Quitting Isn't an Option: My Life as a Navy SEAL (Part 2 of 2)

Your marriage resources your ventures and honesty stories of the content in front there are thousands of stories just like from Focus on the Family's legacy community folks to leave a legacy gift through their will, trust or other estate planning tool. You helped have the gift of a godly family. Use your resources to help families thrive for generations to come. Find out more focused legacy community.com that's focused legacy community.com. I want to achieve something over something great. I want some identity and source are thinking what is that and I think I come up with the perfect Lancet there my truck about to go to class Gonnerman in view undergo become an Alaskan fisherman. Yeah, deadliest catch by forwarding most dangerous jobs in the world about their some bragging rights. That right there in this other idea pops in my head. I know what I want to be last time we heard how Chad Williams went from college dropout to Navy seal and will hear the rest of the story on today's episode of Focus on the Family euros to spokes president Dr. Jim Daly and I'm John from John as we follow Joe through the extremely grueling Navy seal training all the way up to graduation day. We also heard about his grief over the death of his mentor and coach who had returned to duty in Iraq today will hear how Chad's life took an unexpected downward turn and how we found a relationship with Jesus Christ and restarting part two here is Chad shares how he felt immediately after the exhilaration of completing the Navy seal training program. Now Chad Williams speaking at wingmen ministries on today's episode of Focus on the Family, something that we are all familiar with at least to some degree the idea that I might have where I'm at in my life right now, but I've got plans. I got goals I got something I'm aiming at an achievement if I could just get there. I could just get deposition or that salary or that homer that relationship my family in this spot. Then I be happy some working towards. And so what you do is you believe that if I can get to that goal. That's where I'll be satisfied to develop a hunger and that hunger gives you drive. It gives you the discipline to ultimately get there and you achieve your goal.

You have tasted it, that the feeling of success in your satisfied, just like you thought you would be what happens. That satisfaction does not last. So what we do, we just reason within ourselves.

Okay it makes sense.

It didn't last because I didn't go for something big enough something great enough. I just need to raise the bar little bit more trek up the mountain a little bit higher then it will deliver for me. So you raise that bar you go a little further little higher you get there you drink it up satisfied like you thought. What happens you get hungry you get there. Still over again such as vicious cycle. Here's the big question is what happens when you get to a point we could no longer reason within yourself and say all just raise the bar supposed maybe you got to the peak of billionaires asked this question in Forbes magazine.

If you could go back in time and give yourself a word of advice, what would it be in this response was if I go back to assay a self. When you get to the top of the mountain. There's nothing up there and so for me here.

I am becoming this Navy seal.

This is my top of the mountain if that's just if this doesn't do it. I can't think of any other peak in the next, and maybe I'm not being imaginative enough. I just realize if this doesn't do it, nothing will. And so that graduation day.

Not only was it were the happiest moments of my life, but is also really the fulfillment of those words when the loneliest moments a mental lever spiritually to achieve that which he thought would deliver the ultimate in the end it lets them down. I felt like I was better off not being the seal and looking forward to becoming a Navy seal because then at least I have something in front of me to give me drive to invest into but now that I've arrived arrows. I'm still just the same person destroy the fulfillment of those words will where you go from there. Course I'm not going to let anybody know how I really feel I mean I got my buddies back in the back. You did it. You gotta be on top of the world and I was back yeah I live in a dream rockstar when reality is more miserable at that stage of my life that I never been as I invested everything out of what I thought. Just everything would come together once a become a seal of services same guy I get put on seal team one at the time silty wanted just come home off the deployment will teams given some time off.

Some leave some going back to my hometown, hanging out with old friends and again there just note you gotta go top.

The world chatted well let's go out, let's drink.

Let's party will everything just kind of went downhill for me. From that point forward. Analysis really getting reckless and in out-of-control.

I'm now just doing whatever fell I thought getting deal anymore and so what gave me some stimulation feeling was drinking, drinking and partying with the guys but all the foolishness, it just comes out of that.

