The Challenges Of Life

2 Corinthians 13:6 – And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. (NIV)

Within walking distance of our house was a very large amusement park named Sunnyside. It sat nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I used to go there often. My chief ride was the merry-go-round, which I believe is now part of Disney World in California. Sometimes I would get up enough nerve to approach the derby racer, which was the same thing — only faster. The one ride, though, that fascinated me was the roller coaster. It both fascinated and filled me with fear.

From our house, which was some distance away, we could hear the people scream after they had reached the top of that first long haul up, and then went over the top and away — straight down — and then lurching to one side and around the first curve. The screaming and the thought of the weightlessness, leaving the stomach at the top, while the rest of the body went sailing down and around, was too much. No, thank you, the roller coaster wasn't for me.

Time passed and progress took all my fun away. The city decided a much-needed throughway had to go along the bottom part of the city and Sunnyside was smack in the middle of progress. The roller coaster had to be disassembled. Though they moved some of it to another location, the original was the biggest and the best. Before it went I had to have a ride on it. Now that I look back, I don't remember the ride so much as getting up the courage to get myself together, buy my ticket, and take the ride of my life.

I did it! I met the challenge.

How often in life do we let fear take away the things we would love to do —not just the fun things, but the using of the gifts we have been given?

The roller coaster was a good example of a challenge for me, but it also represents the way our lives can be, the ups and the downs, the curves we encounter. Our challenge is to leave our fears with the Lord and take up the challenges offered by God to live our lives in Him, without fear.

Prayer: Dear Lord, in this life that you have planned and given to us, help us to take on the challenges, without fear. Help us to trust in You for all our needs. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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