What do you expect from every roller coast ride in the world? 

A steep climb.

A deep drop. 

A winding, curving turn.

Maybe an upside down circle.

Each of these are the traits of any roller coaster you will ever ride. Remember your first roller coaster ride? That time some well-meaning friend talked you into doing the unbelievable. What about the time you talked someone into riding? Perhaps your own child who really didn’t want to go or wanted to go, but changed his/her mind after the first lurch of the car?

What did you do? Perhaps if you weren’t screaming yourself, you spent the entire ride reassuring your child that they would be okay. You probably offer words like, “You’ll be okay.” “It will be over soon.” “Just shut your eyes.”

Oh, how life is like a roller coaster. There are days when it seems we are climbing the steepest hill and other days when the bottom of our world falls out, figuratively dropping us to the ground. There are other days when our world seems to spin around and around and we wish we could get off. Sometimes life is so difficult, we are literally turned upside down, going in circles we can’t control.

How do we keep going? 

I love this scripture, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.” II Corinthians 4:7-11

You see, here’s the good news about a roller coaster. Here’s why you are willing to get on one. Because you are never in any real danger, are you? What are the odds you would get on a roller coaster if someone told you that earlier that day they found a faulty line, but they were almost sure they fixed it? Of course, you would never board a roller coaster if this were true. What usually happens is this, after all the twists and turns and ups and downs, you glide to an incredibly smooth finish. 

It’s like those fun super-slides that were so popular years ago. You bump and bump and bump and then—smooth sailing until you stop. 

Our lives are much the same way. As believers, on this roller coaster of life, we are never in any real danger.  We may be struck down, we may be hard pressed, but we will not be destroyed because God is in the car with us saying, “Hang on, I’m right beside you.” “You can do it.” “It will be over soon.” And, in the end, His promise becomes a reality. 

The first half of our new 2020 has been like a roller coaster for sure. We don’t know what the second half will be like, but we’re all ready for the smooth finish—right? 

Hang on! No matter what happens, God will not let go of you. We’re all in this together and we’ll make it through.