I hate rollercoasters; I refuse to ride them. Plunging down a steep slope, only to experience extreme G-forces at the bottom, has no attraction for me. In my estimation, the price of a ticket is a waste of money. When I hear the term “roller coaster,” I imagine trying to ride out a coastal earthquake and tsunami. I feel the same way about rides that spin you. To me, calling such a place an “amusement park” is an oxymoron. A quiet day at the pool or beach is more my style.
Immature Christians are prone to live like a rollercoaster, up and down, up and down. Lacking the stabilizing knowledge of His Word, they are always looking for a shot in the arm. God doesn’t want us to remain “infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14) That’s why I wrote Adventures: So, you’d received Jesus …Now what? (on Amazon) to help new Jesus-followers get grounded in the Word quickly.
Many new believers assume that something is wrong if they are not “happy in the Lord” all the time. However, whether Christian or not, life is a series of events that alternate between enjoyable, mundane, and miserable. In spite of whatever is happening in life, Christians are called to trust Jesus and follow Him. To enable us to always thank God we must be assured that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I may give thanks through tears of grief, but trusting that my life is in God’s hands makes it possible.
In everyone’s life, there are times of deep shadows. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) When David penned these words, he was probably thinking of the times he led his flock to the cooler high country when the valley heat dried up the grasses. To get to the high ground, he led his sheep through mountain passes that were dark and could hide carnivorous beasts. The sheep’s only protection was the shepherd’s presence, rod, and staff.
Elijah and Moses both had mountaintop experiences. Elijah’s was his faceoff with 850 false prophets on Mt. Carmel. Moses’ was atop Mt. Sinai with God, Himself. Yet, down in the valley, both men fell into the dark pit of depression, asking God to kill them (1 Kings 19:4 and Numbers 11:15). It’s normal for us to have mountaintop encounters with God and also valley floor experiences. Like David speaks of his sheep in Psalm 23, we are to find our contentment in the Lord whether times are enjoyable, mundane, or depressing.
If you haven’t yet placed your complete dependence on Jesus for salvation, He promises to be with you once you do. Life will still have its ups and downs, but He will walk with you through it all and you’ll be welcomed into Heaven when death comes.
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