Captain Phillips

This weekend I watched the film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. I wasn't sure what to expect, knowing just a little about it, but as well as thoroughly enjoying it (it was so tense I may have even lost weight watching it!), God spoke to me profoundly through the movie.

The film is about the Captain of a cargo ship, sailing from Oman to Kenya, via the Somali Basin in the Indian Ocean. Part way through the trip the boat is attacked and boarded by Somali pirates.

Now if you intend to watch the movie don't read on, as there will be plot spoilers!

The pirates try to board once, and fail, before coming back and trying again. They were able to board because of a weak spot in the ship's defences. They rob money from the safe and then, through a series of events, take the Captain hostage on the cargo ship's lifeboat and try to escape to the Somali mainland, with the intention of raising a large ransom.

The Captain, who is now in a small boat with four angry pirates, is obviously frightened. Knowing it's a real event makes you wonder how he coped. But then he hears a comforting sound - the cargo ship's horn! His friends have called for help and are sticking with him until that help arrives.

A day or so afterwards, a large bright light is shone onto the lifeboat. The Captain wonders what on earth is happening, and as he steals a glimpse to the world outside he sees that an American navy warship has arrived! Obviously another level of comfort ensues, but the Navy still need to somehow deal with the pirates and get him off the lifeboat alive.

Negotiations start, and it isn't too long before another warship and an aircraft carrier arrive. On top of that 50 - 80 Navy seals are dropped from planes overhead to help secure the Captain's release.

It results in the lifeboat being towed behind one of the warships whilst the pirates believe negotiations are going on with their village elders to pay for the Captain's release. The lifeboat bounces around in the ship's wake, and at a couple of points the Captain even tries to escape, causing him even more problems. But the action culminates when the Seal team lines up the pirates in their sights and shoot. The remaining pirate who had been taken aboard the warship for 'negotiations' is tried and imprisoned in America for piracy.

With the pirates dealt with the Captain is taken aboard the warship, to the infirmary to be checked out and patched up. There they take care of him, before he returns home safely to his family in America.

For me, I simply was enjoying the movie. But at the end, after such a tense time (because I did not know the outcome, having not heard it in the news), when he was taken to the infirmary - shocked, traumatised, injured, bleeding - and the medical officer showed him such kindness, I started to cry. The officer kept reassuring him, "It's OK, you're safe now. It's all going to be alright. You're in a safe place now. Your family knows you're safe. You can relax now. Don't worry, it is all OK." I realised, deep down in my spirit, which was being moved greatly, that it's that reassurance that we all need to hear - that I need to hear. I want to relax. I want everything to be OK.

My spirit cried out to be in that place of safety, on the warship, in the infirmary, being given the comfort and reassurance of safety and recovery, because victory had been achieved. Having the knowledge that I was free, that my enemies and problem situations had been dealt with.

The whole story resonates so deeply with the Christian experience. Just like Captain Phillips, God so often gives us orders, or makes requests of us, that take us into dangerous waters and into the enemy's sights. There we are, just minding our own business, getting on with whatever God has told us to do, when suddenly attack comes. It could be a health issue, or a financial one; we could have a sudden issue with a relative, friend, acquaintance or colleague, or some other unexpected accident, mishap or breakage occurs.

As in the film when so many difficult circumstances have occurred in my life and I have been taken hostage in dreadful circumstances, I have known the comfort of having a container ship of friends nearby. We have had prayer and emotional support and encouragement, and acts of kindness in abundance. God has loved us through His people.

But I realise now, that in our particular situation, people cannot put our problems right, they cannot see off the attack of the enemy. For me, I feel as though I am still being held hostage in that small, uncomfortable, stinking life boat. The leader, for me represented by the trauma of child-hood abuse and neglect, has been taken away (although not 100% dealt with yet). But I am still being held hostage by health issues, by crippling debt, by family problems and a lack of movement into the specific promises of God to me. And these pirates continue to use fear and intimidation to control me.

It is hard, but in my spirit, I do my best to still be standing up on the inside. To trust the presence of my God and His warring angels (the Naval warships, their crew and the specialist groups of Navy seals), and to believe for a full and final rescue from these forces of evil (to be free circumstantially, as well as in the Spirit).

Sure there have been times, as in the film, that I have tried to rescue myself and only caused more problems or made the situation worse. But I feel, in my heart and my spirit, God reassuring me to just hold on - rescue is coming. And I will get to the place where I am in the infirmary, safe in His arms, resting secure in the knowledge that the enemy is dead and I am saved. I will get to the place, where for a while at least, I can relax.

Perhaps, as in the movie, my freedom will come suddenly. Certainly there are many 'suddenlies' in the Bible. Perhaps freedom from the huge issues that threaten me will be a gradual thing. But I can honestly say, that although things seem very grim at times, even though my health is still a major issue, and money is a constant source of concern, family issues still rage on and the promises seem far off, I just know, that I know, that I know, that God is on the attack and victory is near. That's not to say I don't have moments of doubt and weeping wobblies, but when I am quiet in my spirit, that reassurance that I so desperately need, is there. After each bout of 'wobbliness', if I listen, encouragement always comes.

I am still boggled after watching the movie that America was willing to send so very many people and resources to save just one man. But really, we shouldn't wonder at that. Because are we not made in God's image, and did He not send the most precious and wonderful thing He had - His Son, to save even just one of us? Didn't Father send Jesus for you? For me? And because of Christ's sacrifice assuring us of victory if only we hang on and keep faith, should we really boggle at the fact that God would send armies of His angels, and indeed come Himself, to rescue us (even if we did help get ourselves into the problems in the first place)?

We may question 'why?', when we are walking in obedience, that such bad things should happen to us. We may question where was God's protection? But I feel so very reassured, in faith, even though my circumstances remain and continue to intimidate me, that I do not need to question if victory is coming. I may be in a lifeboat surrounded by pirates, but I am tethered to the mother ship, and freedom is close at hand.

For all those who like me continue to suffer poor circumstances, I pray that you would be encouraged to know that just as Captain Phillips was indeed saved despite overwhelming odds to the contrary, so we shall be saved too. After all, Jesus is the good shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine safe sheep to find the missing one (Matthew 18: 12 - 14). For those 'missing' ones, for those held captive, I pray that God Himself would comfort you wherever you are right now, whilst you endure until your release.

Be blessed : )