“The Bubble of Protection”
By Cindy Gebhard **
(a close friend of Shelley Reed)
The Army provides meetings to help families prepare for deployment, including the Soldier and Family Readiness Group. Gaining this knowledge can make you FEEL prepared for the unknown, but TRULY BEING READY is quite a different story!!
During my husband’s deployment as a First Sergeant during Operation Iraq Freedom, I volunteered as our battery’s Soldier and Family Readiness Group leader. Although families looked to me for strength and guidance, this was our very first deployment as a couple, and I was experiencing the pre-deployment emotions just like everyone else. The only difference was I was crying on the inside but trying to be strong for everyone else on the outside.
Watching a loved one drive away on a bus to execute a mission (AKA…GO TO WAR!), is one of the most difficult challenges a military family can face.
Instantly, I felt like I was on an emotional roller-coaster.
Intense grief.
Fierce pride.
Deep anxiety.
And then I suddenly was faced with the realization of the solo journey ahead of me.
I was experiencing a unique, quiet heartbreak as I watched half of my life drive away.
My one saving grace is that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I was a baby Christian at the time. I would recite a prayer here and there, but as that bus drove away, my prayer life drastically changed. Every day, in fact, several times a day, I would pray in Jesus’s name just as he teaches!
In my mind, during my prayer, I would envision a bubble. I would place my hands together facing downward making a half-moon and draw a tiny, perfect circle finishing with hands bumping together, and my palms facing upward to heaven. (See the video below. If you watch it, it will also allow you to meet Cindy!) I constructed one circle after another. With each circle I drew, I would fervently pray…
Please Lord, place your bubble of protection around my husband.
I would draw another circle and pray…
Around his vehicle.
Continuing to draw circles, praying…
Around his planes.
Around the deuce-and-a-half trucks.
Around the humvees.
Around all the soldiers.
Around each military camp.
Until I finished covering every part of his life in prayer.
The only thing that my husband told me about his mission was that he was going to be driving around Iraq. I knew that it was going to be dangerous. Constantly, as I would see my husband, his humvee, and his soldiers in my mind…I kept praying and praying envisioning a bubble of protection to surround them.
One day, my husband called, and he told me not to be alarmed, but that their humvee ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (AKA…A HOMEMADE BOMB!).
WHAT…NOT BE ALARMED?!!
My heart dropped and my chest muscles tightened as he described the moment. In the end, he said, the vehicle had been disabled, but everybody walked out uninjured.
He continued the story by stating…
“It was weird, because it seemed like we were in some type of ‘BUBBLE’ !”
My mind raced at the thought, did he just use that word, “BUBBLE” ??!!
I never told him that as I prayed for him, I used that EXACT WORD!!
The tears of terror that were streaming down my face turned into rejoicing as I realized that my God not only heard but answered my prayers so specifically! Praise God!
I prayed and thanked Him over and over again!!
Psalm 66:19 says, “God has surely listened and heard my prayer.”
Psalm 150:6 continues by declaring, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.”
That moment changed both me and my prayer life!!
God opened my eyes to his greatness and faithfulness. He truly listens and cares for each one of my prayers. This experience helped me grow in my faith, and trust Him no matter the circumstance! I am grateful to have a personal and loving relationship with Jesus!
Now, I continue to pray every day for the bubble of protection to be around me, my family, and everyone I meet!
I was inspired to write this poem.
The Bubble of Protection
The bubble of protection is the safest place to be,
Wrapped up in God’s love and his security,
The power of prayer is so true,
For God, listens to me and to you,
So share your heart and listen closely every day,
For our Lord Jesus is the only way!
Please let this story encourage you not to lose hope in Jesus. Just believe!
God bless you!
Cindy Gebhard
** Cindy is a close friend of mine that has become quite a special person in my life. Our paths crossed during a military assignment many years ago. She suffers from MS, and the only reason that I share this tidbit of information is because I have never seen her complain. She has been an incredible example to me of resilience, perseverance, and encouragement when I have been tempted to throw in the towel during my health challenges. She deeply loves Jesus and is the ultimate prayer warrior. I love her tons, and so thankful she decided to share this story with us. I am trying to encourage her to write some more! So if this gives you a boost, comment below! :). MEET CINDY…
Cindy- I so appreciate your honesty and devotion to prayer. I love the connection of the Bubble of protection. Being a visual person, I can see how each prayer rose to the Lord in many bubbles floating up to His feet and hands. Thank you so much for sharing from your heart and being a blessing to us. So grateful that the Lord has allowed our paths to cross here on earth and look forward to getting to know you more- as our paths may cross again. ❤️🙏
Cindy, this is the 2nd or 3rd time I have heard this testimony of prayer, and for the 2nd or 3rd time, it ended with me in tears of rejoicing with you and goosebumps from His glorious power! Thank you for sharing your story again! There really is power in prayer!
Cindy,
Thank you for sharing your testimony and encouraging us prayer warriors the power of prayer. We “know” it but sometimes we need these reminders to be more encouraged. Also thank you for the video showing how you were describing your bubbles around your prayer requests. Very helpful. I use to as a kid ask God to put a bubble of protection around me as I was constantly terrorized by a demon at night in my room for years and I would ask Him to protect me with an invisible bubble that would keep the demon away from me. God is so faithful like you said. Thank you for the reminders. May God continue to bless you and your family.