You know that the blacking out.

Waking up the next day caring about the shameful things that you did try to act like it's a badge of honor in getting into fights and I woke up one morning meeting, 26 stitches in my knuckles for thing. I don't remember us in the backseat of my parents car their drive in their display. One drop me off in San Diego at the seal team get rid of me that basically tell me look. We love your son but do not come back to you came into our house last night, spraying blood all over the water out of your mind challenging your dad to buy. We don't know your dealers and why does say you get yourself killed or somebody else killjoy need to get your act together. I wish I could tell you that I felt some remorse, but at that stage of my life.

My concerts are still not I just laughed it off like I did what Illyria said to the guy the mayor about this and you know they're just looking at me like he just doesn't get it. You not also thinking about was we stole two kegs of beer that's the last thing I really remember drinking one up and I think we stage the other one in my dad's garage. My hometown so I get stitched up by the dock in Coronado San Diego and I gonna go back and go drink that other keg of beer so I make my way back to Huntington. I show up I guess of what you doing here and I just want to get to this cake that I stashed in his garage and all this time they'd always been invite me in praying for me trying to get me to go to these your evangelist a conveyance to church and church is a thing I did when I was little I Mike that's your guises thing now.

Don't worry about me. You know my my mom's was were praying for you, I'd come home with a twisted ankle walking around the counter to what I did last night out drinking my mom that what happened to you. I don't know spec I was praying that God would get your attention. You pray for this. This is your prayers. I don't pray for me. So there was praying there always invite me to go and I dishonor I'll go but the motors were not sincere.

My whole plan was this I want to get that keg of beer unlocking force my way and I could tell my dad's pretty serious about not let me in if I just go I could suffer through it all punch through and punch my card in the distal church event will be over by 9 o'clock at night I'm liking to start my night till 10 or 11 so we'll get home to be so happy I went though.

Go to sleep all fall right off the radar. Then I got that keg and offered really goes. I say all right, I'll go to the thing you will like you. Let's go for them right. They have no idea.

My remotest year we get there have to be a man that speaking there that evening by the name of great glory. And I just knew this guy's a good storyteller and Lisa*boring guys can put me to sleep and some listening in poem he starts talking about a soldier thinking greatly submitted come to some church event I get here a story about a soldier here I am an active duty sealant.

The soldier was named Naaman is a Syrian commander he's got this entourage of men that highly respected, highly regarded, even the king enjoys Naaman's company and the unthinking named Naaman sound like you could've been a Navy seal of the other bins of the thing. During his time name is this mighty man of valor. It says, but Naaman had leprosy.

As explained that leprosy during Naaman's time was a skin disease that was certain death was a dead man walking.

So picture this if you would so much fraud Naaman success this outward man, this persona the Syrian commander with all that armor when reality underneath that armor underneath that clothed in the real Naaman is falling apart is deteriorating.

Is this dead man walking. It's been said that not even the worst criminal of all Siri would ever want to trade skin with Naaman will immediately secretly.

This all clicked for me. You know that is just like my situation here. I am a seal on the outside, when in reality you know I'm miserable than I'd ever been and how many of us can relate. With that being a certain man in front of your friends or coworkers or family members when reality there is something else going on underneath it all, will Naaman no doubt about it. He is this man that destines an old power zone night he's exhausted every avenue tried every doctor done everything he can. It can't be done can't be healed, but he hears about this profit by the name of Elisha who might be able to do something about this leprosy serve the God of Israel to remix 150 mile trip with this man and his entourage bringing the equivalent of millions upon millions of dollars in gold, silver and apparel visiting him knocking on the door he wants to be healed.

