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OPINION: In the place of cancelled plans came worship, prayer, and friendship
When the offer arrived this spring, I initially dismissed the idea of going to Israel.
It was an extraordinary opportunity, especially for a young adult Christian like me who had never seen the Holy Land. But it came at an inopportune time, conflicting with my summer internship plans.
But through encouragement from my friends and a feeling God placed repeatedly on my heart, I said yes. And through missile shelters in the middle of the night, a Shabbat dinner, dips in the Dead Sea, and group worship sessions, I experienced God’s faithfulness during 10 unforgettable days.
The College Fix and Passages took a group of young writers to experience the Holy Land firsthand and hear from journalists, policy experts, and Israelis whose lives have been shaped by the region’s ongoing conflicts.
As a Christian, I expected the holy sites to have a profound emotional impact on me. While it was incredible to stand in the places described in scripture, the experience was more surreal than emotional. It was hard to grasp the reality that I was standing in the spots where Jesus Christ carried out his ministry.
The Sea of Galilee, where Jesus called his first disciples, was serene and peaceful. One of my favorite parts of the trip was looking out to the shore and reflecting on all that took place there. How Jesus walked on the water and called Peter out of the boat to join him, but when the wind came, Peter became afraid. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus replied.
That night at our hotel on the banks of the Galilee, the lesson of trusting God in uncertainty was put to the test. The tranquility of the area was shattered when, in the early morning hours, rocket fire from Hezbollah sent us to the missile shelter. After the all-clear, our amazing tour guide took the time to debrief with us, and we prayed together before returning to bed.
Experiencing that first alarm gave us not only a reminder of the realities of the conflicts in the region but also a glimpse into the Israeli people’s daily lives.
Hearing from multiple survivors of the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks, visiting the Nova Festival site, the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, and Mount Herzl Cemetery and the Memorial for Victims of Terror were all incredibly heavy experiences, but I was struck by how life continues for Israelis.
They pick up the broken pieces and dust themselves off, handling all of the blows thrown at them with remarkable resilience. And above all, they remain dedicated to their faith, their country, and their communities.
While we were in Jerusalem, our tour guide pointed out young children strolling down the Old City streets on their own. The sight made me wonder how a place so unpredictable could also have such a strong sense of community.
My first Shabbat dinner with a local family helped me to better understand it. I loved the sentiment of putting away distractions and taking time to rest. This was the first time on the trip we had the opportunity to slow down and reflect on God’s blessings. We sang the traditional Hebrew hymn “Shalom Aleichem” together, laughing when we couldn’t keep up with the beat.
On the last day, another barrage of missiles, this time from Iran, sent us back to the shelter three times in the early morning. Our scheduled travel for the day was cancelled, and we spent the day at our hotel in Jerusalem.
Although it wasn’t what we expected, the day turned out to be a blessing, starting with a spontaneous worship session followed by a time of reflection. And just like the Israelis, the conflict brought our group closer. We laughed, prayed, and sang — beginning the trip as strangers and leaving as friends, complete with inside jokes and memories that will last a lifetime.
My mind keeps returning to the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall, which we visited on our trip. It stands as a powerful symbol of God’s faithfulness to His people, a remnant of the retaining wall of the Second Temple where, for generations, sacrifices were offered for atonement and worship was given to God.
As a Christian, standing at the wall reminded me of the day when my Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice. At that moment, the temple veil was torn, symbolizing the sin that separates us from God being washed away. Centuries of prophecies fulfilled and promises kept — His faithfulness revealed yet again to me.
In the days following my return, this 1923 hymn played on repeat in my mind:
“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside… Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”
Being in the Holy Land gave me a greater understanding of God’s faithfulness, not just to me and not just now, but for thousands of years. It’s a lesson I will never forget.
