Recently, I went to Scotland for a weekend retreat. I was looking forward to some much-needed alone time to rest, rejuvenate, and connect with God. But as I boarded the plane, I had to confront my own lingering fear of flying.
Little did I know, God was about to use a bizarre, humbling, and completely unexpected situation to deliver me from that fear entirely.
When it was time to take off, a man sitting next to me appeared to doze off just as the pilot introduced himself and shared our flight details. As the aircraft began to move, the man suddenly sneezed, accidentally splashing some snot onto the seat in front of me.
My instinctive, almost childlike reaction was to giggle in amazement! Out of probably a hundred passengers, I had been allocated a seat right beside this man. But then he sneezed a second time, and a third time. His head was dangling without support, and he seemed deeply, unnaturally asleep.
Recognising that something was wrong, I tapped him. “Sir, are you okay?” No response.
I quickly called for the attention of the flight attendants. Thankfully, the cabin crew rushed over, performed emergency procedures on him, managed to wake him up, and safely escorted him off the flight to receive medical care.
Looking out the window, watching the emergency vehicle on the tarmac, I was hit by a profound wave of clarity; I used to be terrified of the aircraft crashing. Yet, right next to me, a life-threatening medical emergency had just unfolded before we even left the ground. Someone could have died right there if I had chosen to be “polite” and mind my own business. I was so struck by how fickle life is that I completely lost my fear of flying. I had a profound realisation: we can die anywhere, at any time.
Shifting Our Perspective on Sovereignty and Wellness
As a wellness coach, I often teach about healing and how our lifestyle choices act as an investment in how well and how long we live. But I also take pride in emphasising a truth that lies at the very heart of biblical wellness: Ultimately, God is sovereign.
In my upcoming book, The ABCs of Wellness Through Biblical Wisdom, I dive deep into the idea that wellness must be holistic. If you treat your health, your weight loss, or even your mental anxiety as a purely physical matter achieved solely by your own efforts, you are missing the most critical piece of the puzzle.
True wellness encompasses the body, mind, and spirit. And the factor that binds it all together is God. Jesus reminds us of this beautifully in the Gospels:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do NOTHING without me.” — John 15:5 (CSB)
Just as you cannot pray away a consistently bad diet, you also cannot avoid certain illnesses strictly by eating well and exercising. We do not have total control over our days. Our security does not lie in the safety rating of an aircraft, nor does it lie perfectly within our own strength. It lies in the hands of a sovereign God.
When you truly internalise that your life is held by Him, the pressure to control your surroundings—including a high-altitude flight—melts away.
One of the main reasons we experience such an epidemic of stress and anxiety is because we simply haven’t learned how to care for our minds. Fear of flying isn’t just about the plane; it’s about what is happening in your thought life. Your thoughts are a reflection of you, and when left unmanaged, they can easily spiral out of control.
If you are preparing for a trip and struggling with fear, you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it. Acknowledge that fear is often an illusion of control. When we are anxious, we are trying to carry a burden we were never meant to hold. Instead, we must learn to calm our nervous system, shift our mental focus, and realign our spirit with biblical truth.
Ready to strengthen and nourish your mind?
To help you navigate these moments of anxiety and move from a place of stress to absolute strength, I have created a tool rooted entirely in biblical principles.
My Mind Self-Care and Meditation Guide gives you simple, practical ways to care for your mind so you can rest, cope with daily stress, de-stress completely, and spark creativity. Whether you are sitting in an airplane seat or dealing with the pressures of everyday life, this guide will help you anchor your thoughts in God’s peace.
Life is fickle, but God’s grace is steadfast. If you occasionally stumble into fear or fail at walking out your perfect wellness journey, remember that you are not condemned. God’s grace covers you on the ground, and it covers you at 30,000 feet.
Have you ever overcome a deep-seated fear after a life-changing experience? I would love to hear your story; send your email to admin@rootedbranch.com!
