Following Jesus is a personal choice, and those who make the decision discover it can be a wild ride. I remember very well as a teen my first visit to Magic Mountain, a theme-park filled with roller coasters in Valencia California. The wildest rides I had ever ridden to that point were in Disneyland, but the Matterhorn had nothing on Revolution or Viper! When I balked and told my friend I would rather sit a ride out, he said something to me like this: "You're going on every single ride. You don't have a choice. It's going to be awesome." I did have a choice, but his encouragement was what I needed to discover I loved roller coasters. I had the greatest time and when new rides were built I was all in.
Roller coasters are specially engineered to safely utilise the force of gravity to thrill. As you are secured in your seat anticipation builds as the ride slowly clinks up to the highest point. Some find this slow ascent terrifying and audibly pray before the death-defying drop. Are you a person who white-knuckles their way through the ride or raises your hands over your head screaming for joy? I remember a little boy shouting with his eyes tightly shut as we rode "California Screaming" in Anaheim, "I don't like it! I don't like it!" After the ride is over, there are basically two responses in people new to roller coasters: it is either, "Let's do that again!" or "I am never doing that again!"
In my life I can say following Jesus has been a lot like a roller coaster at times. God has led me to do things I never imagined doing or wanted to do, and He has been faithful all the time. I used to endure rides before I learned to enjoy them. Grabbing the seat hard and gritting my teeth didn't stop the ride or make it more safe. Letting go, raising my arms over my head, and committing myself to the experience with an aim to enjoy it was key to me running back to the front of the line to have another go. When you choose to follow Jesus, it will be the ride of your life. There will be waiting which seems to take forever, slow ascents and rapid descents, rushes of feelings good and painful, corkscrews and moments when everything is upside down. But as someone who has followed Jesus for a while I say by the end, regardless of the trepidation I had when I faced new challenges and seasons, "Let's do that again." Seeing the happy faces of people disembarking the ride gives potential anxious new riders encouragement. I want to be one of those happy people! :)
How are you enjoying the ride Jesus has you on? Know He has designed it especially for you and always has your safety and eternal future in mind. You can grit your teeth all you want, but how much better it is to turn our eyes towards Him, lift our hands in praise, and commit ourselves to Him completely. There is joy, peace, and comfort in this posture - without queasiness or a sore neck!
Roller coasters are specially engineered to safely utilise the force of gravity to thrill. As you are secured in your seat anticipation builds as the ride slowly clinks up to the highest point. Some find this slow ascent terrifying and audibly pray before the death-defying drop. Are you a person who white-knuckles their way through the ride or raises your hands over your head screaming for joy? I remember a little boy shouting with his eyes tightly shut as we rode "California Screaming" in Anaheim, "I don't like it! I don't like it!" After the ride is over, there are basically two responses in people new to roller coasters: it is either, "Let's do that again!" or "I am never doing that again!"
In my life I can say following Jesus has been a lot like a roller coaster at times. God has led me to do things I never imagined doing or wanted to do, and He has been faithful all the time. I used to endure rides before I learned to enjoy them. Grabbing the seat hard and gritting my teeth didn't stop the ride or make it more safe. Letting go, raising my arms over my head, and committing myself to the experience with an aim to enjoy it was key to me running back to the front of the line to have another go. When you choose to follow Jesus, it will be the ride of your life. There will be waiting which seems to take forever, slow ascents and rapid descents, rushes of feelings good and painful, corkscrews and moments when everything is upside down. But as someone who has followed Jesus for a while I say by the end, regardless of the trepidation I had when I faced new challenges and seasons, "Let's do that again." Seeing the happy faces of people disembarking the ride gives potential anxious new riders encouragement. I want to be one of those happy people! :)
How are you enjoying the ride Jesus has you on? Know He has designed it especially for you and always has your safety and eternal future in mind. You can grit your teeth all you want, but how much better it is to turn our eyes towards Him, lift our hands in praise, and commit ourselves to Him completely. There is joy, peace, and comfort in this posture - without queasiness or a sore neck!
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