Roller Coaster?

Some have referred to life as being like a "roller coaster". Though this expression is generally indicative of life's ups and downs, there is a sense in which life is actually nothing like a roller coaster. I love roller coasters. When I pay my money to ride it is not for the experience of the upward climb, but for the thrill of plunging downward; diving down into those dips and turns and experiencing all the sensations that go along with the ride. However, when it comes to life, I don't long for the plunges into the valleys and the sensations (feelings) that go along with that part of the journey. Sometimes I even hate them! Nevertheless, the valleys are an inescapable part of life's experience and because of them we do appreciate the mountaintops a bit more. Going from one mountain to another one must go through the valleys and the valleys are ultimately the way to the highest peak.

Perhaps you are presently experiencing a mountaintop in your life or feel you are walking through a valley. In the last two months our family has experienced both mountaintops and valleys. With these experiences, the emotions and sensations have gone up and down. There has been the sharing of both joy and sorrow in the view of a birth and two deaths. We have been thankful for faith in a loving God Who knows more fully what we do not and for the support of others.

In the beloved twenty-third Psalm, David stated. . .
"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 ESV)

Life is a journey filled with ups and downs. We must KEEP MOVING ON. We must NOT STOP IN THE VALLEYS. Even David did not see himself being left in the shadowy valley, but referred to a WALKING "THROUGH" it. The valley was the route to the mountaintop and his trust was in the Great Shepherd to not abandon him in the valley, but to guide him upward to greener pastures. In that trust the psalmist found great comfort.

We may not know all that God has in mind or what can become of those experiences in the shadows of the valley, but we can trust in His loving awareness and the guidance He is ready to provide. Like David, we need to CONTINUE PRESSING ON with the anticipation we will be traveling back up again. May we continually find comfort in God's presence through the varied experiences of this life's ups and downs as we are encouraged to KEEP MOVING toward the highest peak of His eternal abiding place and the grand reunion with those who have made that journey before us.

Have a great day TRUSTING GOD THROUGH EACH STEP OF LIFE'S JOURNEY!
Carl

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