Military Devotion – Walking with Jesus’ Promises – April 17, 2026

“This is not what I thought it would be.” I’m not sure what the Navy recruiter told him, or what he expected life in the Navy to be, or what he chose to hear from his recruiter, what his friends or family said, but after two years in, this is not what he expected. I can see you smiling as you listen to this devotion – because you know. After a PCS, a deployment, a school, the transition from active to civilian – you heard all sorts of things, but until you get there, it can be a different experience. And you may find yourself saying, “This is not what I thought it would be.” There are all kinds of struggles – both emotional and spiritual – that go along with it.  

You’re not alone. This is nothing new, especially for God’s people. That first Easter evening, two of Jesus’ disciples began their slow walk from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus. Jesus sidles up to them on their walk and joins their conversation. He plays dumb when they share the news about their teacher, Jesus from Nazareth whom they had hoped was the Messiah, the Christ, was now dead. And there were rumors about a resurrection. They said, “He wasn’t what we thought he would be.”  

Starting with Scripture Jesus began to teach them what the Holy Spirit had said about him all along, to correct their misconceptions about the Messiah.  

When you find yourself in those life situations that force you to say, “This is not what I thought it would be,” the soul asks of God, “Didn’t you say something about this? Why aren’t you doing what you said you would do?”  

Sometimes like those two disciples we believe things about God that aren’t true. For example, have you ever said this or had someone say this to you, “God helps those who help themselves.” It can be used in a situation where you’ve made some questionable decisions and in order to free yourself from more dire consequences you are encouraged to put some effort forward and then God will help you the rest of the way. Nowhere in Scripture does God promise this to you.  

In fact, the opposite is true. The Bible says, “When we were still powerless… while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6,8). When we are completely helpless, when we say things like, “This is not what I expected,” Jesus sidles up to us and with his words says, “Here is what I have promised you. First, that I died for you. So, for all those times you’ve pegged me for things I haven’t promised you, I forgive you for that. I rose from the dead so that you may know that all the promises I made in the Bible, they will happen. I will keep them, just for you. And this one that you struggle with, “God helps those who help themselves,” I have promised you, “God helps the helpless. God is the strength of the weak. God will give glory and relief after you suffer the crosses you must carry. God loves you.”  

My friends, keep walking with Jesus, so that you know what he has promised. Cling to what he has promised.