The day started like any other with evacuations, but this time it was just me and our chaplain—and a major language barrier. As we drove toward a hot zone, anxiety started to build. About 20 minutes out, we stopped to gear up. Our Chaplin showed me drone footage from a recent strike in the area we were headed to, and my nerves got worse.

Then suddenly, it all changed. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. Just 10 seconds later, one of my teammates texted me: “Praying for you today, hope everything goes well.” What she didn’t know was how much I needed that prayer. She had prayed for peace, and God answered in real-time. The fear lifted, and soon our Chaplin and I were singing worship songs—right in the hot zone.

While waiting for an evac to load, a drone popped up on our scanner. Normally that would rattle me, but this time I had peace, knowing God was with us. On the way out, we passed the debris from the drone strike.

What my teammate didn’t know was that the past few days had been tough. The rest of the team had taken a short break, and I felt left out and discouraged—convincing myself they didn’t care. But God knew. I had prayed for clarity, and through that mission and her prayer, He showed me I was not forgotten. I was reminded that my team cares, that prayer is powerful, and that God is always present—even when we doubt.

Her words stuck with me: “God’s got you, Remember that. This is a new reminder.” And it was. A reminder that God wants our full trust, not just when it’s easy, but always. Like Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and of a good courage… for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”