What happens is this, he won't even come to the door doesn't even give him the courtesy of a face-to-face conversation since a servant to the door to relay a message says if you just go dip yourself in the Jordan River seven times when you come up. Your flesh will be restored to you what says that Naaman became furious. I mean, could you imagine this came all this way with all of his men and he disrespects them like this won't even give him a face-to-face conversation, you could probably just about how this pop its head before he does something force like that sissy turn anyone away in a rage reasoning out loud I thought is going to come out weighed his hand over this place called the name of the Lord is God and it was to go dip in that filthy water over there. I got cleaner water worm prom and image true obstacle here. If you haven't got it yet. It's as prime. It's his ego's prize getting in the way it's causing him just to bail this men date they hate to see this running up to him there, trying to reason with them and say look Naaman come on you, not the prophet came out gave you some big great thing to do. You would've done it because it was such a simple thing. Just go dip yourself in this water damage seem like a foolish thing was something these guys say the name and it just it begins to wear away at him. It begins to get through and I don't miss is how difficult this might've been for him to finally go ahead and turn and make that move to go out into that water maybe his men that so highly revered him so much respect for him.

They got this view of him.

Maybe they'd never really seen the real Naaman that he was hiding underneath it all, as he peels away that armor is the very act of peeling away that pride that needed to go. Being transparent is real condition while the real Naaman as she walks out of this water in active faith and trust leaving the Scott officials going to come through dipping himself the seven times coming up and on the seventh time yet brand-new skin like that of a baby warm on the edge of my seat member ID plans to go out drinking this night and almost and I feel myself just totally captivated. Then I kind of felt like I got left behind as I was right there with Naaman, a but this is where picks back up. It gets pointed out that look just as Naaman was a certain man on the outside in front of his men Syrian commander great success in bowing reality we know we see something else is going on underneath it all. Who are you who are you in front of your friends and your coworkers you are you when you're in your room and the lights are off and all you're left with is your own thoughts.

You know Naaman yet is leprosy.

You got a disease is called sin and that's what really hit me that I do have this serious disease called sin. Sin. Just as leprosy has devastating consequences. Leprosy leads to death, and the wages of sin is death us the consequences. But Naaman is provided this way out and so then it gets. Explain what is ours there that just as Naaman yet this way out by going out of this water we don't put our faith and trust in God's going to come through through some River and some water. What it is, is this is God sent his son Jesus of Nazareth to come into this world on a rescue mission.

They love the holy perfect sinless life that I could not. The no one has ever lived or will live in that leprosy in the Old Testament is a picture of sin being spotted and blotted the blemishes of it. But Jesus, he was holy sure unblemished and then he goes to the cross and Whitey go to the cross like we say it was a rescue mission.

You went there with purpose is rescue mission to save his people from what from their sin is what took place at the cross a street. Jesus traded skin with you when I sit, where he took our leprosy are said upon himself so that we can be switch slowly could be lavish of God's grace and his mercy not only paying the penalty and the consequences of that sin in our place arising again from the dead, showing he has not only power over sin but power over death and they declares it because I live, you also shall live. But remember, for Naaman it all started with what it all started with humbling himself before his creator. He needed to go to his own funeral, as it were, what Jesus says this is where it starts. If anyone wants to come after me, says he must deny himself, that denies self is that repentance of sin. That's not just the realization that I've sin and I'm sorry got caught right Judas was sorry got caught.

It is, I'm so sorry. I want to disassociate with this old man I want to strip them off. He gets nailed to the cross right there with Jesus, so that turning from sin, that repentance is turning away from the old man disassociating and then you put your put your faith and trust on some water, but in this person, Jesus of Nazareth, to do what he says he will do. He does all the hard work the heavy lifting paying the penalty of that sin, the moment you turn from your sin and place your faith and trust in him is explained to me that night that Jess's name is leprosy was blotted out, wiped away got a remember your sin no more, and that the New Testament says repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out just like that leprosy blotted out, that times of refreshing may come March 14, 2007 it just it hit me that this is what it really is all about your here I am trying to find fulfillment and identity and all these other little things that just never really fully satisfy they never really deliver. It's like decaf right. Jesus says that if you drink of his living water. He says you'll never thirst again. How is it that all these other things leave you hungry and thirsty for more. But he says you will never thirst again. The way that works is this is because once you have that right relationship with your creator that you're always meant to have his son Jesus. This search is over and you are complete your complete and then all these other things in life and leave you hungry and thirsty for more. Never really satisfied, you could actually finally enjoy them now like you never have before. And the proper category where they belong there. All supplementary secondary to life and so I find myself that not repenting of my sin.

