Life is A Roller Coaster; But Jesus Is Unchanging And Stable

I wish I could be one of those who never have to struggle with “valley experiences” but I do. Life in my own experience can be likened to a rollercoaster. Some days are easily great and others, you may have to make great. I met a lady recently who does not have “valley experiences” but some of us do and it does not make us strange; however, we must learn to choose to make them hill top experiences. We, as believers, must learn to make the most of every day and also give thanks whether or not life feels great. In our giving thanks, I have found that no matter what life throws at us, we come out tops through Christ. I like the song that says “nobody told me that life was going to be easy” because nobody actually did but something inside us just desires for it to be easy. Interestingly, after one has gone through the tough experiences of life, you want to shield everyone you know from these experiences but reality is that one way or the other, life catches up with everyone. So please don’t think you are strange because life caught up with you; nor does it describe the extent of your walk with God. If anything, it is the way you deal or handle life’s attempts to determine the cause of your life that is a reflection of the extent of your walk with God.

 

Ecclesiastes 1: 5 – 6 “The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows South, and then turns north. Around and around it goes in circles.”

The sun rises and sets, so it’s bright sometimes and dark sometimes; that is life. How wonderful it is to have God especially at those times when life wants to act like the master in your life? These are those times when one’s needs almost determine the cause of your life because they guide your decision making and everyone tells you to be real and accept the reality of what you all see physically and they have the best intentions. Yet, you struggle with it because you know that what you see physically is not what it ought to be and because you have Jesus you have the opportunity of seeing what it ought to be through His eyes so you know what it ought to and can be. The truth is having Christ in one’s life is a privilege with several benefits. Only those who know how to take advantage of the benefits will enjoy them but it takes being strong to take advantage of these things. You have to be strong enough to determine how and what you want to see despite what goes on around you and only those who know their God can see what He sees. It takes really knowing Him to be certain that despite what you see, all will somehow be well at the end of it all. No wonder God takes us through these experiences that toughen one. The way He says to strengthen the feeble knees is almost as if He is irritated with those who pamper themselves but it’s all because it does take being strong to be more than conquerors.

Hebrews 12: 11 - 12 “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.”

Daniel 11: 32b “But the people who know their God shall be strong.”

God is one Father that loves so much and yet is not excessively protective. He is with you but lets you go through the valley of the shadow of death with a certainty that if you hold on and trust Him, you will come through. I wonder sometimes why He brings one through instead of just taking us around the valley experiences after all He will still be God whether we go through or go round them; but I have found that the maturity and strength one gathers going through often helps to carry the success that comes with it well and prepares one for the difficulties that come with going even higher. There is no doubt that God not only makes good decisions, but makes the right decisions. He knows what we don’t know so that He is better placed to make decisions that have long term positive effects. I know it is tough to keep trusting God when one does not have the full picture and a part of you keeps saying there is a better way which is based on facts you have and seem able to control, but we must realize that His thoughts toward us are always thoughts of good so He will always do us good and He is much wiser than we are.

Jeremiah 29: 11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

I do know that some people are so particular about being positive in their confessions because they believe it will keep them from valley experiences but it wouldn’t. It is important, wise and in consonance with the teachings of Christ for your confessions to align with the word of God but it doesn’t mean you won’t have the experiences you prefer to evade; it just means that your confessions will keep you as you go through it all and also bring you out a better and more positive person. This is the reason we are more than conquerors. We conquer through Christ and surpass all expectations. We are built to weather the storms of life and come out victorious because Christ already won the victory for us.

Romans 8: 27 “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”