new station.
Spread the word.
This is the first ever She Loves Out Loud interactive live stream. We are so excited to lift our voices to the Lord and hope that you will partner with us in spreading the news. Share this article and head over to www.shelovesoutloud.org for our media kit and sharable graphics. Join our Facebook group and be a part of the conversation. We are only 4 weeks away from this amazing event and you will not want to miss out.
Pray with us.
Take a moment to pray for this movement. Pray that there can be hope and healing for the many that are in need. Ask God to open doors between trauma and triumph, anger and peace, and bitterness and forgiveness.
I believe that this free live stream will be a cataclysmic event that will spur transformation in and through our community. With women all over the world gathering together to pray, we can enact real change. There is power in prayer and in unity. There is healing and freedom to be had. We can loosen the grip of anxiety and isolation on the military spouses that just can’t seem to escape them. We can throw off the discouragement and the depression ripping through the hearts of those left at home. She Loves Out Loud stands as a proud prayer partner to let us all no this: we are not alone and we are most certainly loved out loud.
