It was my husband’s birthday and we had plans to celebrate in high-style and when I say ‘high-style’ I do mean high. In fact, 14,000 feet high! This was the year we planned to live his long-held dream to skydive!

So, there I was in my moment of truth: My toes were dangling off the plane’s windy edge and there was nothing but a dispassionate parachute to hinder my freefall plummet to the distant hard ground. I had to ask myself, “Am I really, really going to jump?”

Fear was vicious in attack. Every natural instinct for self-preservation made an urgent plea for retreat. But, I willed myself on. I jumped. Not only did I jump, I somersaulted out of that airplane! My eyes were wide open and I saw ground, sky, ground, sky, ground. The parachute gently released, interrupting the exhilarating sensation of freefall and rushing air. As I glided downward, I saw the quiet grandeur of our Eastern Shore spread out before me in a panorama so divine and so breathtaking that I could only whisper, “Lord, Your creation is so beautiful.” On that day, in that airplane, with that parachute, I decided fear would not make this decision for me and I experienced something extraordinary.

After an experience like that, it’s easy to wonder, “What would happen if I refused fear more often?” Now, I don’t mean to say that I’ll be taking up extreme sports as my daily hobby (although, every now and then might be alright!). But, what I do mean is that fear cripples. It can become a bondage that keeps us living beneath the extraordinary. In too many of our lives, fear just interferes.

Fear of failure dictates how much we’ll risk towards our dreams. Fear of rejection imposes how deeply we’ll love. It can dull our goals, manipulate our relationships and determine how we use our God-given abilities.

Dr. Robert Schuller once asked, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” In other words, what if we shook off fear’s disabling clutches? What if you hoped like a child and believed what your eyes could not immediately see? Not casting away all reason and prudence, but living boldly in the center of God’s will without the hamperings of doubt. How would our families and cities change if we start believing bigger and trusting in God’s empowering? How would our world change?

In Acts 17:6, the Apostles are referred to as those who “turned the world upside down”. Twelve men with an unhesitant passion made a difference. The face of the inhabited world was changed forever because these Spirit-filled men lived boldly within their purpose. Daring to risk rejection, failure and hardship, they defied fear in the name of the One they all so dearly loved.

Fear and worry are not divine devices. They can render servants of God powerless and immobile. But, the more we understand God’s immensity and depth of love, the bolder we become. God, who is completely able, can enable us to do courageous things in the generation He’s created us for. God, who is completely loving, can protect us and go with us as we move through this world unafraid of the ‘what-ifs’.

Knowing that God is who He says that He is, let’s ask ourselves, “Are we really, really going to jump?” Are we going to live in holy boldness for the love of our Savior? As we face our moments of truth, I hope that we will choose to trust God, who is our ever-opening parachute. He will uphold us as we move heavenward and under His shadow, we will experience the extraordinary.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9, KJV)

Liz Miller lives in Daphne with her husband Matt and son, Logan. She looks forward to responding to your thoughts, prayer requests and guest speaker invitations, please write to millerfam3@hotmail.com.