Kiss & Tell

Rollercoaster

I watched people looking excited, like they were really having fun as they rode on the rollercoaster. It didn’t seem so bad, thus my nieces and I decided it was worth a try. It seemed like a baby ride; compared to all the other daring ones I had seen. I boldly declared that it’d be exciting, a smooth ride, with little rough bumps here and there, nothing I couldn’t handle. I was smug enough to smile and relax when our car was set in motion; my perception was buttressed with the slow start, it gets you comfortable and allows you relax, just before the devil comes to play.

I tried to be brave, but soon realised that this was the time to kick bravery aside, and gather all my wits to scream away my fear; I ran with that discovery as I screamed my lungs out. I didn’t care about being brave for my nieces who matched my screams beside me. I should have been comforted by the lap bar that served as a safety wedge, guaranteeing that I would not be thrown off the ride, no matter how fast it moved. I knew it was secure enough to hold me down, but I was past caring, because what I saw and felt was more intense than the fact that I was safe and secure in that chair.

Somewhere in all the craziness, I heard my seven year old niece, Gaby, reassuring us, “Just know we're going to be fine." That’s before she became possessed with the screaming demon too. The snappy U-turns, speedy climbs, gut-ripping drops, and fast spins got me hating myself for being stupid enough to brave this ride. I made silent pleas, “Oh God, please make this stop.”

I was beyond relieved when the car came to a halt. I shakily jumped out, and held on to my nieces, we burst out laughing in relief. It was finally over, and we were just fine. I got a copy of our picture taken with the hideous cameras up on the ride. All I can say is this; ours beat every other photo there, in the fear department. I saw pictures of people actually enjoying themselves, and smiling during the ride. They must have had some sort of superpower, or maybe they were high on some sort of drugs. Going through life is just like taking a rollercoaster ride. We expect it to be smooth-sailing for us, especially as Christians. We’ve been told there’ll be a couple of fast dives and twists; “many are the afflictions of the righteous...” Ps 34:19, and we feel all ready and pumped up for the ride. I mean, how bad can it be? But we really aren’t ready for what it throws at us, because as much as we know what to expect, we don’t know when they’ll come. They are sudden, the twists and turns, abrupt dips, racy climbs and spins, throwing us here and there, leaving us screaming out in fear and anguish, and maybe regret. Did we really sign up for this? We are so consumed with what we see, feel, and hear, that we forget God (our lap bar) is in charge. We forget that we are safe in His arms, and all will be well.

As Christians, Jesus already warns us, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Jn 16:33. That should be enough comfort to keep us calm, knowing that all we are going through is just for a little while. In telling us this, He already states the end of it… He has overcome, thus we have overcome too, no matter what we go through.

In rollercoaster rides, as long as you follow the safety rules, you’ll be just fine. The reported injuries and deaths are as a result of carelessness by riders going against the rules. You may feel like you’re about to be thrown off the seat, but the safety harness keeps you right there, you run the risk of having a major injury or dying by taking off the safety belt. As Christians, our safety rule is the fear of God, and complete trust in Him in every situation.

The Bible says that as Christians, our afflictions are many. It doesn’t try to sweet-coat this truth, it’s written plainly, but it comforts us that no matter how much we get thrown at us, God Himself delivers us from it all (Ps 34:19). God alone stands as our safety, the only one who will securely hold us down when the car does a heart-stopping spin. Whatever it throws at you is not enough to throw you off because you know who you serve, and whose arms you rest in. We are not to be scared and put-off after another scary drop. If in our fear, we let go of the hand that keeps us, wanting out of the life, out of our Christian walk, because we can’t deal with the intensity, we end up hurting ourselves. We are repeatedly told about trials we would have to face as Christians. If one more twist is all it takes to break us, then it means we have let go of faith, and held on to fear with every fibre of our being.

The ride I went on is best described as a kiddie ride, compared to the Mega and Giga rollercoasters, with drops of over 200 and 300 feet. I certainly would not have gone close to any ride I felt I couldn’t handle. God knows what we can handle. He’s the one who equipped us when He created us, the one who knew what we would be about, even before we were formed in our mother’s womb, and so He wouldn’t give us more than we can’t handle. While some would do better on a mega coaster, I might faint, because I haven’t been equipped to muster that one. He knows the strength He’s given us, so all we have to do is tap into it whenever trials come. “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Prov 24:10 (KJV). We probably faint because we fail to tap into the authority that has been given to us, to realise that everything is happening is for our good in the end.

Stay comforted in the fact that the end will surely come, and it will be a good one. “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” 1 Pet 1:6. Don’t try to wiggle your way out of life because you feel you can’t handle whatever you’re going through, “…be strong in your faith… In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” 1 Pet 5:9-10.

In no time, the ride will eventually slow down and come to a complete stop, and you’ll be on your feet again, on firm foundation, like Peter says. Just around the corner is your joy.

“Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” 1 Pet 4:12-13 (MSG).

Knowing your end is far more glorious than what life (the ride) throws at you isn’t being unrealistic or running away from the problem, it is the truth…, the truth that keeps you wanting to live, even as you get another abrupt twist thrown at you. All will be well indeed. I certainly don’t want to go through life and my walk with God the way I went through that ride. Like my niece said “know it’ll be alright”. I want to go through life knowing that no matter what I face, all is well.

I came out realising that most people, even in their fear, make the decision to enjoy the ride. Thus when the camera captures them in the midst of the scary rides, they have smiles on their faces, even as they grip the safety bars. A line from Kirk Franklin’s song ‘Smile’ goes like this, “I smile, even though I hurt see I smile. I know God is working so I smile.”