Scared of Heights? What Jesus Would Say

Hey, carpool crew. I'm Pastor Justin, and today we're talking about a fear that a lot of kids, and even adults, deal with. What if I'm scared of heights? Maybe it happens when you're on a tall playground, or standing near a balcony, or looking down from the top of a climbing wall, or while you're climbing a tree. Your knees feel a little wobbly, your stomach flips, and everything in you says, nope, too high, time to get down. If that's you, you're not weird. You're not weak. You're just being honest. Let's talk about where that fear comes from and what Jesus would say to you in that exact moment. Deuteronomy 31, verse 6 says this. "Be strong and courageous. Don't be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you. He will not leave you or abandon you." Fear of heights is actually really common and pretty natural. Our brains are wired to keep us safe, especially when we're in a situation where falling could hurt us. So when you're way up high, your body kicks in with sweaty palms, wobbly legs, a tight chest, a big no-thank-you signal in your brain. That's the part of your brain that says, protect me. The fear of heights isn't silly. It's not babyish. It's part of how God made your brain. But sometimes that fear can get too loud and tell you that you're in danger, even when you're perfectly safe. That's when we need to listen to Jesus, not just fear. In Deuteronomy 31, God's people were about to face something way bigger than a tall ladder. They were entering an unknown land full of challenges and battles. God told them, be strong and courageous, don't be terrified, I'm going with you, I won't leave you. That same promise is true when you're six years old and climbing a rock wall, or ten years old and looking down from the top of a rollercoaster. Jesus is with you, even when your legs are shaking. If Jesus were standing at the bottom of a really tall climbing tower and saw you up there a little afraid, kind of freezing up, he'd probably yell up, I see you. You're doing something brave just by being up there. You're not alone. I'm right here. Jesus never makes fun of our fears. He doesn't rush us, but he does invite us to grow, and he reminds us that he's got us every step of the way. So if you're scared of heights, or anything else that makes your body panic, here's what you could do. Start by saying this to yourself. This is a real fear. It's okay to be scared. But Jesus is with me. And if your parents are there, or your friends are there cheering you on, and you know that you can be safe, be brave, be bold. Take one small step at a time. You don't have to reach the top today. Some fears fade as we grow. That doesn't make you weak now. It means you're becoming stronger over time. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you like today's episode, share it with a parent or two that you run into this weekend. Let them know about Carpooling with Jesus. I can't wait to see everyone as we kick off a whole new week tomorrow. But before we go, let's answer this question together. What's one high place that made you feel really scared, and how did you handle it? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.