Unbroken

I just finished reading Unbroken, a biography of World War II hero Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic track star who survived a plane crash in the Pacific theater, spent 47 days drifting on a raft and then more than two and a half years as a prisoner of war in several brutal Japanese internment camps.

Lois Zamperini’s story is riveting.  How could so much bad happen to one person?  How did he survive, not only physically, but emotionally?  During his time on the raft and as a prisoner, Louis did not put his hope in God.  He did not find his strength in the Lord.  So, how did he do it?

This biography (I have not read his memoirs), gives scant answer to those questions.  After reading the book, I believe he hung on through basic human survival instinct plus a hope that someday the suffering would end – either with his death or with an Allied victory.  One or the other was bound to come within a few years. Another possible motive (though I do not know enough to say this of Louis) was a strong pride that refused to give in to circumstances.  “I am bigger than this,” he might have said to himself.  “I will be strong.  I will survive.”

The story, through his internment, is a tremendous testimony to the innate strength of (at least some) human beings. Some people can endure tremendous hardship, even without God’s help.  However, (spoiler alert, I’m about to tell the end of the story) Louis did finally meet an enemy he cannot overcome: himself.  Upon his return to the United States, Louis became tormented with memories and dreams of his captivity and, especially, one of his most brutal captives, the sadistic monster he called The Bird, for whom Louis’s hate grew stronger and stronger.  Louis was on a path to self-destruction (through alcoholism) when he finally surrendered his life to Christ at a Billy Graham meeting.  In an instant, Louis was transformed.

You, too, may be holding on in the midst of pain and suffering.  You may not be giving in (yet) to your difficult circumstances.  Through pride or determination, you may be digging in, saying, “This isn’t going to get the best of me!”  Such strength isn’t bad; but, if you are doing it on your own, you may be gaining less benefit from your hardship than God wants for you.  He wants to walk alongside you in this journey; to know His comfort and fellowship.  He wants to assure you that, not only will your bitterness eventually end; it can produce for you something of eternal value, something that you will have only if you endure through faithfulness to Him.

Enduring your pain for the wrong motives will ultimately earn you little or nothing.  (For example, having an attitude of “I’ll show them!”)  Besides, as Louis discovered after having born pain for over 2 ½ years and finding himself unable to deal with the aftermath, you too may reach an obstacle you can’t surmount.  In the end, you may need God’s strength, even as Louis did.  So, why wait!?  Surrender yourself to God’s purposes now!  You will discover a joy in suffering with Jesus.  He will bring good out of your pain.  

And, God knows, he may choose to bring relief sooner rather than later.  So, surrender to Him. Great good will come of it!

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