I will never forget the moment I exited a perfectly good airplane at 10,000 feet above the ground. I was the first to “jump,” so I was the first one to perch myself on a small step that stuck out under the wing.
The wind was deafening as it beat on my face at 200+ miles per hour. As I looked down, the ground looked like square plots of land, houses barely big enough to identify.
The professional skydiver attached to my back allowed me to initiate the jump...every second felt like a minute.
I could feel my heart pounding, my arms and legs shaking, and my face had a nervous perma-smile (permanent grin). But I knew I had to face my fear of heights and leap out in faith. The adrenaline rush cannot be described, only felt.
Skydiving has been on my bucket list for many years. Throughout my childhood and early adult life, I’ve always been deathly afraid of heights. Just throwing a ball up into the air and watching it soar caused my muscles to tighten; and that was while I was standing on solid ground.
After gaining insights through counseling and understanding the brain, I believe it has something to do with a fall I took as an elementary student. My brain has never forgotten that traumatic experience, and only wants to protect me from enduring that ever again.
As a teenager I tried facing the fear by following through with tasks on ladders and other work-related activities. Pride was a big motivator, and I was just pushing through. The fear never let up.
But then something changed. The physical symptoms of fear were still present for many years, but my thinking shifted.
I was strapped into the seat of a world-class rollercoaster inching up to the peak. I didn’t just have butterflies in my stomach, it felt like I had wasps and knives in there too.
So I decided to pray something like this: “God, I know You are with me, and I am in Your hands. So, I’m going to let go of these shoulder bars and take this ride with You. I trust You with my life. If something bad happens, then it’s because You are allowing it. I trust You.”
As I went over the top, staring down at the ground that would have paralyzed every muscle in my body, I raised my hands and whispered, “God, I love you. If this is going to be fun, it’s going to be because I’m enjoying this with You.”
It was the coolest thrill I ever had! I immediately wanted to ride that rollercoaster again. My stomach was still in knots, and my hands still got sweaty, but I was drawn to the ride...the thrill.
Eventually I knew that skydiving would be the ultimate step. If I could jump out of a plane with that same thought process, then I knew the fear had no power in my life. And that’s what I did at the end of this summer, thanks to a good friend of mine.
Fear was present, but trust and joy overcame. What. A. Thrill!
This Sunday we are going to look at anxiety and worry. Many of us are trying to deal with it the best we can, and even though this broken world will always give us opportunities to worry and be anxious, God invites us to find our rest and peace in Him.
I thank God for you and I’m blessed to have you as brothers and sisters. I love you, and I’ll see you all Sunday!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jack
