Stay on the Ride

by Brian Johnson

We don’t like trials. I think that goes without being said, but it’s one of the methods God uses to conform us to the image of Christ James 1:2 says, “…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Paul says, in Romans 5:3 that “…we glory in tribulations…” and they eventually end up with hope in verse 4. How can that be? How can a difficult beginning end in hope? Let’s discuss.

I love roller coasters. So, I was excited to take my oldest son on his first roller coaster when he was nine years old. While we waited in line for about an hour, I checked with him frequently to make sure he was still okay with the ride. He assured me he was. As coasters typically do, it started slowly creeping up the first hill, creating anticipation for the first dip. We got over the hill and started to come down when, all of a sudden, the ride stopped. We were stuck on the ride, strapped in our seats in a declined position.

Obviously, I was concerned about my son. A couple of workers walked up the stairs to let us know they were working on the ride. I asked one of them if they wouldn’t mind taking my son back down with them. He said to me, “Once we get the ride going again, it’s actually safer to go through it.” I said okay, and after a few minutes, they got things going, and everything ended up okay.

When difficulty comes into our lives, our natural inclination is to get away from it as quickly as possible. That’s understandable. We want off of the ride. But, if you’ve prayed about it and God still allows it, trust that He knows what He’s doing. 1 Peter 5:10 says, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ

Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

God doesn’t promise that we won’t go through suffering. In fact, He tells us we will. But, after that suffering, we gain so much and become more like Christ in the process. That’s why we can have hope. When God continually shows His power in our lives by bringing us through trial after trial as we trust Him, we become spiritually mature, established, settled, and hopeful regardless of the circumstances. The hope that’s developed gives us the ability to have peace that passes understanding in the midst of the ride and will give us a testimony to share about the power of God in our lives.

The ride that God takes us on isn’t smooth, but if you stay on, He’ll be able to take you to places and work through you in ways you never would’ve imagined. Trust Him in the trial. Stay on the ride. By the way, my son is 22 now and still likes roller coasters.