Today is Veterans’ Day, honoring all those who have served in the military, not to be confused with Memorial Day, honoring those who died while serving their country.

I found this prayer from an unknown soldier that beautifully applies across all walks of life, though it seems especially poignant in light of a soldier whose life has been affected by injuries sustained in combat.

This prayer highlights that God often doesn’t give us what we ask for but what we need. He gives us not happiness but joy. He gives us not what we want but what our hearts desire.

The idea of blessing isn’t getting everything I’ve prayed for. In fact, sometimes, God not giving us what we pray for is a blessing because we don’t know what we pray for at the time.

The real blessing is knowing that there is no gift from God apart from God Himself. What we really need more than God’s provision is God’s presence because to have everything apart from God is defeat, while having God and nothing else is victory.