No Fear at 14,000 Feet—and No Fear in Love

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18 (ESV)

My 18-year-old son and I recently jumped out of an airplane. I had zero fear. I’m not bragging; it’s more God’s credit than mine. He has walked me through decades of unrelenting fear that once had a profoundly destructive grip on my life. I simply couldn’t take another minute of living that way.

Many people would never guess that fear was ever an issue for me. I’ve bungee-jumped 150 feet, started a risky business, navigated its failure, traveled abroad alone, moved without prospects, and faced all sorts of foes.

That was the easy kind of courage. Facing fear with faith—that’s how our spiritual muscles grow.

No fear.

Jumping into the heavens that day felt symbolic of deliverance—a celebration of my son’s rite of passage, his launch into greater freedom, and my own.

A celebration of fear conquered and an affirmation of freedom to come.

Before the jump, we watched a short training video that cast the very real risks in the best possible light, followed by pages of liability waivers full of tiny print and alarming warnings that could make you shiver. Then came the waiting, watching others float down from the sky.

If I hesitated at all, it was about riding in the small prop plane. Though I love flying, those little planes that sound like they’re held together by spit and bubble gum make me nervous. I had a fleeting thought that discomfort might stir fear before we even reached altitude—but I dismissed it. Fear would be useless baggage on this trip.

Then they harnessed us up. Before long, we were striding toward the plane—my instructor and I back-to-back on the narrow bench, him spooning me for the tandem jump.

“No fear!” That was the fist-bumping chant my athletic son and his teammates shouted before running onto the baseball field—or sometimes for no reason at all.

The ascent was steep and serene. The plane felt sturdy. The camaraderie among us was palpable, even over the engine’s roar. I was amazingly peaceful; even my anticipation carried a blissful calm.

At altitude, it was simply time to step into the sky. We free-fell for a few thousand feet, cushioned by the air’s invisible pressure.

When the chute opened, we floated gracefully, my instructor steering so I could take in the panorama. The landing was soft, and my son greeted me with radiant joy. We were giddy with euphoria and pride.

It was good. No fear.

Sure, I’ll leap from a plane without blinking—but meaningful eye contact with a fella I like? Gulp.

The Next Fear Frontier: Love

Here’s where fear has stopped me in my tracks: walking away from toxic relationships that had me in their grip—and being open to healthy, mutual love.

A good codependent practically from birth, I’ve lived at extremes—relying too heavily on unsafe, unequal people who didn’t value me, or letting them rely too heavily on me, exploiting my fear-filled permission. People who needed me to stay small. The kind of harmful, narcissistic “love” that is fraught with fear and punishment.

This wiring began in infancy with wonderful but deeply wounded parents whose love often hurt. It has taken a lifetime to heal.

This week marks five years since my divorce. I’ve done a lot of healing and growing. I’ve dated a little, declined more, and am saving myself for a man who is my equal—grounded in God, real though battle-worn, joyful, humble, passionate in purpose. A new-fangled, old-fashioned man who thinks I'm all that and a bag of chips, restoring the life I once forfeited to fear.

This is my next frontier: to love and be loved.

Just as my tandem jumper held me securely through the freefall, so God holds me as I take this next leap—into love, without fear.

No fear. God is able.

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” — Luke 12:32 (NLT)

PRACTICE:

Reflect on one fear that is hindering you today. What single step can you take right now to conquer that fear, trusting that your Father delights to give you His Kingdom?

PRAYER:

Father, You are good and generous, delighting to give us Your Kingdom. Thank You for the abundant blessings You shower on us—chief among them, Your Son, the greatest love gift of all. Give us grace to trust Your heart and release our fear of loving freely and being loved fully. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

#nofear #faithoverfear #leapoffaith #1John418 #trustGod #luke1232 #perfectlove #healingjourney #freedominchrist #spiritualgrowth 

#heartrecovery