Last month, our town hosted a Civil War Muster in a local park. Re-enactors from all over the country came here to camp in canvas tents, wear authentic uniforms, and re-create famous Civil War battles. A friend and I sat on a hilltop to view the battles while our husbands performed period music in the brass band. As I watched the north and the south shoot rifles and cannons at each other, I thought of two of my husband’s ancestors, Isaac Austin and his son George Hiram Austin who both fought in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Isaac Austin was taken captive and became a prisoner-of-war, eventually ending up in the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp in Georgia. While he was away fighting, his wife died. His twin sons were too young to enlist, but after losing his mother, George Hiram lied about his age and went off to war at age sixteen. He was taken prisoner as well, and also ended up in Andersonville. His father Isaac died there, and a few years ago, my husband and I visited his gravesite.
George Hiram survived and is my husband’s great-grandfather. In a photograph with his twin brother James, George Hiram looks ten years older, likely from everything he suffered during the war. After the war, he became a circuit-riding, Methodist preacher, ministering to dozens of churches before passing away in 1920. According to family history, his wartime experiences led him to become a devoted Christian and to offer his life to God.
As I watched the mock-battles taking place, I couldn’t help thinking how stupid war is. Making men line up on opposite sides of a field and shoot at each other until one side “wins,” seems idiotic. I pictured these men as my husband or my son, and I wanted to shout “Stop! Let’s just put an end to all this suffering and make peace!”
One of my loved ones is currently fighting a very difficult battle of a different kind. Everything in me wants to do something, take control, intervene, stop their pain, end their suffering. I’ve prayed and prayed and asked God, “What should I do? How can I help?” The answer I keep getting is: Nothing. Just wait. When I texted this dear one to say that I was praying, they texted in return: “These trials need to happen for our good.”
Like George Hiram Austin, my loved one is experiencing a difficult but important lesson. God can use our suffering to change us and draw us closer to Him, if we let Him. Or our pain can change us in a different way, making us bitter and angry, turning us away from God. I can’t offer an easy answer to explain the difference, but I suspect it might have something to do with our attitude when we find ourselves on the battlefront. The book of James says it this way: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
I have never met anyone who has experienced “pure joy” while suffering. But I have met many people whose suffering drew them closer to God and resulted in greater service in His kingdom—like George Hiram’s suffering did. So, I will continue to watch my loved one’s battle from the sidelines, praying that through the struggle, and when the war finally ends, they will be able to rejoice in the work that God has accomplished in their life.
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Thank you for this post. Not only for sharing the family history, but for the biblical principals meant to encourage and uplift. I plan on sharing this with my Mother who is going through a battle herself. Even as a christian, as she battles this war, she has gotten discouraged and downtrodden. I share scriptures with her and try to love and encourage her as much as I can. This post will also help. Thank you again and have a wonderful day!!
Thanks Carla. May God encourage and embrace your mother today.
Sometimes during the battles of life, all we can ask and pray for is peace until the storm passes.
Amen Patti. So true.
What a wonderful experience to witness that reenactment, Lynn. And how powerful to recall your family’s personal history. Like you, I wish war and needless killing would end for good, but I suppose that won’t happen until we’re in heaven. In the meantime, may God continue to bring good out of such situations, just like he did with George Hiram.
Yes. Amen Karen!
What an amazing experience on so many levels. And I love how the Lord so many times uses an experience to show us a spiritual truth. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Anne
What amazing timing of receiving your post today, Lynn! God has shown me again and again his Loving Kindness and absolute Goodness…even through the suffering. After living many decades of life, there have certainly been beautiful highs of happiness and blessing…and also, the depth of sadness and pain that comes with being alive. Thank you for sharing. It meant a lot to me today! Blessings!
Blessings to you, too, today Julie.
What an amazing post this is!
Thank you for sharing the story about your husbands family and how the Lord used it for his glory. This has been so encouraging!