Placing my faith and trust in Christ and experience with the Scripture said that if any man be in Christ he is a new creation old things passed away behold all things become new. I can even now you have the words to describe this wow the relief that the burden this old man that racked up so much sin just forgiven and he did all the heavy lifting. I didn't have to do anything but he paid the highest price you could possibly pay to set me free. And so that's why we not only call him Savior, but Lord, because we all him. Our allegiance wheel him our loyalty just like the apostle Paul that moment that he was flipped around that Damascus wrote his first question is Lord, what would you have me do, and that to be our question to him as well. He Savior needs, Lord, meaning that he informs us how we ought to live our lives from that point forward, we do everything in word or deed in his name is so needless to say I never went back to that keg of beer that I forgot about that cake appear years later I'm helping my dad clean out the garage completely forgot about the thing he pulls the start back any Elvis said there is healing.

What is this you know my lawn though. At night we all went to church.

I got a funny story to share with you about my original plans for that evening and so fast.

For now, here I am.

This active duty Navy seal but also a follower of Jesus Christ. And now I've got this row, fulfillment, and what were doing and remember were going after evil men. Men that take suicide vest trap want to mentally handicapped women you know the words that all that's required for evil to triumph is for good men to stand back and do nothing or talking to stand back and do nothing. Members were going down this road I see a sign and assist Falluja, Iraq, in English and Arabic. And that's when it hit me for the first time on this entire deployment that will I wonder if Scott ever saw the same sign before he entered into Falluja is one of the main big signs that it's just what are the odds that they switched out the signs only been several years back I tripped on that thinking that that's one of the last sign she probably looked at before he got into the Sampras. Little did we know were being set up for an ambush. As we go. Pulling up to this house is gonna be business as usual to get this guy when he sleeping he doesn't even know what he knew were common.

I he was informed by the source that told us about him. Apparently he went and told this guy that were common and so he had his little minions all set up and as were and are most vulnerable spot. That's when all hell broke loose and were getting shot at from three different directions, taking effective fire and ice time for us to do we do best is still shoot move and communicate and really against all the odds in this gunfight. I mean, ambush is you typically don't all come out of this thing alive. This is my mentor died. We ended up killing and driving back the enemy and the worse we house. One guy that got shot in the butt and he was just laughing about it. After some morphine and we all came back out of that situation. Getting the guy that we are going after we all came home alive out of that situation is something I want to hammer home with you guys so is that it doesn't always work out that way someone to close on this is that freedom isn't free. We know that is paid for in the currency of blood on men like Mike monster or U.S. Navy seal while he is in a place called Hammadi in Iraq is up on top of the roof providing cover for some other seals on the road from an unknown location and insurgent throws a hand grenade up on the roof. It's miking the chest falls to the dark if you can imagine, yet negative, just step away so that your name not a problem but here's the catch is that there some other seals in the roof with them and that is sent chance of hopping up in time getting passes grenade so my keys last word was grenade as he threw himself down just enough time to get over the top of it to smother as it went off and he absorbed the blast of that grenade on himself, taking all that shrapnel the metal and he suffered for 30 minutes before he died because of what he did every single one of those other guys in the roof.

They all live so you can mark these words down in history.

