Although we have only been part of the Navy family for a little over a year now, and Jonathan has never been deployed (in fact, he is STILL in C School, haha), I agreed to review Faith, Hope, Love, & Deployment: 40 Devotions for Military Couples by Heather Gray because I know a lot of my readers are military wives, and believers, and might benefit from a review of this book.

First off: HOLY COW, Jonathan and I couldn’t stop getting teary eyed reading this devotional. This book packs a major emotional punch. But more on that in the review…

About the Book

Description of the book from Amazon.com:

Just as Heather Gray and her deployed husband realized, many military couples need more than their own imaginations to keep their marriages flourishing during deployments. This is their answer to that dilemma.

During her husband David’s last deployment to Afghanistan, Heather and he realized the need for a devotional that would not only draw them closer to the Lord, but also to each other while separated. They envisioned a combination of scripture memorization, stories of hope and struggles, a revitalization of the lost art of letter writing, and practical ideas for keeping connected during deployment. Not finding such a book, they began writing Faith, Hope, Love, & Deployment. Sadly, three months after beginning the project, David was killed in action. ‘

‘To answer the question of why I’m willing to lay my life on the line for my country. . . .” So began the letter Heather received from her husband on the day of his funeral. The letter was an assignment from Faith, Hope, Love, & Deployment. She knew then the value of the devotional they had been writing for military couples.

At first Heather didn’t think she could finish it without his input and support. But in the months that followed, she realized that we actually learn and grow the most through our pain and trials. She finished the devotional with the hope it would be as much a blessing for other military couples as it was for her and David.

My Thoughts on the Book

While we have only read a handful of “military couples” books since joining the Navy, I can’t imagine a much more thorough, detailed and faith-filled devotional for deployed couples. Rich in mutual activities (Scripture memorization, love letter topics, suggested actions and love tokens) and teeming with Biblically-based knowledge, you can spend as much or as little time as you wish on each individual devotion.

With a powerful personal testimony, Heather captivates your heart as you read of how she experienced the ultimate sacrifice in military service. Every military spouse dreads the thought of losing a loved one during deployment. Heather reveals how a mutual love of and focus on Jesus Christ not only puts life (and death) in their proper perspectives, but shows that with Christ any life “setback” – whether death or deployment – is not only bearable, but an opportunity for personal growth.

If you have a genuine desire to grow closer as a couple, and grow closer to the Lord both individually and together as a family unit, this is a GREAT book to have in your “deployment survival kit”. I’m keeping it in my family library to have on hand for that first separation.

Did you use any devotionals or similar books to stay close during a deployment? If so, which ones? Did they help? Share below!