Years ago, I was in a Sunday school class discussing the topic of fear. A friend, who is a Naval Helicopter Pilot, shared about a recent deployment. He told the class that night missions, particularly those when there is no moon to see by, can be scary. They take off and land from the deck of an aircraft carrier that is rolling beneath open ocean waves. My friend said he doesn’t like to fly with other pilots who don’t have some measure of fear. All senses are required for this type of operation, and any measure of arrogance can cost you your life.

That recent deployment was particularly tough, as his wife was home pregnant with their first child. He shared that in the hours leading up to a night flight, he turned again and again to God. He had to trust. He found himself praying Psalm 139:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up... Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you...

There are moments in each of our lives when there is nowhere else to turn. In such a time as that, Psalm 139 is a good one to pray. It is a reminder of God’s presence, strength, and mercy.

I wonder what resources you have at your fingertips. I wonder if you have a psalm or prayer, or passage that you turn to. Perhaps there is one that you would like to memorize as a resource today.

Let us pray: We thank you, Loving God, that you have promised to be with us—even through the valley of the shadow of death. We thank you for women and men, like my friend, who risk their lives for the protection of others. We entrust them to your care and ask you to watch over them, and their families. We long with them for the day when wars will cease and your peace will reign. Reign now in hearts, that amid our fears and struggles your peace would settle in us—and work through us. Amen.