Spiritual Direction: Invoking Your Inner Churchill In Your Hour of Need

Ukraine’s president summoned the spirit of Winston Churchill during a historic address to the House of Commons and vowed to fight on. Just like Churchill rallied his people to stand alone against the blitz of the Nazi power, Zelensky is leading his nation standing along up against huge odds to defend his nation against the biggest bully on the face of the earth today. 

Zelensky told the enthusiastic members of Parliament, “We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets,” said Zelensky, whose country was invaded by Russia on Feb. 24 and continues to be bombed and shot at by encroaching Russian troops. “We are looking for your help.”

Zelensky also cited Shakespeare while saying his country was fighting a war for its very existence.“The question for us now is, to be or not to be?” he said. “I can give you a definitive answer — it’s definitely, ‘Yes. To be.’”

Zelensky's address was via video conferencing and not in person because just like Churchill did eighty-two years before, he would not leave his nation at its time of greatest need.  Leaders do not do such things, both Church and Zelensky understand that fact.  They put their country ahead of themselves and the country’s safety ahead of their own personal safety. 

This could easily be seen in his speech where Volodymyr Zelensky likened his country’s struggle to Britain’s experience battling Nazism during the Second World War. 

The president spoke to the House of Commons over a video link from the base in Kyiv he is using to coordinate Ukraine’s resistance to Vladimir Putin’s illegal war.  Note the fact that he could get his message out, the fact that Uk’s parliament was listening was a moral victory.  However, Zelensky is not worried about a moral victory.  He has the passion, the fight, and the determination to carry a total victory over Russia before giving up on his country’s independence.

He told parliament: ‘We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost. We will fight in the forests, the fields, the shores, and in the streets.’

As President Zelensky is literally invoking his inner Churchill in his role of trying to defend his country it is only proper to compare him to both the near past and the distant past on his leadership style and how similar people have pulled off a miracle with God’s help.  Pray for Ukraine and pray for President Zelensky.  He did not ask for this war, but he will not cower down and back away from it either. He is truly a leader that comes around only once or twice a century.  A politician who knows what it means to fight for his people, not in the halls of congress or the smoky backrooms of political kingmakers. He knows what trench warfare actually is because instead of fighting his political enemies in the media, he is fighting Russians on the streets of Kyiv.  He is the real deal, he is a leader at the right time and more importantly, for Ukraine, he is a leader at the right place. 

It is self-evident that Zelensky realizes the position he has been thrust into.  Unlike many in his country, he does not appear to mind raising his voice for a people without a voice.  He does not mind at all, actually, he relishes it.  It reminds me of a story in the Old Testament about another famous fighter.  Isn’t it funny that here you have a person who is taking their lead for a script straight out of the Holy Bible?  

Zechariah 10:5-12

5 they will be like warriors trampling the dirt of the streets in battle; when they fight because Yahweh is with them, they will put mounted men to rout.

6 Then I shall make the House of Judah mighty and the House of Joseph victorious. I shall restore them, because I have taken pity on them, and they will be as though I had never cast them off, for I am Yahweh their God and shall answer their prayer.

7 Ephraim will be like a warrior. Their hearts will be cheered as though by wine. Their children will see this and rejoice, their hearts will exult in Yahweh.

8 I shall whistle to them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them; they will be as numerous as they used to be.

9 I shall scatter them among the peoples but in distant countries, they will remember me, they will instruct their children and then return.

10 I shall bring them home from Egypt and gather them back from Assyria; I shall lead them into Gilead and Lebanon, and even that will not be large enough for them.

11 They will cross the sea of Egypt (and the waves of the sea will be struck); all the depths of the River will be dried up. The arrogance of Assyria will be cast down and the scepter of Egypt taken away.

12 I shall make them mighty in Yahweh, and they will march in my name -- Yahweh declares.

In the end, Ukraine is very lucky to have a leader like Zelensky. Take a look for yourself.  View the videos, make the comparisons and see if Zelensky is not made in the mold of Churchill.  God knows we needed Churchill in 1940 and God knows we need Zelensky in 2022.  Amen