NearnessSample

During World War I, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, America’s most decorated fighter pilot, survived countless near-death experiences. It was during a 1942 mission in the Pacific that Psalm 91 became his lifeline. After his plane crashed, Rickenbacker and his crew drifted on rafts for 24 days. Facing sharks, starvation, and scorching sun, they clung to hope and to Scripture. Rickenbacker later credited Psalm 91 as a source of strength and protection during those harrowing weeks at sea.

Psalm 91 is often called the “Soldier’s Psalm” for good reason. It speaks of God’s protection not as a vague comfort, but as a fortress, a refuge, and a shield. It promises that those who dwell in God’s presence will find safety—not from all hardship, but from ultimate harm.

This doesn’t mean we won’t face danger. It does mean we’re never alone in it. As Psalm 91:11 (ESV) says: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.That promise echoes throughout Scripture.” In Isaiah 43:2 (ESV), God says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” And, in Romans 8:38-39 (ESV), Paul assures us that nothing“will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Even Jesus, in John 10:28 (ESV), declares, “no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Captain Rickenbacker’s survival wasn’t just a story of grit — it was a testimony of grace. Psalm 91 reminds us that no matter the storm, we are held by a God who shelters, shields, and stays.

Today, ponder this: What fear or uncertainty do you need to entrust to His protection today?