You knew it was going to be another hot day. As soon as the sun peaks over the horizon during the summer in Vietnam, the temperature climbs very quickly. Today was going to be no different.

My platoon of Vietnamese militia and Marine squads departed base camp. We made our way through the countryside until we reached the jungle, away from the farmland. Just days earlier, we had captured a guerrilla base camp. We quietly surrounded the camp the enemy was using for conducting their operations just hours before dawn. As the sun began to peak over the horizon, we hit them from three sides. It was a very successful operation in terms of enemy soldiers eliminated and the amount of equipment captured.

Days later, I thought we should go back and blow up the tunnels and equipment we left behind so they could not be used again. As we got closer, I took the point position. I reasoned that I may be the platoon leader, but I had more experience than anyone else on my team. I didn’t realize the guilt of losing my entire squad years earlier was clouding my reasoning.

It happened so quickly that my brain didn’t have time to react. The grenade hit my leg, fell at my feet, and exploded. The impact of shrapnel hitting me from head to toe literally put my body in shock. Getting to my feet, two AK-47 rounds knocked me back down. Then, the slow-motion apparition of the North Vietnamese Army soldier stabbing me with his bayonet blurred together in my mind as a horrible nightmare.

Somehow, I managed to get up off the ground, fear and adrenalin propelling me to move. Blood flowed over my eyes as I struggled to make my way back to my Marines. Falling to the ground, I rolled over and waited for the inevitable end of my short 22-year life. I knew I was going to bleed to death on that trail. The pain hit me like nothing I had ever experienced. I wanted it over!

Suddenly, I was being dragged away from where I had fallen. Fear gripped my heart; if these were communist soldiers, my pain was only beginning. Then I heard a voice near my ear: “I’ve got you! I’ve got you!” A 21-year-old Navy Corpsman and a 19-year-old Marine Lance Corporal had run across the open field to drag me to safety. I’ve told this story hundreds of times over the past 50 years since I became a Christian, but I usually don’t mention the words of comfort from my Corpsman: “I’ve got you!”

This past Veterans Day, speaking to a room full of veterans in Atlanta, Georgia, I shared those words, and suddenly I stopped; tears began streaming down my eyes as I could hear Jesus speak to my heart: “I’ve got you! I’ve got you!” I knew He had been standing over me, soothing my fear. I’ve known for many years now it was only by the grace of God and His mercy that I am still on this planet. But I was suddenly struck by the fact that Jesus was there all the time, waiting for me to surrender my life to Him.

You may be going through a very difficult time right now. Life may seem unfair and you might be overwhelmed by what is happening around you and possibly in you. I encourage you to stop and pray. Ask the Lord, “What is happening?” You might hear His still small voice say, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). You might hear Him counsel, “Don’t worry. I’ve got you!”

Someone to trust in.
Semper Fidelis