I recently re-watched the action movie Captain Marvel and found this gem of a spiritual lesson:
Due to a jet-plane crash and the resulting explosion, US Air Force Pilot Carol Danvers absorbs super-human powers. These powers enable her to fly, shoot photon blasts from her hands, and to be mostly indestructible.
But she does not know she has these powers until the final conflict of the film. She is fighting the Kree military, who she thought were her teammates, but were actually her kidnappers and captors. As she fights to escape the force field that restrains her, the supreme leader of the Kree race taunts her with lies.
Kree Leader: “We found you. Embraced you as our own.”
Carol Danvers: “You stole me from my home, my family, my friends.”
Kree Leader: “But remember, without us you’re weak. You’re flawed. Helpless. We saved you.
Without us, you’re only human.”
Carol Danvers: “You’re right. I’m only human.”
This statement from the main character, Carol, is said sarcastically.
And at this point, the movie shows a montage of memories from Carol’s childhood, young adulthood, and military basic training.
Baseball Teammate: “Give it up, Carol! This ain’t a game for little girls.”
“You’re too emotional and too weak.”
Playground Bully: (After being roughed up and pushed to the ground by the bully.
“Stay down!”
Air Force Cadet: “You don’t belong out here. They’ll never let you fly.”
Air Force Officer: (After she falls from the top of a very tall, wooden climbing wall.)
“Are you trying to kill yourself?”
“You won’t last a week, Danvers.”
Whatever lies they used to discourage her into giving up, they couldn’t take away her God-given ability to get up and try again. They couldn’t take away her hopeful expectation.
This truth empowers me to reject situations that would try to deceive me into thinking I am anything less than a child of God--with an eternal future containing His fulfilled promises for me.
And each time she stood up again, she stood taller and stronger. She had a greater sense of who God made her to be. She was more determined to try again and succeed.
I get goosebumps every time I watch this part of the movie. And I thought, what could make a person be that resilient? I found my answer in Isaiah 53:
Isaiah 53:2,3 NLT:
“My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to Him.
...He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows and acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”
Isaiah: 53:7 NLT
“He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.”
These verses help me remember that Jesus faced tremendous adversity and rejection, through-out his entire life, not just at the end.
Isaiah 53:10,11 NLT
“But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him, and cause Him grief…And because of His experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for He will bear all their sins.”
As I read further, I am reminded how He sacrificed Himself to give all people, including me, His resurrection life, to last us every day of our lives. I realize this gift of resurrection life from Christ is what enables me to stand up again in the face of adversity. I get right back up after a fall, to keep following Him and His example of a resilient life! I want to continue on the teachable path where Christ is leading me!
Philippians 3:10,11 TPT
“And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of His resurrection working in me. I will be one with Him in His sufferings and become like Him in His death. Only then will I be able to experience complete oneness with Him in His resurrection from the realm of death.”
My battles are already won! I will still experience difficult times, but I can be comforted in His assurance that He will be with me through all of my trials and tribulations. And He will protect me so that I will ultimately live with Him in His eternal Kingdom!
Christ and His resilient life-example is my hope and my salvation! I will continue to stand back up again to follow Him. Will you join me?
About the Author
Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”
