Nick Vujicic Talks 'Unstoppable,' Overcoming Suicide and Joy of Married Life
Evangelist Nick Vujicic has traveled the world sharing his message of hope in God and overcoming difficulties – he was born without arms and legs. In his new book, Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action, he reveals how he has survived the most difficult periods of his life, and today been blessed with a joyful married life.
"I actually like this book a little bit better, because it's deeper and more transparent I think. I share about the depression I went through in 2010, and share that basically 'unstoppable' doesn't mean bullet proof. When you can't walk, God's going to carry you," Vujicic shared in a phone interview with The Christian Post.
His first book, Life Without Limits, also sponsored by his own nonprofit organization, Life Without Limbs, touches on the many hardships he has had to go through in life dealing with his rare condition. Unstoppable, however, also shares the story of how he met his wife, Kanae, with whom he is now expecting his first child.
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"With me, in my life, I know that there are people who can get encouraged to see how God can use a man without arms and legs to be his hands and feet, but I wanted people to know that I am not a superhero, it is not about me, or how well I speak or articulate – it is the Spirit of God. It is an active relationship with him," Vujicic told CP.
He shared that one of the things that inspired him to write a second book after his first one saw 750,000 copies translated into 30 different languages was the outpouring of letters and emails from people letting him know that they were about to commit suicide before they read the book.
Unstoppable dedicates several chapters to the negative effects of bullying, which can lead a person to suicide – the evangelist shares of an experience when he almost took his own life when he was 10 years old and couldn't see a future for himself.
"To be able to see even one person feel that there is no hope, yet there is hope, is really really cool. It is touching and it is honoring and it is humbling. It's different because it really helps me get into detail of how I was feeling, what was going on, what was before, what was after sort of thing," he said of the difference between writing a book and other forms of evangelism.
One of the main topics his book touches on is the importance of knowing and believing in God despite what one may be going through in life.
"The biggest temptation I believe is to feel comfortable, to feel like you've worked through all of that here on Earth, and are satisfied with this life," Vujicic says. "It's the feeling that he has everything he needs, and never has a sickness or disease in his life, or that grandchildren never have a car accident and everything goes well – you know, I feel sorry for him if he feels like he doesn't need God, because God is the giver of peace, God is the giver of hope, real hope, hope that overcomes things that money cannot give you, like overcoming guilt and shame and fear and lack of purpose."
The evangelist stressed that life isn't just about getting comfortable; it is about making a difference.
He continued, "When you come to the light of God, you realize just how much God has forgiven you of your sins, and you just have a passion to reach out to the world who don't realize that the only way to go to heaven and have eternal life, which is so much better than arms and legs for 90 years, or even being healed of cancer in this life, is to actually know that you are going to live forever and ever and ever.
"God has the ability to heal you of cancer, but if He doesn't heal you of cancer, He is still going to use that circumstance to bring someone to the knowledge of the hope of Jesus Christ that we can find. And if being born without arms and legs helps bring one more soul to heaven, then it's all worth it. It's not by my power, it's by God's Spirit."
Several chapters of Unstoppable are focused on various cases of religious persecution and human rights abuses currently going on in the world, and Vujicic's experience talking with different people trying to make a difference in the lives of the persecuted and those in need.
The evangelist noted that there are many different religions out there all trying to claim more adherents, but Christians are special because of the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
"Always be ready to share why you believe what you believe. But always do it in love and in respect. I think 'Jesus' is the most offensive word in anyone's life. When we mention Jesus, he is the only one who says 'I am God. I am holy. I am the only way to a truthful life,'" Vujicic said.
"No one – not Mohammad, not Buddha, not anyone says that they were holy, not anyone says that they were God, not anyone says that they faced the devil face to face and won. Not anyone says that they are going to die for the sins of the world, and only perfection is expected in heaven, which makes more sense to me because how good is good and how bad is bad before someone doesn't go to heaven or goes to heaven?"
Vujicic noted that there are many big issues afflicting the Christian Church today, and he believes that in the next 10 years Christians will be called on to to show what they truly believe.
"In the next 10 years we will see who knows the Word of God, and who is playing church. There will be a weaning of a people who will not know how to answer. There is going to be a weaning of a people who know their Lord and Savior – and that's why I want not only to evangelize to people, but I want to see people properly disciple in their churches for when the day comes – for the day is coming soon," Vujicic added.
"There will be a real understanding of who knows God on an active relationship and who is really playing church."
Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action, published by WaterBrook Press, will be available for purchase online and in bookstores starting Oct. 2.
