Unwavering Faith - Nancy Duma

As a huge movie fan, I love sharing thoughts on my favorite films here on the blog. Today, I want to talk about Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge, starring Andrew Garfield. 

I watched the movie many times—it was absolutely breathtaking. I found myself fascinated by the depiction of Desmond Doss's extraordinary faith journey. 

Jesus said, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23, NIV) '"

Keeping God's Words

It was wartime; Doss wanted to serve as a medic, but refused to pick up a weapon. A family dispute involving a firearm heavily weighed on his soul. He promised himself never to use a weapon. 

While everybody else is taking life, I'm going to be saving it. With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don't seem like such a bad thing to me to want to put a little bit of it back together."

As a conscientious objector who volunteered to serve, Doss faced constant bullying and intimidation. Yet he remained dedicated to his duty. 

Studying God's Words

Doss carried his Bible everywhere he went, even to the battlefield and read it whenever he was off duty. 

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom, He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

Those Bible verses read aloud in the beginning of the movie as heavily wounded Doss, being lifted on to a stretcher, having just courageously kicked an enemy grenade away to protect his fellow soldiers. 

Acknowledging God

Doss and his company were sent to the Maeda Escarpment, also known as Hacksaw Ridge, in Okinawa, Japan. They faced a bloody battle, where many of his comrades fell, including Smitty, a soldier who who had gone from Doss's bully to his friend. The surviving soldiers were ultimately forced to retreat.... 

Then comes the most heartbreaking moment. Looking at the horror surrounding him, Doss wept. He cried out to God, "What is it you want from me? I don't understand."

Still desperate for an answer, he pleaded, "I can't hear you."

Then, he heard a cry from afar, "Help!"

Doss decided to seek wounded soldiers. 

Unarmed and working alone under enemy fire, Doss  treated wounded soldiers and lowered them down a 400-foot cliff using a rope litter. 

Every time he successfully lowered a soldier, he prayed, "Lord, please help me get one more."

It turned out "the coward" Doss was the bravest. He saved 50-75 soldiers. "I've never been more wrong about someone in my life. I hope one day you can forgive me," said Captain Jack Clover.

One of closing notes in the movie read, "He remained characteristically modest about his own heroics giving all the credit to God."