Unbroken

“Because he has loved Me, I will bring him out of trouble.  I will set him in a safe place on high, because he has known My name.”   -Psalm 91:14

Do you know the story of Louis Zamperini?  Well, if you don’t know at least a little about him you have obviously been hiding under a rock.   The story, “Unbroken” was written by Laura Hillenbrand and most recently yielded a movie directed by Angelina Jolie.  I have to admit, I’m not a very good reader.  My wife, however, is and she read the book, giving me play by play throughout.  I felt like I read it (does that count?) and couldn’t wait to see the movie with her.  Louis was an Olympic runner who later fought in World War II and was captured by the Japanese after a crash.  He (Spoiler Alert if you don’t know) spent more than a month in a life boat living off of rain water and an occasional fish.  During a violent storm over the Pacific Ocean Louis said a brief prayer.  He didn’t say much, but he told God if He would get him through this, if God would answer his prayers, he would dedicate his whole life to Him.  Little did Louie know that this South Pacific storm was minor compared to what he would go through over the next couple of years in the POW camps.
The movie, of course, focuses mainly on the drama and suffering that Louie endured.  What you didn’t get to see is what happened with his life after the war.  After a brief struggle with post war anger and alcoholism, Louie rededicated his life to Christ after attending a Billy Graham crusade.  He then spent the rest of his days inspiring others to forgive and live for Christ.  He made good on that promise he made to God in the stormy South Pacific ocean.  So, if you have already read the book or seen the movie then you are thinking, “Yeah, yeah, what is your point? We already know all of this”.  Well, have you ever prayed one of those prayers?  You know, “Hey God, if you will help me out here, I promise I will….”.  Well I have.  Can’t say that I have always made good on those promises.  Louis was and is an inspiration.  Not just for his physical ability or his mental toughness, but for his discipline and humility to give the glory to God.  There is no question that God DID answer his prayers during that storm.  And God stayed with him through all the other storms he faced.  God tells us that if we seek Him, if we love Him, He will bring us out of trouble.  That doesn’t mean we won’t face any trouble.  It  DOES mean that we can take comfort in knowing that it’s just a storm and God will see us through it.  And when it passes, we need to humble ourselves, give the glory to Him and make good on those promises we make during those storms.  Because God is and will always be “Unbroken”!