FLYING

Lucas Quek
Mar 29
4 min read

Tomahawks fly. On 28 February 2026, people in Singapore woke up to news of conflict in the Middle East (thousands of miles away from home). Perhaps because of its distance, it might not have felt “real” at the time. Nonetheless, report after report came in of missiles and drones striking targets on all sides of the battlefield – the world had entered another war, another time.

Trouble flies. Coincidentally, these missiles flying seemed to echo the struggles brewing on the work front. Since the end of last year, things have become increasingly difficult at the workplace. Gone were the days of clarity and certainty – these had been replaced by instability and concern about what might happen next.

The author flies. Against this backdrop of “Tomahawks” and “Trouble” flying, I was due to head to Europe for a business trip.

On the security front, normally the flight path would be passing close to the conflict areas

It was hard to feel at ease with all the news of missiles and drones in the area, civilian buildings being targeted, individual lives being lost.
Note to self: watching the movie “Top Gun: Maverick” (with all the conflict, bombs and missiles) on the plane was probably a bad idea.

On the work front, what was already an uneasy trip (being away from home for an extended period in quick succession) was made even more so

It was hard to feel enthusiastic in anticipation of the trip with the global instability and concern overshadowing.
Instead, it felt very much like heading into the heat of the battle.

Time flies. All these took place 4 weeks ago.

Since then, the world has been sent on a roller-coaster ride – all aspects of life have been impacted from food prices to work-from-home mandates. Business has likewise had its ups and downs. The news seem to have been unceasingly worrying and concerning; the outcomes of more efforts from all parties seem to be yielding little-to-no results.

Perhaps you may have offered up prayers for peace and stability – and yet the ongoing conflict seems as incessant as the previous day. Perhaps you (or your loved ones) may be bearing the impact of various troubles in a direct or indirect manner. Perhaps you might have questioned the meaning of all these happenings – and why God might allow people to go through these difficulties and situations.

Taking flight. A reminder from scripture.

I’m reminded of Isaiah’s prophecy of the Babylonian captivity in Isaiah 39:7. Putting myself in the shoes of the Israelites back in those times, I can imagine the dread of the calamity about to befall me and my countrymen, God’s people:

Taken away from the Promised Land (which God promised since Genesis 12)
The palace and temple which Solomon had built being destroyed My lifestyle, identity, and culture being removed / changed

And yet, immediately following in the next chapter, Isaiah pens great words of comfort that God has revealed to him.

God reminds His people that:

He is mighty and rules with a strong arm (v10)
He feeds His flock like a shepherd, and gathers (V11)
He knows the entirety of His creation (v12)
He is incomparable (v13-18, 25)
He is in control (v21-24)

Isaiah closes this chapter with the following words:

Isaiah 40:28-31 (KJV)

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

As God’s people today, we can draw the same comfort and be renewed by these words – just as those in the Old Testament did.

No matter how calamitous the circumstances we find ourselves in, it is not forever. We’ll fly away to rest in the Lord- which is forever (Psalm 90:10)
Instead of fainting and be weary, wait upon the Lord – place our hope and trust in Him (Philippians 4:6-7).
We can run this Christian race and not be weary, we can walk the strait and narrow and not faint, by keeping our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2-3).

Isaiah chapter 40 reminds God’s people that our focus should not be on the temporary calamities and disturbances we find ourselves in, but rather on the eternal and powerful God who controls all things, even the rise and fall of kingdoms. Or as the psalmist puts it, “flee as a bird to your mountain” (Psalm 11:1)

Flee as a bird (Hymn 151)

Flee as a bird to your mountain

Thou who art weary of sin

Go to the clear flowing fountain

Where you may wash and be clean

Fly, for the avenger is near thee

Call and the Savior will hear thee

He on His bosom will bear thee

Thou who art weary of sin

Oh, thou who art weary of sin

He will protect me forever

Wipe every falling tear

He will forsake me, oh, never

Sheltered so tenderly there

Haste now, the hours are flying

Spend not your moments in sighing

Cease from your sorrow and crying

The Savior will wipe every tear

As birds going through the storms, whether it comes in the form of sin (ours or others’), or the calamity and turbulence of life’s struggles, have a strong refuge to flee to.

It is God who cleanses and washes us clean, He who protects, He who wipes every falling tear, He who will not leave nor forsake us. We should take great comfort in Him!

One day, we shall indeed mount up with wings like eagles – when we will finally be at rest with God and away from this world and its troubles.