I’d like to introduce you to a hero of mine named Louis Zamperini. His story may be familiar to some, as it was recounted in the best-seller Unbroken. The story tells of his troubled youth, but eventual rise in the track world to become an Olympian in 1936. Most of the book focuses on Louis’s WWII experiences. After surviving a plane crash at sea and being adrift 47 days on a raft, Louis was captured by the enemy and was held for two years as a POW. Though he suffered torture and degradation, Louis endured and returned home a hero.
But the war came home with Louis. He was plagued by violent nightmares and sunk into alcoholism. His anger derailed him in every aspect of his life. His internal war raged within him for several years. Then Louis was invited to a Billy Graham evangelistic service. Initially, Louis resisted the Gospel message of hope, but he finally surrendered to the call to give his life to God. From that moment, Louis’ life was truly redeemed. He was released from the fears he carried from the war and freed from his addiction. The book beautifully depicts his journey back to Japan where he was able to personally extend forgiveness to those who had been so brutal to him.
When I read the book, I discovered it was soon to be Louis’s 94th birthday. Finding his address online, I seized the opportunity and sent him a card, sharing how much I appreciated his story. To my astonishment, he wrote me back, twice. Each note arrived on a tiny sheet of paper with the Olympic rings embossed on them. One of the notes he signed with the reference Isaiah 9:6. This verse we often hear at Christmas:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given…
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
If there was anyone who understood peace it was Louis Zamperini. He had suffered almost every kind of turmoil possible and was being wrecked by self-destructive behavior when he came to know the Prince of Peace. Louis recognized that God had intervened and protected him. At times, he had felt God’s presence pursuing him, sustaining him in the darkest hour. By giving his life to God, he experienced the love, peace, grace, forgiveness and healing only God can give. These are the greatest gifts we can know. The gift of inner peace can only come from the Prince of Peace.
The book of Isaiah tells us,
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (26:3,4)
Trust comes when we know we are cared for. Jeremiah 31:3 describes God’s love for His people where He declares, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” David said in Psalm 23:6 “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” (NLB)
For some, like Louis, God pursues us in a desperate place. For me, I was drawn to a God who cared for me. A simple verse taught me, “We love Him because He first loved us.” God helped me understand that He was real. He did this many times by providing for specific needs. He has done this by sustaining me, particularly when life is hard. When I had no funds for college, when my job was in jeopardy, when I needed emergency surgery, God gave me peace and trust in His care for me.
Let us welcome the gift of God’s peace in our hearts, secure in this knowledge:
We are pursued by the Prince of Peace.
We are loved by the Prince of Peace.
For this He was born.
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
Linnea Tideman has always enjoyed sharing stories. Her childhood in New Hampshire and her Swedish heritage have provided her with a wealth of experiences, but also the foundation of her faith. She enjoys creative projects, travel, books, sewing, gardening, but most of all hospitality, often hosting fancy teas and occasionally something grand like recreating dinner on the Titanic. She serves the UrbanPromise and Good Neighbors ministries. Linnea lives in Landenberg with her husband Dave. They have three grown daughters. She hopes that her writing reflects how God continues to reveal Himself to us as our shepherd and Savior.
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