As we saw in our last post, vacations are a wonderful gift from God, offering us a chance to rest, reflect, and renew our spirit. Yet, for some, the fear of flying can be a major obstacle to peaceful vacation. It’s helpful to tackle our fear of flying both from a spiritual and practical perspective. Spiritually, we can combat this fear by reminding ourselves that God is infinitely greater than any worry we face. Meditating on Psalm 46:1-2—“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble”—shifts our focus away from our fear and centers us on God’s mighty power.
Alongside spiritual encouragement, there are practical ways to ease our anxiety about flying. Watching YouTube videos can help you get used to a normal flying experience. Visiting an airport without the pressure of boarding a plane can help you acclimate to the sights and sounds of the airport, and learning more about how airplanes work can demystify the process of flying and demonstrate how safe flying is.
Cost is another common barrier to taking a vacation. Yet, when we have a Biblical view of rest and vacation, we see that we don’t need to spend a ton of money in order to experience peace and relaxation. Rest and refreshment come from our relationship with God, not the price tag of our trip. There are lots of practical ways to keep the cost of a trip low as well, such as booking a trip during the off season, going on a long weekend instead of a weeklong vacation, or even having a staycation and exploring your city!
No matter how you choose to travel, vacations are a great opportunity to spiritually recharge. This might look like listening to uplifting worship music or Christ-centered sermons, having a deep conversation with a friend or family member about Christ, or even taking time to chew on the Gospel to help you understand God’s love. Spiritually recharging can also happen when we are getting out and being active. This might look like intentionally spending some time in God’s creation, or going for a walk while listening to an audiobook that helps you focus on God.
When you begin to delight in God’s presence and feel a renewed sense of His love, you’ll know your vacation has been truly refreshing.
Return to the first post in this series here.
Chew on This: What are some barriers you have been putting up to taking a vacation? Are they valid or are they things that you can work around to spend time getting refreshed and renewed?
