TRUE STORY OF LOUIS ZAMPERINI

I just finished reading, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Her books shows, the gospel has a power to heal that can be more effective than counseling or drugs. Unbroken is the true story of Louis Zamperini, a talented athlete who participated in the Berlin Olympics in 1936, then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in World War II and served on a B-29 Liberator. In 1943 his bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Zamperini survived for 47 days,  foundering in a life raft, dealing with miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation. Louis was “rescued” by the Japanese and spent the remainder of the war in the most awful of prison camps. He was singled out and tortured by an especially cruel guard they named the Bird.

Soon after Louis’ return to the USA he found he could only escape the nightmares and impact of PTSD through alcohol and an obsession for finding then Bird and killing him. He became an alcoholic filled with hate and fixated on revenge.

After going forward at a Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles in 1949, Louis returned home and poured all his liquor down the drain.  For the first time in years he had no desire to drink. “In the morning, he woke feeling cleansed. For the first time in five years, the Bird hadn’t come into his dreams. The Bird would never come again.”^[1]

REDEMPTION AND HEALING

Zamperini’s life was redeemed that night by the Lord Jesus Christ. Before Zamperini accepted the gospel he was trapped in a dark place, and the help of others was ineffectual. It was the power of the gospel which transformed his life (Romans 1:16).

Most  often the airmen I speak with think the real help for their soul is found with trained counselors and medication. To many, the power of the gospel sounds like a fairy tale that has been proved to be false.

I believe in the power of counseling. I believe that psychiatric medications are often helpful. However, I never want to forget the power that is in the gospel. I believe that Jesus has the power to come into a life and redeem it in the darkest places.

Today, I pray that you would find the power that is offered by our Lord, that whatever hardship you are facing, you would turn to Jesus and find Him sufficient. I pray that you would find the peace and the joy that only He offers.

^[1] Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival Resilience, and Redemption, p. 376.