May 23 – The Strength to Heal

 Malachi 4:2

"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves." (NIV)

SITREP:
Have you ever stood through a night so long and cold that it felt like the dawn would never come? Every soldier knows the weight of long nights—whether on patrol, in waiting, or in personal battles. Malachi 4:2 promises that for those who fear the Lord, the darkness is not forever. Dawn is guaranteed, and healing rides on its first light.

Breaking Down the Verse:

• "But for you who revere my name," — This promise is personal—it’s for those who stand in awe, respect, and loyalty toward God.
• "the sun of righteousness will rise" — Light isn’t random here—it’s righteousness blazing into a dark battlefield. God's justice and goodness break the night.
• "with healing in its rays." — The new day isn’t just brighter—it’s restorative. God’s sunrise brings healing to what has been wounded and broken.
• "And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves." — Freedom, joy, and strength replace fear, hunger, and exhaustion. It’s a complete turnaround, from survival to thriving.

Malachi delivered this word to a people worn thin by waiting—waiting for deliverance, waiting for justice, waiting for the promises of God to break through. They needed the reminder that reverence now would lead to restoration soon.

The Ground Truth for Soldiers in This Verse:
Long deployments, endless struggles, and invisible wounds can feel like living under endless night. Malachi 4:2 is God's direct promise to every warrior who refuses to let the darkness define them.

For the combat veteran, the imagery here speaks powerfully. You’ve stood your post in hard seasons. You’ve fought through injury, loss, discouragement. You know what it feels like to long for the sun—to long for healing that is more than surface deep.

God doesn't leave His soldiers in the dark forever. He promises that for those who stay loyal, who continue to revere His name even when the night is long, a sunrise is coming that carries healing—not just survival, but restoration and joy.

The time will come when you don't just endure—you will thrive. The same battlefield where you bled will become the ground where you run free. Healing is not a fantasy; it is part of the victory plan that God Himself authored.

ENDEX:
The night will not last forever. Soldier, your reverence has not gone unnoticed. Hold fast. Dawn is approaching. And when it breaks, healing will flood in like the rising sun over a broken battlefield. You won't just walk—you’ll run. You won't just survive—you’ll rejoice. Stand your post with hope burning steady in your heart. Victory comes with the sunrise.

AAR (After Action Review):
There are seasons when night feels endless and hope feels distant. Malachi 4:2 assures every warrior that those who revere the Lord are not forgotten. Healing is not just a vague idea—it’s a promise attached to the unstoppable sunrise of God’s righteousness. Stay faithful through the darkness. Trust the hand of the One who commands the dawn. The sun will rise. The healing will come. And you will run again with the strength and joy only God can give.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.