So how did I end up sitting pensively at an airfield a week before my 50th birthday? Well God… isn’t it interesting how so many of our adventures of life begin with “well God…?”
Some years ago, in a dream, God showed me a vision of myself in a jumpsuit, walking past a plane. As God often shows me visions and dreams, I knew that there was something about this one and so like Mary (Luke 2:19) and others in the Bible, I stored this in my heart.
Fast forwarding to this year (2019), around February I found myself at a colleague’s leaving do in a Pizza Hut! In discussion I was asked whether I planned to do anything for my 50th birthday and instantly the vision came back to me. Now, I have not celebrated or marked any of my significant birthdays (18th, 21st, 25th, 30th or 40th) in the past and so doing big events was not my thing at all. However, with God bringing back the vision to me, I knew what He was prompting me to do and the reasoning behind it. I told my surprised colleagues and my surprised wife (she also works at the same organisation) that I was going to do a skydive as God wanted me to overcome fear and in so doing displace it. My life has been one that was plagued by poor choices made from fear which resulted in a lot of pain, anxiety and rejection, both for me and others around me. There is so much more to tell about that, but that will be for another day.
So now, on Friday 20th September 2019, there I was at the airfield. I had not held any great conversation on what I was going to do with others – suffice to say I was going to do it as God had shown me. Sometimes in life it’s best not to talk too much (1 Kings 20:11). Rather it is better to let your focus and trust be firmly rooted in the Lord. This is what I had chosen to do every time people wanted to discuss the perils in doing such a feat. My wife Samantha is great, she is my crown (Proverbs 12:4) and every inch the virtuous wife (Proverbs 31:10-31). She knew how to be there, acknowledge my apprehension yet just reassure me through her gaze. Sam knew that God was in this and that it had to be done. I should say that at this point Satan was going all out to make it as hellish as possible. I could hear him asking question after question to cause doubt and fear. “Was the vision from God before or after the jump? If it was before, then there’s no guarantee that you made it through. What will your wife and kids do if you die, as the insurance company will not cover you?”, and so on and so forth… This was not an easy process and I knew within myself that it might be the last thing I do, but if I were to die, then God knew it and it would be His perfect time to receive me. However, I didn’t believe that this would be the case as there were so many other things that had been spoken over me that had not yet taken place in my life. My mindset was like that of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, who were renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego:
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!”
(Daniel 3:16-18).
In this situation the gods or golden image was ‘Fear’, but I determined in my heart that I was going to honour and praise God by enjoying the whole experience. Amazingly, once I had made up my mind to enjoy and not endure the whole event, I couldn’t stop smiling and God was clearly in control.
I don’t usually like flying but here I was sitting on the floor of a small plane that was about to climb to 10,000 feet.
My heart is so moved/emotional as I think about what came next. I’ve faced a lot of challenging situations in my life: separation, rejection, death of people dear to me and I have seen God get me through when I didn’t know how to put one foot in front of another. This, though, was different. This was the first time that I was trusting God in a situation that could clearly (not unexpectedly) have resulted in my death and as I felt us fall out into the sky, my body and mind being disoriented by the forces of the air and loss of the horizon from my view, I said to myself “this is it God, I am in your hands and trust you totally, whether I survive or die”. There was no fear, because I was ready to meet my God. Whilst this may sound over-dramatic, the fact was that in that moment, when I faced the unknown and possible death, I reached out to embrace my Father, my God. My slide out into the unknown was like a Peter stepping out of the boat and into the raging sea moment (Matthew 14:22-33).
The experience was incredible. Something that I look at now and think “did I really do that?” and answer resoundingly “Yes, God took me through it”. So, I share my experience because I am just an ordinary guy who has an excessively big God who says that with Him, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). I don’t know what that deep-rooted fear is for you. If you’re like me, it might not have been a big thing like parachuting, but it might be the fear of believing that you can do something new, not believing you can survive without that sinful habit or wrong person in your life, the fear of thinking that God might not be there for you…. Well I (an ordinary man) am a living testimony that you can overcome these fears and do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13) if you will trust Him enough to take you through whatever ‘it’ is for you.
I have so often said:
“23 Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.””
(Mark 9:23-24).
Are you desperate enough to get out of that fear situation? Are you fed up of getting the same results and experiencing the same failures enough to trust Jesus to do something incredible and new in your life?
“18 Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. 19 Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. 20 The beasts of the field will honor Me, Jackals and ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. 21 The people whom I formed for Myself will make known My praise.”
(Isaiah 43:18-21).
The more I ponder on what God has done in my life, the more speechless I become. God has so much for you, Satan fights so hard to keep you from daring to trust God because he fears you. Satan fears having to deal with a version of you who stands in the fullness, authority and righteousness of God, so he tries to rule over you through fear and doubt. If you genuinely believe that “to live is Christ and to die is gain (to be with Him)” then death will surely have lost its victory over you (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
God loves you and I do too. I pray that this will encourage you to push into our Father’s loving hands and trust in His best for you.
God bless you,
‘But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.’
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (New Living Translation)
May God bless you all,
‘But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.’
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NLT)
Note from Brother Don — click to open
I would love for this space to become more interactive as we walk together in faith. If there are subjects you’d like to explore from a Christian perspective, or if you have prayer needs for yourself, your family, or your friends, please feel free to reach out.
You can send a private message through the site — these are confidential and not visible to anyone else. The only exception would be if a safeguarding concern were raised; in that case, it may need to be passed on to the appropriate agency or person, as you would expect.
Above all, I want to ensure that what is shared here reflects what the Lord desires to say. Sometimes the “signal” of life can get in the way, and your feedback helps me stay prayerful, discerning, and aligned with His heart. Whether you simply read along or choose to share, I’m grateful you’re here.
Beginning a Journey With Jesus — click to open
If you’re exploring the Christian faith or wondering what it means to follow Jesus, you’re in the right place. Beginning a journey with Him is the most life‑changing decision a person can make — and it’s open to everyone.
Below is a simple explanation of the gospel message, followed by a prayer you can use if you feel ready to invite Jesus into your life.
A Brief Summary of the Gospel Message:
- God created you for relationship with Him.
- Sin — the things we do wrong — separates us from God.
- We cannot fix this separation by our own efforts.
- Jesus, God’s Son, came to earth, lived without sin, and died on the cross to take our place.
- He rose again, defeating sin and death.
- Through Jesus, we can be forgiven, restored, and made new.
- Salvation is a gift — received by faith, not earned by good works.
- When we accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us and begins transforming our lives.
- We become children of God, with a new identity and a new future.
A Simple Prayer to Begin Your Journey:
“Lord Jesus, I come to You today because I want to know You. I admit that I have sinned and fallen short, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for me and rose again so that I could be made new. Today, I choose to turn away from my old life and follow You. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and help me to live for You from this day forward. Thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and making me Your child. Amen.”
What to Do Next:
1. Find a Local Church
Look for a Bible‑believing church in your area. Speak to the pastor or leadership team
and let them know about the commitment you’ve made. They will be able to support you,
pray with you, and help you grow.
2. Consider the Alpha Course
I strongly recommend the Alpha Course, which runs worldwide. It’s a safe, friendly place
to explore questions about life, the Christian faith, and God — whether you’re brand new
or simply curious.
Visit the Alpha Course website
3. Reach Out if You’d Like Support
If you’d like prayer, have questions, or want to talk privately, you can send a confidential
message through the site. Nothing you share will be visible to others. The only exception is
if a safeguarding concern is raised — in that case, it may need to be passed on to the
appropriate agency or person, as you would expect.
