Posted on 11/11/2026 7:37:19 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
The willingness to sacrifice that makes a military effective can carry a hidden cost. What happens when a soldier learns to put his life second, then struggles to understand its value when the mission ends?
Veterans take their own lives at roughly twice the rate of the general population.
Veteran suicide stems from a number of factors, including post-traumatic stress, moral injury, difficulty transitioning to civilian life, loss of purpose and social connection, traumatic brain injury, pain, and proximity to firearms.
There’s an obvious tension when it comes to the value of life. Christians know that our lives in this world aren’t ultimate (Rev. 12:11)…As Jesus taught, being willing to die for others is the highest form of love (John 15:13).
Yet Jesus didn’t throw his life away; he demonstrated perfect courage…
As G. K. Chesterton observes, “Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.”
On Veterans Day, we celebrate the willingness of those who have served and are serving to sacrifice for our country…
We can also remind veterans that their lives matter. The gospel gives us hope that our existence continues to matter when our work on earth is done. The mission may have ended, but their value has not.
(Excerpt) Read more at thegospelcoalition.org ...
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