Government shutdowns can bring real financial and emotional strain to military members and their families. This article offers three biblical ways to pray for them during seasons of delayed pay, uncertainty, and stress, asking God to provide what they need, to guard their hearts with peace, and to help them trust Him in the midst of instability.
When I was young, I was under the impression that if I were able to find a good job with a good company one day, I would have something that we called "job security." Little did I know that in just a few years, I would discover that such a thing didn't really exist. I started realizing the insecurity of jobs when my dad was let go or fired from jobs multiple times throughout my childhood and even into my adult years. Every time it happened, it put a lot of strain and stress on our family - and even more on him. Eventually, I would see friends, family members, and others in my town lose jobs because factories and mills closed, companies were sold, and staff teams were downsized.
I realize now more than ever that those experiences haven't just been mine. It is more common than ever today for people to have their jobs temporarily paused or permanently lost. According to the Labor Bureau, in December 2025 alone, nearly 2 million people lost their jobs through terminations and layoffs. Sometimes people lose jobs that are seasonal and expected, but other times it's because of unforeseen situations (at least for the employee), like business mergers, downsizings, and closings. It has been that way for as long as I can remember, with a few spikes in my lifetime (such as in 2020). In fact, 4 out of every 100 people in America are unemployed for one reason or another. To put that into perspective, though, that percentage is actually lower today than it was over the last 50 years. As many people can empathize with, not being employed does not just mean more extra time on our hands - it means not making the money we need to live and (often) being disappointed over and over when jobs won't hire us.
But that is in the "civilian" world. What I have found to be even more surprising is that even military members and police officers who protect our country and government employees who run our country can experience the same kinds of layoffs and pauses in their employment and paychecks due to what has been called a national "shutdown." According to one site, a government shutdown occurs when, for various reasons, Congress fails to fund the government before the fiscal year ends. Normally, a shutdown lasts only a few days or weeks, but in 2025 it lasted 43 days (a new record).
While different people get blamed for these shutdowns, spending bill pauses, and budget cuts (such as the president or Congress), they are not uncommon in any business (as reflected by the stats I mentioned earlier). Nevertheless, during these shutdowns, many federal workers (sometimes entire departments) can stop receiving pay. Thankfully, many government employees have other jobs, passive income, working spouses, or contingency plans for the few days or weeks when things are on hold. However, there are also times (like recently) that even though the government shutdown was over and many employees went back to work, not every budget or spending bill gets passed, resulting in certain departments and positions losing funding and people, again, being out of jobs. At times like this, the whole country is affected, especially military personnel. Even though soldiers and officers may receive back pay, the disruption to their lives, the piling up of bills, and the delays in important business can put a lot of stress on families who feel helpless to change their situation.
What can we do during these government shutdowns? While most of us do not have any say in government shutdowns and budget cuts, we can pray for them.
Why Should Christians Pray for Military Members During Government Shutdowns?
Christians should pray for military members during government shutdowns because many service members and their families face real pressure when pay is delayed or disrupted. Even when back pay eventually comes, the stress of unpaid bills, uncertainty, and family strain can be heavy. Prayer is one meaningful way believers can support those who continue serving while carrying financial and emotional burdens.
Here are three ways that we can pray for military members who go without pay during government shutdowns:
- Pray for Provision
After Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, they ended up hungry and thirsty as they walked across the desert. And although many of the people themselves whined and complained, Moses prayed to God for provision. And what did God do? He took care of them by sending manna and quail from the sky and water from a rock. In the same way, let's pray for our soldiers and military officers who need provision during the difficult times when their paychecks aren't coming in, even though they must continue to do their job. At the same time, if you have family members or friends who are in the military, the next time you hear about a government shutdown, maybe God would have you reach out to them to see how you can help by sending money, buying groceries, or sending a care package.
- Pray for Peace
It is stressful for anyone to go through a period of not making money or missing paychecks. It makes it much worse when, as is often the case for military personnel, we have no idea how long that season will last, and during the days or weeks of non-pay, we still have to complete our responsibilities and can't just leave and pick up another job. But the wonderful thing about being a Christian is that, whether we are in a season of abundance or a season of famine, God remains sovereign and we can still trust in his provision. First-Century Christians probably knew more about seasons of difficulty than most of us will ever know. And with those difficulties in mind, Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi to:
"Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:5-7, ESV
Let's pray that our friends and family in the military will turn to God for help and seek his divine peace.
- Pray for Perspective and Trust in God
When we are in the middle of a difficulty in life, it is our human nature to focus on what matters and just on what is right in front of us. But one lesson we can learn from reading Scripture, especially the Old Testament, is that what is happening in our life right now is never just about what we see in front of us because our transcendent God is working everywhere at once, in every situation at once, and is not bound by time and place like we are. So we can trust that God's plans are always so much bigger than our problems. Of course, that is nearly impossible for us to remember IN the moment of our struggle, even for the most mature Christian. That is one reason it is important for us to read Scripture every day: it gives us the right perspective on life when we need it!
Practical Ways to Support Military Families Beyond Prayer
Prayer matters deeply, but Christians can also support military families in practical ways during government shutdowns. If you know a service member or military family personally, consider checking in, offering groceries, sending a gift card, helping with childcare, or simply reminding them they are not alone. Small acts of care can become tangible expressions of God’s provision and kindness during seasons of uncertainty. In the collection of Psalms in the Old Testament, King David wrote right after getting out of a difficult place:
"I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you!..." - Psalm 40:1-5, ESV
Let us pray for our military personnel that, even in the face of uncertainty, doubt, and even unemployment, they will reframe their lives in relation to what God is doing and put their trust in God, not their employer, country, or themselves. Because when we do that, we always find out that God can be trusted! So much in our world may never make sense during our lives. But God can still be trusted. Take a moment right now to pray for anyone in our military and government employees (especially anyone you know by name). Pray that God will provide for them in miraculous ways, pray that they will allow the Holy Spirit to provide peace for them, and pray that they will have the right perspective about life and turn to and trust God.
Related Reading:
- Prayers for Stressed Families
- Trusting God in Uncertain Times
- Bible Verses About God’s Provision
- How to Pray When You Are Anxious
- Encouragement for Military Families
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