God,

I’m preparing to head out on a long journey, and as I have always done, I just want to take a moment to place it all in your hands. Travel tends to come with unknowns. There are things I can’t control, and there are things I won’t see coming, but I don’t want to carry that weight alone. You are my protector, my peace, and the one who goes before me. So I’m asking you now, God — please watch over me, please guide me, and please keep me safe. 

Go ahead of me, God. Clear the road. Steady the plane. Keep every driver alert, every pilot focused, every moment covered by your care. I pray for safety in the big things — I pray for no accidents, I pray for no delays, I pray for no trouble along the journey, but I also pray for protection in the small things, in the things only you could safeguard me from or see coming. 

And God, if I start to feel anxious — please just remind me that I am never truly traveling alone. You are with me through every mile. You are with me during every turn. You are with me in every waiting period. If fear manages to creep into my mind, if the whispers of the external world and the media manage to crack panic into my thoughts, replace it with peace. If something unexpected happens, help me to trust that you are still in control. When I feel uneasy in unfamiliar places, be my steady ground. 

But also, God — I don’t just want to get from point A to point B. I want to be present in the journey. Help me to refrain from rushing through this trip so much that I miss what you have planned for me along the way. Maybe it’s a quiet moment to reflect. Maybe it’s a stranger who needs kindness. Maybe it’s just the simple joy of seeing more of this world you created for me to discover. Whatever it is, don’t let me miss it. Don’t let me be too scared to open my eyes. 

I also lift up my loved ones to you, God. Whether they’re traveling, too, or waiting for me to arrive. Keep them safe, ease their worries, and bring us back together with grateful hearts.

Thank you for always watching over me, God. Thank you for always going before me. Thank you for always bringing me exactly where I need to be. I trust you, God. I release my worries into your hands, and I ask for a safe and peaceful journey in your name. 

Amen.