What does it look like to follow God… when everything in your life is falling apart? In this powerful Memorial Day episode and tribute, Dr. Zach Clinton sits down backstage at the most recent Ignite Men’s Impact Weekend with Green Beret veteran, Purple Heart recipient, Silver & Bronze Star Medalist, and warrior, John Wayne Walding, a man whose life is a living testimony of faith, courage, and resilience under fire. John Wayne served 12 years in the U.S. Army, including 7 years in the elite 3rd Special Forces Group. During the Battle of Shok Valley on April 6, 2008, he was struck by sniper fire that nearly severed his leg. In a moment that defines both grit and resolve, he applied a tourniquet and kept fighting alongside his team for hours. But this story isn’t just about what happened on the battlefield. It’s about what happened after. John Wayne opens up about the long road of recovery, becoming a below-the-knee amputee, and the internal battles many don’t see: mental health struggles, challenges in marriage, and the quiet weight that so many men carry but rarely talk about. Throughout it all, one truth stands out: faith is not tested in comfort; it’s revealed in the fire. We talk about what it means to trust God in suffering, to ask for strength instead of an easier life, and how pain, when surrendered, can become a tool for growth rather than an excuse for passivity. This conversation is also a direct challenge to men: to reject passivity, to embrace responsibility, to live with courage, humility, and intentionality, and to understand that real strength includes the willingness to be vulnerable and ask for help. John Wayne’s life reminds us that being a godly man isn’t about perfection…it’s about perseverance, surrender, and service. If you’re walking through pain, feeling stuck, or tempted to check out, this episode will meet you there… and call you forward.

Links:
Visit John Wayne’s Website: https://www.johnwaynewalding.com/
Watch John Wayne on The Resilient Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbnSPU-NVTg
Book John Wayne to Speak: https://www.gdaspeakers.com/speaker/john-wayne-walding/
Struggling with your Suffering? Find Clinically Excellent, Distinctively Christian Help, Hope, & Healing Today: https://christiancareconnect.com/