I just couldn’t understand what was so thrilling about the ride. When something is measured in “stories” and goes faster than I normally would drive on any given day, terrifying seem more appropriate than thrilling, but my husband insisted that it would be “fun”, “exciting”, and “I wouldn’t regret it”.

As I heard those words, my brain began processing the meaning of the words. “Fun” became “Fear”.

“Exciting” meant “Screaming”.

“I wouldn’t regret it” meant “I wouldn’t regret sticking my nails five inches into his skin, all the while screaming for rescue while trying to process quickly at the same time how they were going to pry my hands off my husband and not in a good way”.

In my lifetime, going on a roller coaster never really brought up visions of laughter and fun, but usually images of my eyes clamped shut so tight that I appear to be an eyeless woman and my mouth frozen in a not so silent look of terror.

If you were with me, you would find out quickly that I would put Munich’s “The Scream” to share and there was nothing so silent about my screams. People’s heads at the amusement park, including those on the rides would all turn trying to figure out the source of my scream.

I’m getting better.

My husband’s arms no longer bear scars of our recent attempt to ride a ride together, mostly because he got smart and either put a child between us or talk some gullible stranger to take the fall for him.

And I’m still trying to conquer my fear.

I find and instant,”I had to many ice creams, hot dogs and cotton candy’s” routine tend to work even though I think my husband is getting wise to that.

I guess it doesn’t help that I start using the excuse the minute our vehicle pulls up to the entrance way and I should start waiting till we’re ACTUALLY at the rides and I’ve actually had some of the mention food, to use that excuse.

How often though, do we tend to be like that ourselves in day to day lives.

Unless you are a billionaire to have your own roller coaster in your backyard, aren’t our lives sometimes like a roller coaster?

My nemesis. The Roller Coaster.

We have our ups and our downs, and we have our lowpoints when we feel like our stomach has jumped off the rides without us and we have our high points where we want to jump off ourselves rather than face that incoming drop that we see when we peek open one eye (not highly recommended by the way if you get lied... pester…nagged…bullied...sweet-talked ) while on such “fun” rides that have the following names on it such as : “Death” anywhere in it’s name or “Heart Attack” anywhere in its name or”Lose your stomach” or “Everything in your body comes outsides your body (that’s a fun ride)”-or my personal favorite-”Your spouse lied-even Godzilla got scared and sick on this and refuse to come near this again” ride.

That’s when God steps in.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”-Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

That’s actually a comforting feeling knowing that He’s already been on that ride and He’s not going to let us go down that road if He doesn’t already know that we can and will overcome it since He’s paved the way.

So the bill is three weeks late. So the doctor may not have given you a great diagnosis. Your child comes home with enough metal to set off a metal detector without even having to come near one. Your spouse isn’t save. Your dog…okay, I’m not going into dogs because I’m still housebreaking the newest puppy, and Lord, I love You and I know this dog is Your creation but really…the carpet.

How does a carpet feel like grass?

Lord, God bless You if there is a dog heaven, because I love my dogs, I adore them and they are my fur-babies, and they will love it there to do whatever they want, but in the meantime, if there is a doggie military school that exisits…I think my youngest will turn it into an insane asylum within two hours. Somehow, my puppy has gotten the idea that grass is good to play and carpet is…well….you get the picture.

Life is filled with roller coasters….Mini-ones that are just small thrill rides like discovering a secret place that you didn’t think can exist for a puppy to use (not going there in this post or any post…sweet denial is my refuge right now), to the kids discovering the joy of markers and the wall.

Then there are the major roller coasters.

We all have them in our lives.

Our spouses, our families, both close and extended. Work. School. Just life in general, but we have a loving God who IS just and part of helping us in our Christian walk, let us know, we’re not going to be in this alone.

Cry? He has been there and cried.

Pain? He has felt pain, both big and small and wants to comfort you and encourage you in your time of distress.

Betrayed? Wow. He knows the stab of betrayal and says, “I have overcome”, take my hand.

Lost? He’s been there. Has the road all mapped out so it’s not as lost for us.

“Fill in the blank your feeling” and HE has felt it, He has overcome it and HE is NOT going to let you go through this alone. You matter THAT much to Him.

He is with the lost, the broken, the sick and the healthy and the found and the healed.

He is always going to be there, will be there and He is not going to let you, me, anyone go, because He loves us that much and He hurts that much for us to come to Him.

There is NO one He is not wanting to be with. He is the door that is always open, a cup of hot chocolate and cookies waiting and a warm place by the fireplace, ready for you, for me, for anyone who chooses to walk through His door and accept His free, unconditional, no strings attached offer.

Roller Coasters? No problem. He’s the safety inspector whose already written the ride and goes, “I’ve already gone ahead and ridden it and conquer it so come with Me now”.

So what does little ol’ fraidy cat like me do?

“Okay Lord. I’m taking a deep breath and going to try again”.

Of course, I have to get my blood pressure to go down, re-color my hair from the instant white it’s turn and find someone to help loosen my grip on some poor soul’s arm that was in the way when I was clutching at anything in fear.

So I seek Him. I pray to Him, I go to His word,( which reminds me…if you are terrify of roller coasters like I am, no where in the bible does it condemn roller coasters so I’m out of luck there), and I keep pushing forward.

If David can face Goliath than I can face my Goliaths with faith that our Heavenly Father is there with me and for me (and probably with cotton balls in His ear to ease the sound of my screaming in fear) and I may one day conquer my fear of roller coasters. I may not, but no matter what, God is there.

He wants us to push forward. He knows we can’t hide forever and why should we even tried to hide?

If we have faith in Him, how is having more faith in our fear versus having faith in a Heavenly Father who is stronger and beyond all things even roller coasters showing trust in our Lord?

So I keep pushing forward.

I find ways to confront my fear of roller coasters, but more than anything, I find ways to keep having the faith and the trust in our Heavenly Father to deal with the roller coasters that is present in all our lives, knowing that our Lord is there, He has already gone ahead of us, and waiting for us at the ride’s exit with a smile….even if we are staggering and being half dragged by our spouse because our legs gave out before the ride started.

Do you have roller coasters in your life?

What ways can God help you conquer your fear of “Fill in the blank of what you are afraid” of and how does His word and promises give you hope that it’s just fear?

By searching His word, what promises can you find that the roller coaster is just that…a roller coaster and nothing to be afraid of?

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your words of comfort and trust. I pray that You remind me always that You have already overcome and all I am really seeing isn’t truth or reality but the blanket of fear. Help me Lord find ways to keep removing that blanket from my eyes, so I can see You and see what You have already overcome. Help me Lord see You for what is really there: You standing there at the end to greet us with words of encouragement and comfort and a promise that when the ride is over, we won’t be left standing alone, because You, Lord, is and will always be there with us.

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About the author

Twinkle Mom

Stay at home mother, home educator and owner of two dachshunds known as "Double Trouble",Twinkle Mom chronicles her reflections on being a Christian woman, wife and mother and her journey walking with God as she strives to grow in His light.

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Tags: God's Word, Memes, scripture, Word-Filled Wednesday