During the mask era, while I was playing on social media, I found this inspirational speech made by Navy Seal Admiral William H. McRaven during the 2014 University of Texas in Austin commencement.
Most of you are aware that the Navy Seals make up the tip of the spear for our military. Although I do not have the distinction of having trained with them, I have known a few and I can tell you they are some of the most tested, battle hardened, and confident men you will ever encounter.
Wouldn’t it be great to have similar confidence, spiritual fortitude, and faith like a seal has? I believe this is the faith described by Jesus in Matthew 17:20 and displayed by Peter as he steps from a boat of full of scared men out on to the waves of the lake in a storm expecting walk on water to his Lord.
I highly recommend you listen to the admiral’s speech. His 10 key points are very similar to a lot of Bible lessons.
1. Start off by making your bed. This may sound a little silly, but the premise is that if you complete something simple it can build a level of confidence. This confidence carries with you through the day as you attempt to overcome harder tasks. -This is a lot like little prayers before you start on a difficult task. Just like Nehemiah asking for direction, protection, and strength, I guarantee a short plea to God will be way easier to accomplish than anything else you do. And the knowledge that you have requested the assistance from God, the one entity that can make you overcome all obstacles is quite comforting. His will might not be for you to succeed every time, but by asking you have a better opportunity than not asking and it will bring you closer to the Lord.
2. Find someone to help you paddle – This is a lot like Hebrews 10:24-25: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works”.
3. Measure a person by the size of the heart, not the size of their flippers – This is a lot like Matthew 7:15-20 where Jesus says to measure a person by their fruits.
4. Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward. When the admiral failed in BUD/S training, he ended up wet and covered with sand or, as he referred to, as a sugar cookie. -Basically, sometimes no matter how hard you try you still fail. And even though you fail we must be like Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 “forgetting what lies behind” and “press on toward the goal”.
5. Don’t be afraid of the circuses. Circuses are the extra work that the would-be seals must do when they fail a test to build strength. – And like in James 1:2-4 these extra trials produce steadfastness and make you complete.
6. Sometimes you have to slide down an obstacle headfirst – basically you must use your personal skills to do things more efficiently. In Matthew 25:14-32 the 5 and 2 talent men illustrate this point.
7. Don’t back down from the sharks – This story exemplifies overcoming fear like Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous… for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.” Or Isaiah 41:1-20, which says, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you”
8. You must be your very best in the darkest moment- This lesson is similar to what Paul provides to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-16 “Fight the good fight of the faith”
9. Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud- Singing can help lighten a mood and strengthen your resolve. I believe this is why Psalm 96 teaches us to sing to Lord, daily.
10. Don’t ever, ever ring the bell. – Never give up. Look at the stories of Job, the apostles, and Jesus. All went through great adversity and never stopped praising God.
Although most of us will never be a navy seal, we can take the admiral’s stories along with what the Bible has taught us to do our part in changing the world and make us better Christians.
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