Needed Steps to Overcome Isolation - The Warrior's Journey®

100% Confidential | Warrior-to-warrior

Let's Talk

We respond within 24 hours and can provide community support, resources, and referrals.

Isolation is one of the most devastating and debilitating issues that warriors and their families face.

In fact, research tells us that it is the most common issue experienced among all active-duty military members, DOD dependents, and veterans throughout all branches. What makes isolation such a prominent issue in the military culture? The answer is multi-leveled. For some, the idea of openly sharing a challenge or problem they may be facing instills fear or anxiousness, knowing it may impact their career or social position. For others, working past isolation involves finding someone they can trust, a person who will understand what they are going through. And for most, believing that person exists seems impossible. Therefore, they walk through life thinking no one really would understand, or even worse, why would any care. These are just a couple of examples.

An Evil Weapon

Isolation at its core, is really an effective tool of Satan, convincing people that they have very little worth. The question of whether Satan exists is one of the most contentious theological debates of our time.

Discussions on this subject, especially in context to isolation, polarize people both inside and outside the military community. Interestingly, this is not an issue in the Bible, neither the Old nor New Testament. From Genesis to Revelation, Satan is mentioned many times though not by the same name. Jesus often spoke about Satan in His teaching. One of those teachings is found in John 10. Jesus is drawing a comparison. He refers to himself as the Good Shepherd. He refers to Satan as the thief: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NKJV).

First Reality

If I know anything about life, I know that God is real. So is Satan. There is a heaven. Hell exists, too. Life is a struggle…isolation is real. We are engaged in a daily spiritual battle. Satan wants to destroy you whether you are a Christian or not. Jesus wants you to have life, and have it to the fullest measure possible. The devil is a powerful enemy that we should not underestimate. In our own strength, we are no match for him. And as we consider how to navigate through the issue of isolation, this trick of the enemy, here are some steps to remember. First…

Jesus wants you to have life, and have it to the fullest measure possible.

Jesus came to save us and to destroy the works of the devil. At the cross, He triumphed over Satan. By rising from the dead, Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave. By faith in His name, we have forgiveness of our sins. We also have the power to stop sinning. And, the opportunity to find community with other people.

Though the war has been won, there are yet battles to be fought. Satan has not been totally subdued yet, and he is still raising havoc around the globe. Spiritual warfare is still ongoing.

Since we are engaged in this battle for our souls, it only makes sense to understand as much as we can about our enemy. That’s why Jesus taught so much about Satan. He wanted His disciples and the people of that time to know the devil’s strategy and tactics.

Remember that the Bible has much to say on this topic, and it’s smart to make a study of the enemy’s tactics a lifelong pursuit.

Second Reality

But I want to leave you with one powerful example. It happened to a good friend and fellow military chaplain. This story graphically illustrates the importance of knowing Satan’s strategy and tactics as they apply to your own life.  This story also reflects the second thing we must understand in our quest to overcome isolation…

Jesus came to save us and to destroy the works of the devil.

My friend, Jeff, returned from 15 hard months in Iraq. His unit experienced frequent combat with the enemy and unfortunately lost many soldiers. Jeff ministered faithfully throughout the deployment and developed the reputation as a soldier’s chaplain, one who was with them constantly and even during dangerous situations.

Even prior to his return from Iraq, I had spoken with Jeff on several occasions. I could tell that the effects of combat were taking a toll on him. I encouraged him to seek help.

Upon his return to the United States, Jeff’s post-traumatic stress became quite evident. We talked a few times, and to his credit, Jeff sought professional help. After a few months of counseling, he began to experience noticeable improvement. He was not out of the woods by any means, but his progress was encouraging.

Six months after his return to the U.S., he and his wife received orders to another post. He was going to work with a basic training unit. I was glad because I believed Jeff would excel with new recruits. Having been a former enlisted soldier himself, he could relate to their challenges. As a proven combat veteran, he could also help these trainees prepare for the rigors of war.

