In this week’s episode of Geek Devotions, Dallas takes a look at the story of “The Last Samurai Standing.” It was an action packed story that grabbed Dallas’ attention from the start as it navigated various emotions and motivations. But one character stood out to Dallas in this series, a young lady who felt like a burden. Today on Geek Devotions we are talking about that very familiar emotion and what we can do to help those who are dealing with it. Check out the full video below or read the blog.

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If you have been around Geek Devotions long enough, you know that I have a special love for samurais, ninjas, and Japanese culture. Recently, while walking through Barnes & Noble, I stumbled upon a book titled The Last Samurai Standing. After reading it and realizing it had a live-action adaptation on Netflix, I knew I had to watch it.

While the show is different from the manga, it is really good. But around episode five, a specific moment hit me in a special way, and I knew I had to talk about it with you guys today.

The Story of Futaba

To give you a quick overview without too many spoilers: the story takes place ten years after the samurai class has been disbanded. A tournament is held, a “Battle Royale” or “Squid Game” style fight, where the prize is enough income for ten years of food. The main character, a former samurai, enters to provide for his family but ends up protecting a young girl named Futaba.

Futaba is naive but driven. She is trying to win the money to save a group of orphans back home who are sick. However, she isn’t a trained warrior. She lacks the skills to fight in this tournament, and as they travel, she begins to feel like a burden to her companions. She feels like she isn’t good for anybody.

In episode five, while she is training desperately to stop being a burden, an older character approaches her. She tells Futaba, “Yeah, you’re weak… but there’s coming a time where you’re going to find the power and the strength that you need”.

This woman saw something special in Futaba. She looked past the current weakness and called out the potential inside of her.

The Gideon Moment

We all need someone to do that for us. This scene reminded me of the story of Gideon in Judges chapters 6 through 8.

If you aren’t familiar with the story, Gideon is a man hiding from his enemies. He is acting like a coward, feeling like he can’t do anything. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord shows up and calls him a “Mighty Warrior”. It trips him out because his reality (hiding in a jar) doesn’t match that title.

But the Lord saw something greater in him. There was something inside Gideon that needed to come out, but he needed patience and trust to step into that role.

Which One Are You?

In life, we often find ourselves in one of two positions.

1. The Encourager There are people in your life right now, in your workplace, schools, or community, who are struggling. They feel lost, weak, and like a burden. These individuals are waiting for someone to step in, look past the external mess, and see the internal work God is doing. They NEED YOU to be the spark that helps them take their first step.

2. The “Burden” Maybe you are the one feeling weak right now. Maybe you feel like you have nothing left in the tank and that you are just inadequate. As Celeste discussed in our previous episode regarding Predator: Badlands, it is okay to admit you are weak and need help.

However, being weak doesn’t mean you stop moving. Futaba felt like a burden, but she never stopped striving because she had a purpose, helping those orphans.

You Are A Mighty Warrior

If you are reading this and feeling like a burden to society, or that nobody cares, please know that is a lie. There is a purpose for your life.

The world may have told you for too long that you are worthless or that your efforts are pointless, but God has given you something special. Don’t give up. Hold on to hope. Trust that God is stirring something inside of you to make you the person you were called to be.

You will make it, you Mighty Warrior.