May 9 – Healing the Wounds of War

 Jeremiah 30:17 –

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord." (NIV)

SITREP:
What do you do with the kind of wounds that don’t bleed? Some wounds are unseen but just as deep. God is a healer, bringing restoration to every part of you—body, mind, and soul.

Jeremiah delivered this promise to a battered and broken people. Israel was living through the consequences of rebellion—physically defeated, spiritually disconnected, emotionally wrecked. Many thought God had left them for good. They were a nation in exile, a people scarred by war, shame, and silence.

But then comes verse 17: a reversal. A declaration, not of judgment—but healing. Not of shame—but restoration. This isn’t just about mending bones or closing surface cuts. This is about the soul wounds. The stuff no one else sees. The kind you’ve learned to bury.

Breaking Down the Verse:

• “But I will restore you to health…”
• God isn’t interested in patch jobs. Restoration is full. It means bringing back what was lost—and sometimes making it even stronger.
• “…and heal your wounds…”
• Not just physical wounds. Not just emotional bruises. All of it. The ones you’ve buried. The ones you can’t name. The ones you thought were yours to carry forever. God says, “I will heal them.”

This isn’t wishful thinking. This is a combat medic’s promise from the Lord of Hosts—He knows where it hurts, and He’s bringing the remedy Himself.

How This Speaks to a Soldier’s Faith:
Some wounds never show up in your charts. They don’t get stitched. They don’t earn medals. They don’t even get talked about. But they’re real. And they linger.

• For the mission that still replays at night
• For the friend you couldn’t save
• For the things you did, saw, or survived
• For the voice that says, “You’re too far gone for healing”

This verse pushes back against that voice. It says healing isn’t just possible—it’s promised.

• God restores what war tried to erase.
• He heals what trauma tried to twist.
• He doesn’t flinch at your scars—He touches them. Gently. Powerfully.

You’re not too far gone. You’re not forgotten. And this verse is your clearance to walk into the med tent and receive what your soul’s been aching for: healing that actually works.

ENDEX:
You’ve survived more than most will ever understand—but survival is not your finish line. Jeremiah 30:17 is your standing order to move from surviving to healing.

God doesn’t just acknowledge your wounds—He heals them.
Not with noise. Not with guilt. With grace. Steady hands. A warrior’s love.

He’s not scared of what’s broken.
He’s already begun the restoration.

AAR (After Action Review):
Have you ever brought one of your internal wounds to God—something you thought was beyond healing—and experienced His restoration? Share your story of what it looked like to let Him into the places you’d locked up. Someone else might need that courage to take the first step.

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.