By Debby Efurd
“The only thing guaranteed in life is death and taxes.” — My daddy used to say that.
While that may be true, there is something else guaranteed – every minute of every day, something will happen in the world that makes the news. That is true this week.
Edan Alexander: Released After 19 Months in Captivity
Twenty-one-year-old Edan Alexander, held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023, was released this week. He spent more than 19 months in captivity in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli-American soldier, Alexander was kidnapped from his military base in southern Israel.
In 2022, while still a senior in high school, Alexander joined Garin Tzabar, a program that prepares young people from around the world to join the Israeli Defense Forces. After graduation, he moved to Israel to serve in the military and was assigned to the infantry. He was stationed near the Gaza border in September 2023, a month before Hamas’ brutal invasion.
It’s important to note: Alexander volunteered to serve Israel, knowing the potential risk to himself and his family. He had no obligation to serve in the Israeli military. Now he is back home with his family.
Maximo Napa: 95 Days Adrift in the Pacific
Also this week, it was reported a Peruvian fisherman who embarked on a routine fishing trip, ended up battling the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean for survival.
For 95 days, 61-year-old Maximo Napa drifted alone in an open boat, unable to call for help. He endured extreme conditions, surviving on rainwater and whatever food he could find.
Napa left San Juan de Marcona for what was to be just another routine fishing trip. Then, ten days in, stormy weather pushed his small boat off course, sending him nearly 700 miles into the Pacific. He had no way to communicate with anyone.
After supplies were gone, Napa relied on his own resourcefulness to survive. He collected rainwater for drinking and caught what he could, eating cockroaches, birds, and sea turtles. Then, as food dwindled, he spent 15 days without eating, surviving on determination and thoughts of his family.
“I didn’t want to die,” he told reporters after his rescue. “I have a two-month-old granddaughter — I clung to that. Every day, I thought about my mother.”
Miraculously, on March 12, an Ecuadorian fishing vessel spotted Napa’s boat and alerted Peruvian authorities. Rescuers found him severely dehydrated but able to walk and speak. Despite the months-long ordeal, his condition was reported stable.
Surviving the Unthinkable: A Testament to the Human Spirit
It is mind-boggling how someone can survive captivity for unlimited amounts of time, facing untold mistreatment daily. Just the thought of facing possible imminent death at any moment is hard to conceive.
There are thousands of stories of amazing and miraculous survival after years of imprisonment. The prisoners of war of the Vietnam era and other wars cite their success in keeping one’s sanity and faith through scripture and singing hymns.
They took their captivity one day at a time, bolstered by daily prayers, turning to their faith for solace, hope, and strength to endure the harsh conditions they faced. Many became a source of encouragement for each other, and by so doing, they were able to survive.
Paul’s Survival in Roman Prison
Scripture tells us how Paul survived Roman imprisonment … with joy!
Philippians 1:12-18 states:
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel… [Christ] is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
Final Reflection: Where Do You Turn for Strength?
Faith in life is important, no matter what your circumstance.
Where do you turn for strength, hope, and solace in order to survive?
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com. Visit her at the Second Mile blog at https://debbyefurd.com.
Tagged: perseverance, prison ministry
