Is Fear Holding You Hostage
What are your fears?
Perhaps it’s heights, spiders, snakes or maybe going into the ocean. For me it was flying.
My brother-in-law is a pilot, he and my sister often charter a plane for short trips. For years they tried to convince me to fly with them. One day I reluctantly agreed to go up (after all if my sister could do it I could too right?). Wrong! The closer we got to the airport the more anxious I became. I’m talking lump in the throat, tightness in chest, palms drenched, yes I was a mess.
Over Come With Fear
Once at the airport, I tried to suppress my fears, I really wanted to go up. I knew I trusted my brother-in-law more than I would any other pilot, yet I just couldn’t. Fear had immobilized me.
Fast forward a few years, my girlfriend and I decided to go on a cruise. The nearest port was 12 hours away. I agreed we should fly. I took Dramamine and slept the entire flight. Although I had been able to get on that plane, I had not overcome my fear.
Fast forward another few years. My fiancee was in Colorado, since I had never been, he wanted me to fly out so he could show me the mountains. Too embarrassed to tell him I was afraid to fly, I decided I would just go. I was so nervous I was literally sick to my stomach. Once onboard, I found my seat by the window, immediately closing the blind, I certainly didn’t want to be reminded of how high I was by seeing passing clouds. As I set back, prayed for God to protect me and to help me to relax.
God Is In Control
Before landing I decided to raise the blind. I cannot explain what happened at that moment. It was the most transcendental experience. I saw the mountains for the first time, the massively beautiful mountains. Chills went all over my body, my eyes filled with tears, all the tension left me. I had a peace come over me like I had never experienced before. It was as if God was saying look what I created, all this beauty for you to see and enjoy, fear not for I am with you. (Isaiah 41:10). My prayer had been answered, my fear was gone.
Dear sister I don’t know what your fears are but I do know Satan wants nothing more than to keep us bound by them. But when you seek God, he can and will deliver you from that bondage. (Psalm 34:4)