Greater love has no one than this in the lay down one's life for his friends such as Mike monster were dim and my friend Scott for the longest time, I didn't really want talk about what happened to him because it's difficult but you not realize that I have a responsibility you live a story to share, and although he was killed in and hung from this Euphrates River bridge. It wasn't without purpose. It wasn't in vain. One of the lessons ever said to me was junior when I go over there. Perhaps I could make a difference. So again those words. Greater love has no one than this one that lays down his life for his friends in a part of our seal creed before we go out many operation and and maybe your death might be an imminent thing you we might not come back home alive. No matter achieve my get up and reflect on some of these guys like Mike monster or worker Scott Halverson to get the platoon fired up that part of our creed is that in the worst of conditions are rely on the legacy of those who've gone before me to steady my resolve and guide my every deed and there's nothing like that to remember guys like that. It just gets you from this mode of what might happen to me too.

It's like you get this bulletproof like let's go get the operation done on a similar way and we have one other legacy the lookout to reflect on that we all have in common with.

It's the men who spoke those words. Of greater love. I quoted is none other than Jesus of Nazareth and he said those words at a very unique time. It's prior to going to the cross. So let's think of our King of Kings. This way the just as Mike monster work jumps on this grenade absorbing the blast of this grenade on himself. Why so that others could live. Let's not forget that Jesus, when he went to the cross. He absorbed the blast, not a some hand grenade but the blast the consequences. The effects of our sin he absorbed on himself. Why did he do that so that we all could live just as my friend Scott killed and hung from this Euphrates River bridge for the sake of freedom. Never forget that Jesus was killed and he was hung from the cross of Calvary, so that we could be set free from the eternal consequences of sin. Greater love has no one than this one that lays on his life for his friends.

He could see in men like my consort and Scott help in stem and I think even greater. Look to the cross. Thus, the proper perspective, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world exist for he speaking of the father made him Jesus, who knew no sin to become sin for us, we might become the righteousness of God in him and he is a purpose for each and every one of us, and he's made this purpose.

Crystal clear you know there's some particular things certain give certain abilities certain tasks that God gives us a but there's a crystal clear marching orders that we've been given.

Just like in the seal teams were given a duty and a task is the very definition of the commission were expected to follow through on it. We've been given a duty and a task from our commander of the universe and that duty and taxes to go do what is to go and spread the gospel message. If CS Lewis is enemy occupied territory. That is what this world is but Christianity is a story of how our rightful King. That's Jesus. He is landed, you might say in disguise, but now he's calling us all to take part in his great campaign of sabotage that campaign of sabotage guys is overthrowing the plans of the enemy of our soul. We are in a real battle.

This is a real battlefield and he is like the ultimate terrorists remember suicide bombers.

One of the due date strap on avast.

They know they're going down there trying to wreck as many people's lives with them as it possibly can, wasn't the enemy of our soul. The ultimate suicide bomber. I mean, you know she's going down he's going to help. He's trying to drive down as many people with them as he possibly can. And we've been given the task to go and charge the kingdom of darkness with what weapon would be given the gospel is the greatest weapon we have to charge the kingdom of darkness. With so we have these marching orders and want to end this inspirational message from Chad Williams right there. Let me add that Chad served our country so faithfully as a Navy seal for five years completing tours of duty in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, but rain and the rock in her thanks to Chad for his service and wingman ministries for allowing us to use this presentation how John and I really appreciate Chad's message bring that military perspective to our lives as believers in Jesus Christ. Our goal in life should not be to just achieve peace and comfort we've been given a mission by our Lord to take the gospel to all nations, and that sound right there in the New Testament, Matthew chapter 28 verse 18 we have our marching orders right there and evangelism is our primary goal here Focus on the Family. Of course we want to help you have a better marriage and help you in your parenting skills. But if you don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you're literally missing the boat.

Let me put it this way if you died tonight. Do you know for sure that you go to heaven.

Would you like to. If so, pray this prayer with me right now, Lord Jesus, I agree that I in the center. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.

I repent and turn away from my past transgressions I open the door of my life, and receive you as my Savior and Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life, make me the kind of person you want me to be. Amen. Amen. And if you pray that prayer along with Jim, please let us know we'd love to celebrate that with you. That's the best decision you could ever make yes and that please request our coming home booklet.

It will explain more about the Christian life and what steps you should take next and keep listening to this broadcast, that's a great step right there it is.

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