Third Reality

Jeff and his wife moved to their new assignment. Things started off very well. Jeff loved his ministry, they liked the area, and Jeff’s chain of command knew they had an outstanding chaplain on their team.  In fact, his efforts to engage and be involved in the lives God had entrusted to him, proved to be a powerful weapon in his fight with PTS and isolation.  This brings us to the third understanding…

The stronger your Christian witness, the more Satan wants to destroy you

Remember the thief. With him, no one is off-limits. The stronger your Christian witness, the more Satan wants to destroy you. I believe he went after Jeff with a vengeance.

Vengeance

Jeff called me to report that he was at the city jail and might be spending the night inside a cell. I was caught completely off guard and asked for more information. Over the next 45 minutes, Jeff described the event that triggered the problem. Almost instantly, I could sense that the powers of darkness were right in the middle of the whole circumstance.

Jeff had been walking with his 9-month pregnant wife along the road in their neighborhood. Their dog was with them. With no sidewalks, they were forced to walk along the right side of the road.

Suddenly a car came roaring up the road from behind, almost hitting them. They leaped to the side of the road. Jeff screamed at the car to slow down. It had been a close call. His wife was scared. Jeff was scared, too, but mostly angry.

To their surprise, the car stopped on the hill in front of them. The driver put the car in reverse and came back toward them with amazing speed. Again, they leaped off the side of the road. The car stopped and the driver jumped out.

Unexpected

Jeff, both scared and angry, did not know what to expect next. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pocketknife in case the driver might try to hurt them.

Fortunately, there was no physical contact. But there were shouts and threats coming from both Jeff and the woman who had been driving. After exchanging harsh words, the woman got back into her car and drove off.

The next day Jeff went to the local sheriff’s office to file a report. To his surprise, the woman had beaten him to the punch. Her account and his account of the incident could not have been more different. She was filing criminal charges. The whole situation was about to get serious.

I will spare you most of the details, except to say this. With each passing day, the case seemed to get uglier. The lady’s intent was clearly to destroy Jeff. She made her way around to almost every neighbor and even got a friend to go to Jeff’s house to threaten him. Lies were spread. The situation was toxic.

Fourth Reality

When the dust settled and lawyers on both sides compared notes, it was clear that the prosecution wanted to end Jeff’s career as a chaplain, and possibly to put him in prison for a long time.  Now, the fourth realization…

With God’s help, you can defeat Satan’s plan.

When Satan gets involved, the only rule is that there are no rules. Untruths were spread to senior chaplains on the installation, and word of the charges appeared in the national news. The negatives against Jeff, true or not, were stacking up rapidly. The challenge for a military chaplain in this situation is that a “near win” would not suffice. Anything less than full exoneration could likely end Jeff’s career. But lest we give Satan too much credit, read the second part of verse 10 above. Jesus says He has “come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” We must trust that! We must fight the temptation to give up because of the circumstances we are facing.

As only He could, the Lord helped Jeff locate a witness who saw the whole incident and knew of other instances where the lady had tried to hurt people.

Lies

Additionally, the Lord helped Jeff’s attorney present a powerful defense to a grand jury that resulted in the case being completely thrown out of court. Jeff called me and related the good news. Of course, I celebrated with him. But as we reviewed the happenings, we both saw the enemy’s hand in all of this. Was Jeff happy with the lady? Of course not. She had lied and tried to destroy Jeff and his family. But behind her actions, we saw the enemy at work. The apostle Paul states it so beautifully in Ephesians: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

Bottom line:

Overcoming isolation involves knowing your enemy—his strategy and tactics. With God’s help, you can defeat him. When he is defeated all areas of isolation fade to opportunities of hope.


Photos:
All Alone by the U.S. Army. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Returning from Patrol by the U.S. Marines. Licensed under US Govt. Work.
Naval Air Crewman observes USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the Atlantic Ocean, May 27, 2020 by the U.S. Navy. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.


The content of this article comes from “The Warrior’s Bible” (2014) and is copyrighted by Life Publishers International. Used with permission.

Let's Talk

100% Confidential | Warrior-to-warrior

We respond within 24 hours and can provide community support, resources, and referrals.