How God Used Fishing To Heal This American Warrior
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
- Found In: Unchurched, Weekly Newsletter: 3-29-20
As I write this there is a lot of fear in America with the Coronavirus pandemic.
There is a lot of uncertainty…
There is a lot of anxiety…
But even with all of the craziness around us, it pales in comparison to what many members of our military must endure to protect our freedom.
For instance, imagine having to sleep with a loaded gun in your hand every single night… one eye open at all times… never really able to fall completely asleep… a never-ending fear of who might be lurking outside your camp…
Imagine having to leave your family for months or even years… to live in a desert surrounded by people who want to kill you…
Imagine never knowing if last night’s Skype session with your family was the last time you’d ever seen them again…
I received an email from one of our Salt Strong Insider members named James “Tony” Prescott.
Here is a quick blurb from Tony:
My faith was tested, I was angry at God. But He spoke to me in many ways, and my journey from a hurt, depressed angry combat Soldier, to singing halleluiah in the presence of my enemies wasn’t an easy one. But I kept hearing this is my mind. Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song, I shall thank Him.
I send you this email because my wife (Sheri) mentioned how being on the water alone fishing, was therapy for my mind and heart after getting back from Afghanistan. I don’t know if you can understand it, but in combat we are going 100 mph on a highway (figuratively). It’s 100% pure adrenalin. And then when we return home, we are just supposed to turn it off immediately. The body and mind doesn’t work that way. So I was dealing with survivor’s guilt, pain from my injuries, and just my mind still thinking the enemy was lurking outside of my home. It was a process to get myself back to normal. But being on the water, alone with God in his amazing creation, gave me time to pray, meditate and just reflect on things. I was reminded that God has a plan for all of us, and I just have to remind myself that his plan is perfect even though we can’t understand it many times. Sitting at the memorial of my buddy who was killed right next to me, watching pictures of him on his kayak with his 9 year old daughter just broke me. It was less than 6 months prior to that, I was on my kayak with my 9 year old daughter. It just hit me incredibly hard. It’s a moment where I didn’t understand God’s plan. Why did this happen, how could such a bad thing happen to such a good man? I have learned that again, even though I can’t see God’s perfect plan, I just have to trust He loves us, He knows what is best for us, and my faith is in Him.
Definitely listen until the end.
A huge thanks to Tony and to all of the active and retired military members who risk it all to keep us safe. We are beyond blessed to have warriors like you in our lives.
How God Used Fishing To Heal This Warrior [VIDEO]
How God Used Fishing To Heal This Warrior [PODCAST]
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Thoughts?
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Related Posts:
Is God Real? Salt Strong Unchurched Episode 1
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
What a powerful testimony!!!
Tony and I shared an apartment in college. He is like a brother to me. Although time, life and distance have kept us apart, I have many fond memories of our times together.
Mr. Prescott, you are loved!