“My Unconquerable Soul” or “More”

by Bill Love

I remember being deeply moved back in 1995 by the toughness and dedication of the men and women trying to cope with the Oklahoma City bombing and pledging to rebuild their community and their lives. Closing a CNN broadcast, Bernard Shaw saw the triumph of the human spirit as the bottom line as he quoted from “Invictus,” by William Henley: “I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul!”

But is human strength the bottom line? Are we ready to say that the human soul individually or collectively is equal to such tragedies as happened in Oklahoma City and, so sadly, years later in New York City? How do families so unnecessarily losing husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and dear little children, bear such heart-wrenching grief and not just go insane? Could you handle it? Could I? Are we so sure we are “unconquerable”?

In the Old Testament we read of Job who lost everything, including his family. He and his friends debated his case. They agreed on the formula, “Good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people.” Job just insisted that the formula was not working in his case. To the end, he held his integrity and refused to make a false confession. All the way through he kept the faith, believing that God was somehow involved. The story ends with mixed reviews on Job. He was not unconquerable. He lost it all—his answers, his strength, his serenity, and finally, his theology. But he did keep a shred of faith. It is possible for a human being to “serve God for nothing,” without deals. But what about his suffering? The final mystery was not Job’s “unconquerable soul.” The final mystery was God.

On Golgotha we have life’s most profound statement about good and evil. God is crucified there. Not to show us the strength of our souls. Not to give us answers. But to go with us through the valley of the shadow and bring us through. The cross is not defeat! It is God defeating Satan. Jesus went into the deepest pit with us and cried out, “My God, my God—why have you forsaken me?” He overcame evil with good: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” He won our final hope: “It is finished.” “Into thy hands I commit my spirit.” The victory of the cross was completed in the resurrection. God wins!

The last word is not “my unconquerable soul.” The last word is that we are “more than conquerors through him who loved us.”