Military Devotion – Hope because He Lives – April 10, 2026

About this episode

This devotion reflects on the historical significance of April 12, 1861, and the hope found in Christ.

Watch the Devotion Based on 1 Peter 1:3-9 Hope because He Lives At 0430 the first boom sounded over the water . O ver 4,000 booms would be heard the next 34 hours over Charleston Harbor as confederate artillery rounds pounded Fort Sumter on this date, April 12, 1861. Four years later almost three quarters of a million people lost their lives . Can you imagine the entire population of Denver, CO perish ing within four years ? I won’t enumerate the numbers of American lives lost in wars, conflicts and terrorist attacks since then. As I reflect on this and the lives lost in the current conflict in the Middle East I am reminded of Jesus’ words, “There will be wars and rumors of wars until the day I come back to earth.” This can lead to a spirit of despair, thoughts of inevitability – there will always be a need for armed forces. We will always need brave men and women to raise their right hand and say, “I will prepare for war and go to war if need be.” I will always be thankful for you and at the same time I will be sad that we need military at all. I will pray for peace, but Jesus says there will be war. I will pray that lives are spared, but people will die as they always have…

Topics covered

• hope
• faith
• military history

Keywords

• 1 Peter 1:3-9
• Fort Sumter
• Civil War

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:4, Scripture

Places: Denver, CO, the Middle East, San Diego, California

More episodes of WELS Military Devotions

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• Military Devotion – Because He Lives – April 3, 2026 · April 3, 2026 · 10 min
• Military Devotion – MAYDAY. MAYDAY. MAYDAY. – March 27, 2026 · March 27, 2026 · 10 min
• Military Devotion – Beyond the Flag-Draped Case – March 20, 2026 · March 20, 2026 · 10 min