THE UNTOLD STORY

Do you remember the movie BLACK HAWK DOWN? In 1993 an elite U.S. force was sent into Mogadishu, Somalia to capture a high value target. An operation that was meant to take under an hour turned into an overnight firefight with U.S. troops and two downed Black Hawk helicopters surrounded by thousands of enemy soldiers.

Twenty-four-year-old Army Ranger Sergeant Jeff Struecker led the three- vehicle convoy that repeatedly drove into the firefight to rescue wounded soldiers. The first U.S. casualty was his buddy in his Humvee.

He got the convoy back to base but was informed he would have to once again return to the chaos. A member of Delta told him he had to wash the blood of his friend out of the vehicle to avoid the trauma of forcing the men to sit in the blood. Author Ben Stuart records the panicky thoughts of Struecker as he washed out his friend’s blood, “This will be my blood. This will be my blood”. “He did not have it in him to return, but he knew he had to. He paused for a moment to pray. While praying a new thought entered his mind: God determines whether I live or die—God and not anyone else. If he allows me to survive today, I will go home to my wife. If I die, then I go to my heavenly home with Jesus. Either way I am going home.

As he took that moment to cast his anxieties upon the Lord… he experienced a calm settle in his spirit. He… evacuated more men. Then he did it again. And again.” He comforted the men with a supernatural peace that allowed him to selflessly serve.

We will never experience the same “Black Hawk Down” situation as the Sergeant but life brings unique firefights to each of us. Today, let us cast our cares upon Him, knowing He cares for us (I Peter 5:7). The supernatural peace is still available to you and me (Phil. 4:6-7).

Dr. Michael Sprague is the Louisiana State Chaplain with the Capitol Commission and President of Grace Adventures. Michael does life with his wonderful wife Donna and resides in Mandeville, LA. His motto is “Bet the Farm on God.” You can find more information about Michael here.