Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

In her book, “Love and Duty,” Anne Purcell writes about seeing Major Jim Statler with her pastor outside his study after a Sunday service. She knew instantly that he was there with news about her husband, Ben, on active duty in Vietnam. Just as she had feared, Jim gave her a chilling message. “Ben was on a helicopter that was shot down...He’s missing in action.”

Anne recalls, “Somewhere in the back of my mind a little candle flame flickered. This tiny flame was the vestige of my faith.” Days passed without work. To her, being an MIA wife was like being in limbo. She found herself only able to pray one thing: “Help me, dear God.” She says, “I hung onto this important truth–that God would help me–and the flickering flame of my candle of faith began to grow.” Then, one day, she noticed a white dove sitting in her yard. It was particularly beautiful, very still and quiet, and a highly uncommon sight in her neighborhood. She took it as a sign from God that God was, indeed, very near.

For five long years, Anne Purcell clung to the fact that God was near. Little did she know that during those years before she was reunited with her husband, Ben was whispering from a POW cell, “Anne, find solace and strength in the Lord!”

God of mercy and compassion, draw near to each of us in our times of trouble and concern. Stand firmly beside us and give us strength!