False Independence

The Tongan Castaways were six teenagers who decided to leave their boarding school and travel by boat to a faraway place, escaping the harsh environment they were living in. But because of youthful exuberance, they ended up stranded on an island far from home, with no food, no supplies, and no certainty of survival. They found themselves completely alone, forced to strive together just to stay alive.

Now imagine what it would be like being stranded with six people. Think about six friends going on holiday together, or even a family of six, and how misunderstandings, communication issues, and personality clashes can arise. Usually, conflict begins to grow when people are pushed to their limits.

Yet the Tongan Castaways were remarkable. They stood together, stayed loyal to one another, and helped each other through every difficulty. When one of them broke his foot, the others nursed him and took care of him. They remained disciplined, alert, and united, and because of this, they managed to survive. After 15 months, from June 1965 to September 1966, they were finally discovered by an Australian lobster fisherman, of all people. They were rescued and brought back home to the life they had longed for ever since becoming stranded on that island.

Today, especially because of the influence of Lord of the Flies, many people in the secular world assume that when groups of people are isolated together, betrayal, infighting, and chaos are inevitable. Even among Jesus and the twelve disciples, there was Judas. There always seems to be someone who breaks the unity and causes destruction.

But the story of the Tongan Castaways shows something different. Six teenagers had enough love, trust, and commitment toward one another to survive one of the harshest experiences imaginable. However, there is one part of the story that is often minimised: these boys came from Christian backgrounds and attended a Christian Anglican school. Even after escaping, they did not abandon their faith. Every night before bed, they prayed together, worshipped together, and sang songs they had learned growing up. They even made their own songs. Their faith helped sustain their morale. And who were they praying to? To the One they trusted. To the One they believed could deliver them.

Despite their strength, youthfulness, and ability to climb and gather resources on the island — which had once been inhabited by tribal people before they were taken away as slaves nearly a century earlier — the castaways understood that their survival was not ultimately rooted in themselves. Their faith and trust were anchored in something greater, something that required death to the flesh.

In the Bible, Second Epistle to the Corinthians chapter 1, verses 8–10, Paul describes his suffering and what kept him going through horrific trials:

“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.”

The part I really want to focus on is verse 9: “That we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.”

So often, humanity believes in self-sufficiency. Philosophers like Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau promoted ideas that man can govern himself through self-will and self-love. But what happens when everything we relied upon disappears? What happens when the safety nets fail — the finances, the connections, the knowledge, the experience?

Even the Tongan Castaways eventually lost hope of ever leaving that island. Yet it was precisely in that moment, when hope seemed extinguished, that an Australian lobster fisherman appeared and rescued them. As the Bible says, God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

Through that rescue, they came to understand that true trust cannot rest in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.

In my own life, I have seen how much trust I placed in myself — in my knowledge, my understanding, and the opinions of others. But when I followed the Lord, I began experiencing situations that revealed how weak the flesh truly is. The Bible says that the flesh is at enmity with God; it resists what God wants and seeks independence instead.

This traces all the way back to the Garden of Eden. The serpent deceived Eve into eating the fruit by tempting her with self-sufficiency. In that moment, she believed she no longer needed to depend on the word of the Lord. Adam followed in that same ignorance, and as a result humanity fell into sin and death.

But Jesus gave us the solution through the Gospel. He died on the cross for us and rose again on the third day, proving not only that His word is true, but that He has the power to save us from ourselves. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, but God gave us His Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

And who would not want to follow such a Lord?

I made that decision six years ago, and it was the best decision of my life. It brought me into a personal and intimate relationship with my Creator. Through many experiences, I came to know that no matter what happens, He is with me. He continues to deliver me, just as the scripture says: “In whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.”

I want to invite you to know Jesus for yourself.

If you are tired of carrying everything on your own, tired of pretending to be strong when you are afraid, tired of feeling hopeless and exhausted, then understand this: there comes a point where we realise we cannot truly save ourselves. We need help from Someone greater than ourselves, greater than our connections, our finances, or our abilities. Because what happens when all of those things disappear?

I want you to pray this prayer with me:

“Lord Jesus, I come to You as a sinner, and I humbly repent of my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, and I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I ask that Jesus come into my life and be my Lord and Saviour. I believe He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. Wash me with Your precious blood. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed that prayer sincerely, then you have entered into the wonderful family called the Church. I encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church and begin reading the Gospel of John.

As you walk this new path, you will discover that your trust no longer rests in yourself, but in God. And that is true confidence. As the Word says, “The fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and His children shall have a place of refuge.”

I am Michael Uzor, and this is Young People Please Calm Down. Like, comment, and let me know what you think of this article. Share it around as well, and I’ll see you in the next one.