The Fear is Gone

My fear of flying in airplanes is gone. For years I sidestepped all invitations to fly, carefully not admitting to anyone my fear of heights—especially when that height was coupled with motion. I couldn’t even fearlessly ride a carnival’s Ferris wheel.

Then one day, I reached a point where I either had to fly or stay home from a place I very much wanted to go. So, I memorized appropriate Scriptures concerning fear and I prayed them aloud, especially II Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (KJV). The NIV’s version reads, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self discipline.”

I realized this abnormal fear did not come from my Creator; but try as I might, I could not control it. It was more than timidity as the NIV had translated it; it was pure, unadulterated fear. I could not discipline myself to be rid of it; I needed deliverance from it.

Coming before God, I confessed my fear as unbelief and that I, in myself, could do nothing about it. God knew that however hard I tried to overcome it in my own strength, I still could not ride Ferris wheels or ski-cars and especially not airplanes.

I began repeating aloud positive Scripture verses on fear so those words of truth would embed themselves in my heart and my mind. I thanked God that He had heard my prayers and would answer them.

Then came the summer day when I was invited to ride a gondola car at a ski resort I was visiting. Suddenly I realized my fear was gone. I rode an open gondola car to the top of the mountain. My eyes were open and I enjoyed every bit of the view. By “open car,” I mean there were no locked bars to hold us in. The cars were designed so skiers could simply ski off when the car stopped at the jumping-off place.

That eyes-firmly-closed, white-knuckled, gripping fear was gone and the gentle rocking motion did not bother me at all.

When the date of my flight arrived, I looked forward to it; there were no butterflies-in-the-stomach feelings; I boarded and thoroughly enjoyed my flight. After that trip, I wanted to see the whole world from the air!

I know that all fears are not so easily disposed of. But for me, it was a good way to begin. Since then, I have flown many air miles, thoroughly enjoying every trip.