There have been a couple of times in my life, four to count, during which I laid my head on my husband’s chest, wishing I could stay there forever. The first time was when I was 18 years old, a brand
new airman in the United States Air Force – assigned to my first military base, McChord. Brian was stationed 7 miles down the road at Fort Lewis, Washington. I remember driving there and
laying my head on his chest. His chest is such a safe, wonderful place; I wanted to stay there forever and never have to deal with the fear I felt regarding reporting to my new job, being a full-time soldier.
The second and third time was when my 10 month old son, Jacob, was diagnosed as profoundly deaf, and then again when Jacob was 5 and eye specialists told us he’d be blind by the time he
turned 10. Recently, I have struggled with some new fears and demands placed on me, seemingly more than I can stand. As I laid my head on my husband’s chest (we’ve now been married 21 years), I secretly wished I could lay my head on his chest, disappear, dissolving into the security and warmth that I felt there. The reality of life forces my alarm to go off, however, and I know my feet must hit the ground. I’ve been out of the military for 18 years, but I know that I am till a full-time soldier – in God’s Army. I am a Warrior Wife and Mom now.
As I have gotten older, my faith has grown.
I have learned to give my fears to God. As a result, I had a conversation with God about all this. I said, “God, I know that you are my Heavenly Father. I know that even though my husband is wonderful, and I love laying my head on his chest during difficult times, this physical world demands that I get up and face the day, alone – without bringing my husband and the security of his chest with me throughout the day. I know, however, that when I lay my head on Your chest, You have the power to give me a warm, strong, peace, a steadfast spirit, and a conquering mind, and I know that You do go with me wherever I go. I can disappear, figuratively speaking, into the strength of Your chest, sensing Your comfort all day long. You are my Dad – who is able to hug me forever, hold me
up, and give me wings to fly during storms.”
I share this with you to
encourage you. I want to remind you that whether you have a sister, a mother, a best-friend, a boyfriend, a husband, or if you have none of the above, remember that God sometimes puts people in our lives to support and encourage us as they
lend us their shoulder or chest to rest upon for a moment.
He wants to remind you, however, that regardless of what comfort we may temporarily have in this physical world, He is always there, waiting for you to lay your head on His chest, and
dissolve into His warmth and strength.
I have been calling God, “Dad” ever since I
was 14 years old. My earthly father, whom I never knew, died that year of a heart attack. I was unsaved living in an abusive alcoholic environment. For 14 years, I secretly wished my earthly dad would show up and save me. He never did, and then he died. Then, someone told me that I had a Heavenly Father. I was flabbergasted that even though I had never had an earthly father, I had a Heavenly Father who loved me and who wanted to save me from all of my fears and equip me with His Word.
Today I was reminded that even though I write words, hoping to illustrate a message, desiring to encourage hearts, I hear God’s heart, constantly abounding in love for me. He’ll never have a heart attack and leave me abandoned. He’ll never let me down, and
He constantly holds me up because I continually lay my head on His chest.
He is fully able and available to comfort you as well.
“As a mother comforts her child, so I will
comfort you.”
Isaiah
66:13
A father to the fatherless, a defender of
widows..
Psalm
68:5
For your maker is your
husband.
Isaiah
54:5
new airman in the United States Air Force – assigned to my first military base, McChord. Brian was stationed 7 miles down the road at Fort Lewis, Washington. I remember driving there and
laying my head on his chest. His chest is such a safe, wonderful place; I wanted to stay there forever and never have to deal with the fear I felt regarding reporting to my new job, being a full-time soldier.
The second and third time was when my 10 month old son, Jacob, was diagnosed as profoundly deaf, and then again when Jacob was 5 and eye specialists told us he’d be blind by the time he
turned 10. Recently, I have struggled with some new fears and demands placed on me, seemingly more than I can stand. As I laid my head on my husband’s chest (we’ve now been married 21 years), I secretly wished I could lay my head on his chest, disappear, dissolving into the security and warmth that I felt there. The reality of life forces my alarm to go off, however, and I know my feet must hit the ground. I’ve been out of the military for 18 years, but I know that I am till a full-time soldier – in God’s Army. I am a Warrior Wife and Mom now.
As I have gotten older, my faith has grown.
I have learned to give my fears to God. As a result, I had a conversation with God about all this. I said, “God, I know that you are my Heavenly Father. I know that even though my husband is wonderful, and I love laying my head on his chest during difficult times, this physical world demands that I get up and face the day, alone – without bringing my husband and the security of his chest with me throughout the day. I know, however, that when I lay my head on Your chest, You have the power to give me a warm, strong, peace, a steadfast spirit, and a conquering mind, and I know that You do go with me wherever I go. I can disappear, figuratively speaking, into the strength of Your chest, sensing Your comfort all day long. You are my Dad – who is able to hug me forever, hold me
up, and give me wings to fly during storms.”
I share this with you to
encourage you. I want to remind you that whether you have a sister, a mother, a best-friend, a boyfriend, a husband, or if you have none of the above, remember that God sometimes puts people in our lives to support and encourage us as they
lend us their shoulder or chest to rest upon for a moment.
He wants to remind you, however, that regardless of what comfort we may temporarily have in this physical world, He is always there, waiting for you to lay your head on His chest, and
dissolve into His warmth and strength.
I have been calling God, “Dad” ever since I
was 14 years old. My earthly father, whom I never knew, died that year of a heart attack. I was unsaved living in an abusive alcoholic environment. For 14 years, I secretly wished my earthly dad would show up and save me. He never did, and then he died. Then, someone told me that I had a Heavenly Father. I was flabbergasted that even though I had never had an earthly father, I had a Heavenly Father who loved me and who wanted to save me from all of my fears and equip me with His Word.
Today I was reminded that even though I write words, hoping to illustrate a message, desiring to encourage hearts, I hear God’s heart, constantly abounding in love for me. He’ll never have a heart attack and leave me abandoned. He’ll never let me down, and
He constantly holds me up because I continually lay my head on His chest.
He is fully able and available to comfort you as well.
“As a mother comforts her child, so I will
comfort you.”
Isaiah
66:13
A father to the fatherless, a defender of
widows..
Psalm
68:5
For your maker is your
husband.
Isaiah
54:5