Looking4Hope

You said, "But I am saying the damage is done internally, where we have a lack of faith in ourselves and trying to trust in a higher power is difficult."

I am sorry that you took that you were an atheist. I did not.

And I wholeheartedly agree - after three tours of war, trusting in a higher
power is very difficult.

That is why John 16:33 is my bedrock of faith. Even to His dearest most disciples, who Christ foreknew - would be tortured, killed, and suffer for His cause - he said, "but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

We may all, very well, go up in some Biblically inspired, apocalyptic puffball!
Then again, that may not happen for another millenia or so. Every century there has been some guy saying that the end is near.

But the long war has already been won - the war over our souls, yours and mine.

It's all going to work out - even if it does not, here. As true as it was for the disciples, that their faith would not stop their present despairs -the same is true with us brother. But still, "be of good cheer!"