My children and I went to an amusement park yesterday. I had not been to one since I was a teenager. Adrenaline hits sometimes a little different as we age. Well, for most of us. I used to seek the wildest rides and I loved the thrill of it all. Now that I am an adult, I cannot handle wild rides, like when I was young. I looked at my youngest son though who had never been to an amusement park and never went on a big roller coaster; he wanted to go on it. My oldest and experienced roller-coaster son would be attending it with him. Although, I knew my youngest son would do better if he went on it with me. Besides, I wanted to see how well I would or would not do. I figured I needed to be brave. To face my adult fear of riding roller coasters and to especially be there for my youngest son. We were buckled in and before we knew it, we took off. The sound of the roller coaster pulling us higher and higher up. We knew soon we would be going down a big hill. Then, the screams started as we swiftly went up and down hills and round and round. I was praying to God that he would get me through it. As I glanced over my youngest looked how I was feeling too. Then before we knew it, the ride was over. We sat there for a minute, trying to get our bearings. Laughing partly from feeling proud that we did it, though mostly a nervous laugh that it was over. My oldest, per his usual enjoyed the ride. My youngest and I celebrated that we did it, both agreeing not to do it again. Life can be a little bit like a roller coaster at times. Sometimes we are having fun. Other times, we are holding tight and waiting for the tough part to be over. Though when we hang onto God, He gives us peace no matter what is going on and He will see us through until its over. When it is over, He helps us recover from it all and be grateful that we did it with His guidance, protection and love. Friend, today my youngest and I did something brave. Though we have no desire to ride that roller coaster again; we are proud that we did it. I’m grateful God got us safely through it. For I also know, it is through God’s strength, where we find ours. Hang tight if you’re riding through a part of life you don’t like; He will see you through. As we left the amusement park, we drove past that big roller coaster. I smiled because we made it. God seen us through it. As with anything in life, through the ups and downs, and round and round; God is with us. Through the fun and excitement and the fear and worry; He is with us. No matter what we’re doing or where we are going; He is with us. He is where I find my safety, no matter what ride I am on in life.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Psalm 121:8 NIV
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.