Deployed: Encouragement While Serving In Harm's WaySample

Battle Buddy

Who’s your battle buddy? It may be a workout partner that you hit the gym with on base.  It could be someone you were assigned to be buddies with at boot camp.  When you aren’t downrange, it may be the person that goes out with you and makes sure you both get home safely.  

My battle buddy in Afghanistan was Kris.  We never had a day off while deployed, talked through our struggles, and were there for each other.  God knew I needed someone to pray with, get advice from and just plain give me some godly encouragement.  Years later, we are still friends and encourage each other through prayer.  

One pair of battle buddies in the Bible comes to mind, Paul and Silas. They were telling people about Jesus in the Roman town of Philippi, located in present day Greece.  Paul healed a spirit-possessed slave girl and her owners got mad, so they falsely accused Paul and Silas of unlawful acts and had them thrown in jail. 

Put yourself in a similar situation.  You and your friend are out in the town minding your own business when you get arrested.  And to top it off, it’s not your fault.  What’s your attitude going to be like? Let’s just say you wouldn’t be a happy camper. But look at how Paul and Silas acted when they were in jail.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Acts 16:25

What happened next was incredible!  

“Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.  At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”

Acts 16:26

Spoiler alert! There was a jail bust of heavenly proportions! You’ll have to read the rest of the story, but ultimately, these two battle buddies took what was a horrible situation and made it a praise party. They put their focus on God instead of that dirty jail cell, and everybody took notice.

You have an opportunity to be like Paul and Silas. You can speak life into a friend who is depressed.  You can encourage your buddy through prayer.  You can live a life that everyone around you can’t help but see the love of Jesus.  So do you?

Questions:

1.  Do you have a battle buddy?  If so, what kind of battle buddy are you?

2. Are you a person that encourages others or do you bring them down?

3.  What are things you can do to be a better friend?