What the USS Abraham Lincoln’s Deployment Reveals about the Cost of War

What the USS Abraham Lincoln’s Deployment Reveals about the Cost of War Log in to your existing account or sign up today! Log in to your existing account or sign up today! Log in to your existing account or sign up today! Key Points - The USS Abraham Lincoln’s extended deployment highlights the physical, emotional, and spiritual cost carried by service members. - War is not only a matter of strategy, politics, or victory; it is measured in human lives, grief, separation, and long-term wounds. - Christians can support troops by praying for them, honoring their service, and advocating care for them when they return home. - Military families also carry the burden of deployment through anxiety, separation, missed milestones, and daily uncertainty. - Followers of Christ should pray for leaders, grieve every life lost, comfort those who mourn, and seek peace wherever possible. What Does the USS Abraham Lincoln’s Deployment Reveal about War’s Human Cost? Over the last several weeks, I watched a documentary on World War II. As I watched this film footage from the war, the footage typically included scenes associated with war. There were videos of planes being shot down, bombs being dropped, ships being sunk, and armies on the ground fighting each other. While I have watched documentaries like this before, this time it felt more sobering. I realized that every scene of a bomb or plane being struck down meant that someone’s life was ending. Regardless of the outcome of any war and who ultimately wins or loses, we cannot forget that all wars come with a great price tag: the loss of human life. While politicians and leaders of governments start wars, brave men and women who put their lives on the line are the most important cost of fighting any war. Today, we are in the midst of a war in the Middle East, which has already cost far too many lives on both sides of this conflict. Sadly, many of the victims are not the service members but civilians and innocent people who get added to the price of conflict. To fight any war, nations deploy service members, which brings us to the USS Abraham Lincoln and its deployment. The Lincoln’s deployment stretched roughly nine months, including a record-setting stretch of consecutive days at sea for a U.S. aircraft carrier in the modern era. There were many reports of grueling conditions, mental health concerns, supply shortages, crew morale, and crew fatigue. This is the human cost that is felt by the sailors and their loved ones miles away. What does the long deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln teach us about the true cost of war, and how should we, as followers of Christ, consider this conflict? That is what I want you to consider today. How Should Christians Support Troops Who Carry the Burden of War? Military people don’t start wars. Government leaders do. While I understand there are times when war is necessary, and there are legitimate questions over whether this war is, the troops are not the ones who dragged us into this conflict. All they were doing was following orders and their chain of command. Once deployed, service members are generally required to obey lawful orders and carry out their assigned mission, even when the burden is heavy or personally difficult. This means they are required to fight and lay all personal feelings aside. If a soldier, sailor, or any service member has any level of humanity, there is a mental and emotional toll that it takes on someone knowing you have the responsibility of potentially ending someone else’s life. While yes, you are fighting for your country and this is what you signed up for, that still does not eliminate this reality. That’s why we must always support the troops because they didn’t ask for this, but they are the ones carrying it out. Supporting the troops means we pray for them, but it also means providing the support they need when they return from war. These men and women voluntarily put their lives on the line to protect our way of life. The least we can do is to ensure their quality of life when the fighting is over. Why Should We Pray for Leaders Who Make Decisions about War? I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. - 1 Timothy 2:1-2 When you consider the authority in the hands of our leaders, it is a reminder of why we must pray for them and choose them carefully. Every decision they make can affect our lives in every fashion. Just think about the decision to fight this war. It has come with real human consequences, the greatest of which is the loss of life. It has also taken an emotional, physical, and mental toll on those fighting the war, and it has placed an economic toll on us who are here back home. This takes this war beyond military strategy and focuses on the human beings carrying the burden of this conflict. In this case, the troops are carrying it, and so are you and me, the everyday Americans. This further points to the great responsibility we have in choosing our leaders. In Luke 14, Jesus reminds us to count the cost, and we must do this before, not after. Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? - Luke 14:31 I don’t know if our leaders did this before we entered this war, but let’s pray for a quick end and that they act with wisdom to seek a peaceful solution. How Can Christians Support Military Families at Home? Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2 As I mentioned earlier, war is not just about the troops. For every serviceman or servicewoman deployed in the Middle East, there is a family member worried about them. This is a great opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus for them. While we cannot change what is happening over there, we can provide comfort and support for the family members back here. Remember, military deployments separate husbands and wives, parents from their children, and siblings from each other. It causes them to miss birthdays, anniversaries, and sometimes other important milestones. While a deployment to a non-war zone is less frightening, knowing your loved one is in a military zone just heightens the anxiety and worry. If there are people in your family, neighborhood, congregation, or sphere of influence who are facing this, don’t let them walk through it alone. Why Must We Grieve Every Life Lost in War? Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 I want to return to where I began and consider the most critical cost of this war. Losing human lives. Thousands of people have reportedly died since the conflict began, though exact casualty figures remain difficult to verify and vary by source. While most of those casualties have not been U.S. soldiers, it does not diminish the toll this war is taking. Consider the many families who hurt and grieve because loved ones died, and many of those who died were not soldiers. It should not matter who is experiencing the loss of life; the pain remains. Aside from people being killed, there are countless who have been injured and whose lives have been torn apart. These people are working to put their lives back together. We cannot forget those who are grieving. How Can We Pray for Peace Without Growing Numb to War? Let me summarize it in this fashion. War is not just about wins, losses, and superiority. War is about the cost of getting there. I don’t know when this war will end, but the longer it drags on, the more lives will be lost. If for no other reason than that one, we should pray for a quick end to this war. I pray that we never grow numb to the cost of war and that we always support those who bear the burden. Finally, remember that every day this conflict continues, it will cost more lives, more emotional damage, mental health issues, and physical injury. This is the hidden cost of every war, and we don’t want to keep running up this price tag. Frequently Asked Questions about the USS Abraham Lincoln, War, and Christian Prayer - Why was the USS Abraham Lincoln’s deployment significant? The USS Abraham Lincoln’s deployment drew attention because of its length, its extended time at sea, and reported concerns about fatigue, morale, supplies, and mental health among sailors and families. - What is the hidden cost of war? The hidden cost of war includes lives lost, families separated, emotional wounds, mental health struggles, physical injuries, civilian suffering, grief, and long-term burdens carried after the fighting ends. - How can Christians support service members? Christians can support service members by praying for them, honoring their service, checking on their families, advocating for care when they return, and refusing to treat their sacrifices as abstract. - How should Christians pray for leaders during war? Christians can pray that leaders act with wisdom, restraint, justice, humility, and concern for every human life affected by their decisions. - How can Christians care for military families during deployment? Christians can care for military families through meals, childcare, practical help, prayer, encouragement, check-ins, and faithful presence during long seasons of separation. For Further Reading - How the Iran Conflict Is Affecting Everyday American Life - Who Is the God of All Comfort? - Are We Supposed to Carry Each Other’s Burdens? - What Does It Mean to Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus? - The Right Way to Comfort Someone Who’s Hurting Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Benny Winslow Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a dynamic speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. In addition, he serves as a campus pastor at Walnut Hill Community Church. Clarence is dedicated to helping people live with purpose and clarity. His unique ability to blend practical wisdom with spiritual insight equips people to thrive in every area of life. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com. Originally published September 18, 2026. Log in to your existing account or sign up today! Log in to your existing account or sign up today! Log in to your existing account or sign up today!