Lost in the Jungle: How a Chapter of Psalms Saved My Life in Honduras

A number of years ago, Nir Playa was trekking through the dense jungles of Honduras when he experienced a life-saving miracle, thanks to a single chapter of Tehillim (Psalms).

In a moving post he later shared on social media, Nir described the experience in his own words: "Yesterday I went hiking in the jungle of the Moskitia region, a wild, untouched area like the Amazon, home to black pumas and exotic birds of paradise I had never seen before. Parrots and dazzling birds filled the skies. I followed a marked path up to the summit of one of the mountains, but when I reached the top, I made the mistake of wandering off the trail for a few moments to explore the area around me."

That mistake nearly cost him his life. Without realizing it, Nir began descending down the wrong side of the mountain. As evening fell and the rain poured, he suddenly realized he had lost his way.

"It felt like sheer terror," he recalled. "The further I descended, thinking I was heading back to the village I had left earlier, the deeper I wandered into a tangled valley with no way out."

His clothes were drenched, and panic set in. "It was like being a bird suddenly locked in a cage. The jungle swallowed me whole. I tried to climb back, but massive trees, mud, and snakes convinced me I was trapped. Fear overwhelmed me. Wild animal cries echoed in the distance. I screamed for help, but no one was there — only monkeys and dense trees. I knew I was completely lost."

"I Never Stopped Believing the Rescue Would Come"

Although not a religious man, Nir suddenly found himself lifting his eyes upward. "I began saying ‘Shema Yisrael’ again and again, and I felt protected. Still, the fear grew as I realized I might be wandering into places no human had ever set foot. The jungle was endless, and I knew my greatest danger wasn’t the pumas or jaguars — it was the fact that I had lost my way and wouldn’t survive more than a few days."

Even in the impossible, something shifted. Nir recalls how providence appeared in small but powerful ways: water flowing freely from sweet, life-saving jungle streams quenched his thirst.

Anxiety still haunted him. "I imagined Israeli news anchors reporting on a missing Israeli traveler lost in the Honduran jungle. I couldn’t believe this could be the end of my life. I had so much left to do, and yet the fear was enormous."

"I Opened a Chapter of Tehillim, and Something Shifted"

Exhausted and desperate, Nir sat down in the mud to face the night. "I remembered the small book of Tehillim my mother always stuffed into my pocket before my trips. I pulled it out, and I thought: if these words helped King David when fleeing for his life, maybe they could help me too."

He opened at random to a chapter about salvation in times of danger. "As I read, my mind suddenly cleared. An immense calm and sense of safety washed over me — something I hadn’t felt in years. I felt completely protected. When I finished, my eyes turned to the right. I didn’t see anyone, but I felt a presence — like an angel guiding me. Quietly, I knew I was being led out."

With new strength, he walked on. Through ferns, mud, and thick trees, his feet carried him until suddenly, he stumbled upon a trail.

"I collapsed to the ground, utterly drained, but I knew I had found the path that would connect me back to the main road. I had marked it earlier with two branches crossed together, just in case. When I saw my sign, I breathed deeply — I was saved. I thanked God. I may not be religious, but I believe in the Creator and the great spirit that fills nature. What happened to me is something I can’t explain, but I know it was real."

"Faith Is What Truly Saves"

Nir concluded his story with a powerful reflection: "God answered the moment my ego surrendered, and my heart opened. In those jungles, I learned lessons of faith and trust: that I am never abandoned, even in the darkest places. Life is not to be taken for granted. We must live with love and faith, even when surrounded by darkness. Forget the wars, the petty fights. Be kind to yourself and others. Choose peace, because it is the strongest energy connecting us to life."