BOOK REVIEWS
A WARRIOR ’ S FAITH
Robert Vera , Thomas Nelson , Nashville , Tennessee , 2015 , 240 pages
A
Warrior ’ s Faith is a biography of the incredible life of Ryan Job . It describes in detail Job ’ s training to become a Navy SEAL and his service in Iraq until the tragic day when he was wounded by an enemy sniper . The book tells of his long road to recovery and , more important , how he faced his challenges . It describes the struggles of this wounded veteran , and how his personal relationships and enduring faith in God inspired many , including author Robert Vera , his close friend .
Vera compares Ryan Job ’ s life to that of the biblical character Job . They both endured great loss and suffering but never allowed themselves to be seen as a victim . In fact , Job ’ s struggle increased his faith and transformed his life in an incredible way . Vera goes into detail to explain how Job affected everyone around him with his spirit to live and his commitment to others . Despite his injuries , which included total blindness , Job climbed Mount Rainer , hunted elk , graduated college with honors , and married the girl of his dreams . A behind-the-scenes message of the book is how Job ’ s life and friendship also transformed Vera ’ s life .
Before Vera met Job , he felt as if his life was drifting . Vera left a successful twenty-year banking career and moved to Arizona . He took a complete leap of faith and decided to start an endurance training company . He wanted to affect people ’ s lives and thought that helping them prepare for triathlons and other personal goals was a good way to start . Job and his wife had moved from San Diego to Arizona because a nonprofit group offered them a free apartment while Job completed his undergraduate degree and his wife attended a nurse anesthesiology program . Coincidentally ( or not coincidentally ), Vera met Job by way of an old friend from his hometown in Boston . This friend asked Vera to train his younger brother , Sean , who had recently left the Navy . As it turned out , Sean attended SEAL training with Job five years earlier and they were great friends . The three got together , and Vera and Job became fast friends . After a short time , Job asked Vera if he would help him train for his upcoming opportunity to climb Mount Rainer , and it marked the beginning of their journey together .
Vera believed he was able to witness God at work through Job ’ s life . He witnessed how the most unlikely circumstances brought the two together , and how both were able to find purpose and strength through their relationship and their relationship with the Lord . Vera ’ s life-long prayer had been that God would provide him a sign that he was on the right path , doing God ’ s will ; Job was God ’ s answer to that prayer .
The book encourages the reader to believe that things happen for a reason . Vera repeatedly states that he does not believe in coincidences — they are simply God ’ s way of working inconspicuously . The message is to have faith : ruthless faith , Job-like faith , faith so complete it transforms your life from ordinary to extraordinary , faith that allows you to press on with the certainty that you are never alone in your struggles . You may suffer great loss , as did Job of the Bible and Ryan Job , but the way you choose to respond can transform your life and the lives of others around you . Two of the lessons Vera learned from Job ’ s life are “ No matter how bad life gets , you are never , ever out of the fight ,” and “ Make God your priority and everything else will fall into place .” Lt . Col . Robert B . Haines , U . S . Army , Retired , Fort Leavenworth , Kansas
MILITARY REVIEW November-December 2016 127