Fear of Flying or Fear of Dying—Which One is It?

“The air up in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn’t it be?  It is the same the angels breathe.” ~Mark Twain, Roughing It

Since my first ride in an airplane at the age of five I was hooked. Flying through the clouds close to the heavens above, always makes me feel closer to my Father God, my Creator. I love to sit in the window seat and let my imagination envision myself bouncing from cloud to cloud with the help of my sparkling wings. My love for flying is a blessing, but I also know for many of you, the opposite is true.

Are you the opposite? Do you get anxious when you fly? Are you so fearful you refuse to fly? USA Today reports up to 40% of people experience some level of anxiety about flying, and more than 20 million people have a severe fear of flying called aviophobia. Their feelings of fear are real, but the statistics of dying in a plane crash is one in 29.4 million (Fearofflying.com).

If you are afraid of flying, how can you stop your fear to give yourself the freedom to explore the wonders of the world? Mental professionals tell us that you cannot just tell yourself to stop being afraid. They say to control and rise above your fear, you will need to separate your mind from your emotions while you retrain your brain. You will have to take small flying trips at first and work into longer flights. They may also suggest breathing techniques, visualization exercises, or taking prescription drugs to help you handle your anxiety. All of these may be helpful, but what if your fear of flying is casting a shadow on your real fear? What if your root fear is not of flying but of dying?

If this is the first time you ever thought you could have two separate fears in your mind and emotions, this revelation could be a key to setting you free. It’s hard to fight an enemy if you don’t know what it is. Determining your primary root fear empowers you to create a plan to overcome your fear.

If you are afraid of dying, is it because you do not know where you will spend eternity? You can overcome this uncertainty by believing and following the promises of God found in the following two Bible verses.

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish buy have everlasting life. John 3:16 NIV
• “if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with or mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10 NIV

If you are afraid of flying, create a plan to separate your emotions from the real facts of flying and work your plan. Remember, overcoming fear is a process which succeeds when you ask God to help you, and you set your mind to be free. In time, one day you could fly without anxiety or fear. You could open your life to the great adventures and amazing people waiting to meet you throughout the world. And you could enjoy the splendor of being close to the heavens. Be courageous and defeat your fears!

Where is the most amazing place you have visited, or you want to visit by plane?