May 8 – When You Feel Alone

 Psalm 139:7-10

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." (NIV)

SITREP:
Have you ever found yourself so far from the familiar—whether geographically, emotionally, or spiritually—that you wondered if God could even reach you there? Psalm 139:7-10 hits at the heart of that fear: no matter how far you go, no matter how deep the darkness, God's hand never lets you out of His grasp.

Breaking Down the Verse:

• "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" — There is no hiding, no distance, no mission so far-flung that God's presence can’t reach you.
• "If I go up to the heavens, you are there;" — At the heights of success or moments of soaring strength, God is fully present.
• "if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." — In the lowest, darkest moments, when you feel buried by life or guilt, God is still with you.
• "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea," — Distance, time, geography—none of it separates you from His presence.
• "even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." — Wherever you are, His guidance and His grip are unbreakable.

David wrote this psalm with the understanding that God’s omnipresence isn’t a theological theory—it’s a battle-tested reality. Whether in glory or in desperation, God’s presence holds steady.

The Ground Truth for Soldiers in This Verse:
Every warrior knows what it feels like to be far from home, operating deep behind enemy lines, feeling isolated from the world you once knew. Psalm 139:7-10 delivers the critical reminder that no battlefield, no exile, no emotional low is too distant for God's reach.

For combat veterans, this truth cuts through the fog of loneliness, regret, or transition. You might feel worlds away from where you started—geographically, spiritually, emotionally—but you have never been out of God's sight. You have never been beyond His reach.

God’s guidance isn’t limited by your mistakes, your fears, or your geography. His right hand holds you fast even when you can barely hold yourself together. His presence goes before you, surrounds you, and carries you.

You don’t need to navigate by guesswork. You’re not walking blind through enemy territory. You’re being guided by the steady, sovereign hand of your Commander, every step, every breath, every mile.

ENDEX:
No place is too far for your God. Soldier, whether you’re riding high or crawling through the dust, His hand is on you. You cannot outdistance His presence. You cannot outrun His grace. March boldly, not because the terrain is easy, but because the One who holds you fast never loses His grip. Your mission may take you to the edge of yourself—but you will find that even there, your Commander stands waiting, guiding, and sustaining you.

AAR (After Action Review):
Distance doesn’t intimidate God, and darkness doesn’t disorient Him. Psalm 139:7-10 reminds every warrior that you are never truly alone. His Spirit fills the spaces you fear are empty. His hand grips you even when your own strength fails. Whether on familiar ground or foreign soil, whether in moments of triumph or collapse, God's presence is steadfast. Rest in the truth that no matter where the mission leads, His hand holds you fast—and it always will.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.