April 7, 2026
by Stephen T. Messenger
In an Easter miracle this Sunday, the U.S. military rescued its downed Air Force officer shot down over Iran. For around 48 hours, a weapons systems officer serving as the back-seater in an F-15 Strike Eagle fighter was reported missing by the military, and the nation was praying this service member would be found alive and brought home. Frankly, it wasn’t looking good.
Yet in an amazing comeback story, reports of the officer’s rescue graced the headlines on Easter Sunday. I can’t imagine what this airman was going through, evading Iranian hunting parties seeking the bounty put out by their government. What I do know is that the experience was traumatic, terrifying, and potentially deadly. Moreover, I know that this officer never gave up hope.
There’s a reason why we should never quit, even when all seems lost. It’s a great reminder that no matter how dire the situation is, optimism, hope, and endurance always give us a chance to win the day.
Hours in Hell
The details of the downed U.S. officer’s harrowing experience are still forthcoming, and eventually, we’ll know the whole story. What we think we know is that on Good Friday, an F-15 Eagle crew of two ejected over Iranian airspace. One was quickly rescued while the other was reported missing by the news media.
From Friday to Sunday, the weapons systems officer, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, was separated from the pilot after ejecting into the mountainous terrain behind enemy lines. Trained in survival, evasion, resistance, and escape techniques, the colonel hid in the craggy mountains to avoid being found by Iranian forces.
This airman was badly injured, and it must have been hard to keep fighting. After all, the officer was alone, and while knowing the U.S. military was conducting a full-scale search, the officer didn’t know the full extent of the resources put into the rescue.
Eventually, this service member scaled a ridgeline 7,000 feet above sea level carrying a simple pistol, radio, and tracking beacon. Hundreds of U.S. operatives worked to find, locate, and rescue the downed officer, and after a bombing run, commandos found and brought our hero home.
There is no way this would have happened if the weapons systems officer had given up hope. It’s a reminder that we have to stay in the game, even when all seems lost. If there’s even a chance of success, giving our all and fighting until the bitter end is an imperative. We owe it to those around us, much like the Air Force officer owed it to his nation and family. And it paid off.
This rescue was a high-stakes reality, something we as a nation have to get right, and we did. In another example that is not nearly as dangerous, but perhaps something more understandable to this “never quit” mentality, is the low-stakes entertainment that we see every week in our homes.
Survivor: Fighting for Immunity
One of my favorite TV shows is Survivor, a reality contest where 18 or so people are put on an island to vote each other off. This year is the 50th season, and if you’ve watched the show regularly, you know the host, Jeff Probst, has a few recurring phrases in every episode. My favorite is, “This is why you never quit.”
Every three days, there’s an “immunity challenge” where teams or individuals compete against each other to earn an immunity idol, keeping them safe from being voted off that night. Some are endurance challenges where contestants balance their bodies in an uncomfortable position for hours, with the last person standing declared the winner. Team challenges usually consist of physical obstacles like swimming, diving, digging, or crawling through mud and end with a puzzle of some kind. Teams need both brawn and brains to win.
Invariably, in every challenge, one team is far behind but can make up time based on the strengths of the team members. As they demonstrate these routine and epic comebacks, this is the point where Jeff Probst yells, “This is why you never quit.”
He’s right. It’s only over if the person competing says it’s over. If they don’t quit, there’s always a chance. I don’t know if the downed weapons systems officer watches the show, but he certainly had the “Survivor” mentality. He was able to take a hit and get back up.
Rocky Balboa and Punishment
While the Rocky franchise started decades ago, its message remains timeless. Rocky Balboa was an amateur boxer from Philadelphia. Apollo Creed, the current champion, selected Rocky to compete against him in a televised fight. This was the preeminent underdog and comeback story of sports for decades. This young, untested fighter had a chance to compete and win against the best the world had to offer.
Well, it didn’t go well at the beginning. In fact, in each of the franchise movies, Rocky always takes a beating in the ring and is on the edge of disaster. This five-foot-nine-inch actor cycles through fighting people vastly larger: heavyweight champions, Hulk Hogan, a Soviet giant, and Mr. T. Each time, he’s rolling on the mat with blood pouring from his face.
And each time, he gets back up. He lives the message he imparts to his son in the 2006 Rocky Balboa movie: “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that.”
To echo the downed Air Force officer’s situation and Jeff Probst’s encouragement, yes, we’re going to get hit, find ourselves behind, and be in trouble. But we can never quit.
Easter Sunday
I find it amazing that the downed aircraft incident happened on Good Friday and the rescue was on Sunday. I woke up to the news on Easter that Jesus is risen, along with the downed officer being pulled from the depths of hiding into U.S. protection. These are two powerful stories demonstrating that even when all seems lost, it doesn’t mean that’s true.
Jesus was crucified on the cross by the Romans at the desire of the Jewish people. He died on that hill, and all seemed lost. His disciples deserted Him and went into hiding. The One who was to save the world was dead.
But on Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the grave and conquered death. He was so much more than a rescued pilot, a losing contestant, or a beaten boxer. He made the ultimate comeback story to prove that no matter how dire it seems, even when faced with death, hope springs eternal.
“We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
We must never give up, never quit, and never feel abandoned. Jesus’ story demonstrates that no matter how lost we are, there is always hope in Christ.
The Rescue
Last weekend, I, along with the nation, was praying for the rescue of the downed Air Force officer. I am so grateful that when one of our service members goes missing behind enemy lines, the United States will move heaven and earth to find this person. It’s one of the great strengths of our military.
However, both sides of the rescue need to fight until the bitter end and maintain a mentality to never stop trying, even when things seem hopeless. We’ll probably never be competing in a Survivor challenge, lying on the boxing ring mat, or injured behind enemy lines. But we will be behind in a project, late on an assignment, struggling with our children, or navigating the quiet, personal battles that no one else sees.
The stories of Jesus and the downed weapons systems officer are “resurrections of hope.” The first is a spiritual one, and the second is a military one. Both are Easter miracles this year. In times of whatever trial we’re facing, the words of the American Air Force officer, Jeff Probst, Rocky, and Jesus all need to echo in our heads.
It’s never over, and this is why we never quit.
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