Last night I watched the movie Unbroken. It is, as it is supposed to be, an amazing retelling of an amazing life. Louie Zamperini, the main character, experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows. When others gave up, he kept fighting. When others quit, he dug deeper. If his story does not draw at your heart and inspire you . . . well, it will. It speaks to the spirit within us all, that which pushes us to accomplish what seems impossible.
Even Louie drew upon a greater Spirit.
Though somewhat subtle, there is woven within the fabric of the movie an element of faith. Looking a little deeper into Mr Zamperini's life, that element of faith was more than subtle. Later in his life, when he was fighting to survive the fact that he had survived, faith saved him in more ways than one. Louie drew upon the Spirit of God to give him strength to fight his greatest battle of all. And won.
Life is going to be hard.
May God grant us grace and mercy that none should have to endure what Mr Zamperini did. Even so, life is going to be hard. We may not be adrift at sea for 47 days fending off sharks, or held prisoner of war tortured and beaten for 2 years, but we will have our struggles. And let's face it: All things are a matter of perspective. My trials may not hold a candle to his, but they are what I know. And life can be hard.
Your airplane crash may be losing a job. Your time adrift at sea may be trouble in your marriage. Your prison may be addiction, abuse, anger, guilt, or any number of personal hells. Whatever they are, we all face them, and they are hard. The question is, will they break us?
Remain unbroken.
I did not research how the title of the movie came about, but it is appropriate. Unbroken. Through it all, Louie Zamperini never broke. And neither shall we. Whatever comes our way, no matter the trial or tribulation, we can chose to remain unbroken. The Good Book tells us that God will never put us through more than we can bear. It may seem like it at times, but you have to have faith. You have to trust. You have to believe. He has given us strength. It is up to us to use it.
Draw on that greater Spirit.
In the midst of a storm, Louie prayed. In the storms of his life after returning home, Louie prayed again, and God answered. God is there. He is listening. He is willing to grant us the strength we do not have within ourselves. It is upon Him that we must lean, for our strength will wane; His never will.
Whatever your trial, no matter your struggle, God is there. Trust in Him, and come what may, you will forever be unbroken.
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