Up, up, up. The ascent is torturous. I squeeze my eyes closed and hold on so tight that my knuckles are white. On top of that, I am in physical pain from the lap bar. When the attendant instructed the riders to push the bar down until it clicked, I wanted to be sure, so I sucked in and got an extra click. Now, I am pretty sure it is rubbing against my spine. The voices of my family prodding at me echo in the background. They like to play a game to see who can get me to open my eyes, but right now, my thoughts are on what is to come. With every creak of the coaster being pulled to the top, the anxiety intensifies because I know once the little car reaches the peak, it is down, down, down, and that sharp pang will flow through my chest plunging my heart into my stomach. Why is this supposed to be fun?
***
I absolutely detest roller coasters. Actually, I detest any amusement park ride that involves a sudden drop. My fear of that abrupt fall is so bad that I cannot even relax when the coaster car is barely creeping up the incline. My heart races out of control in constant panic for the entire ride.
With all of the ups and downs, life is like a roller coaster, and I often find myself reacting in the same way. When great things are happening and life seems to be smooth sailing, I know I should be basking in the moment. However, instead of enjoying the view from the mountaintop, I enter panic mode anticipating the fiery arrow that is going to send me spiraling from the picturesque summit into a valley of darkness.
Christians are not exempt from problems and hardships in life. Actually, the Bible tells us we will have struggles, but the Bible also tells us that, as Christians, God is with us through those struggles. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (KJV). Not only does the scripture say we will have tribulation, but the Bible is filled with stories of people facing struggles. Joseph, Moses, Jeremiah, Job, Paul, …the list goes on.
As a child, one of my favorite Bible stories was Noah’s ark because I loved animals and the bright colors of the rainbow. I can still see the image in my mind as I would hear the story. A giant wooden boat with a long string of animals lined up two by two as far as the eye can see. Noah with a tall cane in his hand stands beside the door keeping order as the animals walk up the ramp and board the ark. I did not think about the time frame and the amount of physical labor that went into constructing a ship the magnitude of the ark. I did not think about the storm Noah and his family weathered inside of the ship being tossed about on waves with no land in sight. I did not think about how long a year would have seemed to Noah and his family enclosed in the ark. Talk about going stir crazy. But, in the end, the sun came out.
I have heard the saying that it takes both the sun and the rain to make a rainbow. God placed the rainbow in the sky as a symbol of his promise to never destroy the earth by flood again. But, when I see a rainbow, I am also reminded that if I keep my trust in God, He will see me through the storm and let the sun’s rays shine on me again. Just like a plant needs the rain and the sun to grow, so do we.
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope. And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5 KJV).
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3 KJV).
After all, we are part of God’s army, and an army does not go into battle without training. So, when you see a rainbow, remember God’s promise, but also remember that if you hold on to God, He will get you through the storm.
***
I stand with my shoulders slumped, my body crumpling beneath the pounding rain. My insides scream that I cannot endure the pain. It seems just yesterday that I stood with full lungs upon the mountaintop, the sun illuminated every space. Happiness consumed me in the depths of my soul, and I had a smile that I thought could never be erased. Now, I have awakened in this valley of dark shadows hovering and smothering, trying to steal every breath of air. The enemy claws and rips at the wound telling me to give up, but a powerful voice says, “Just follow me, I will help you escape this dragon’s lair.” I hold on as He pulls me along, and as the shadows fade, the sky gets a little lighter. The higher He pulls me, the higher we climb, the colors of the rainbow get a little brighter. With every step, His hand squeezes mine, and He whispers, “Take one more…. This is the only way to the mountain that is better than the one before.” And then I remember as the rainbow comes into full view, the creator of this rainbow is also the creator of me. With every valley that I endure, and every new rainbow that I see, if I keep my faith and trust in Him, through the smiles and tears, through the agony and glee, my Father will lead me to the mountaintop with the golden plans He designed especially for me.
If there was any doubt what the rainbow is meant to represent, this story should clear that up. We shouldn’t try to take something from God’s Holy Word and try to brand it with a new meaning. Personally, the up’s and down’s we face in this world can certainly overwhelm us “IF” we allow it to by not always trusting God to walk with us daily & carry us when we need it. Maybe that saying “Let Your Faith be Bigger Than Your Fears” is covered in this story. I appreciate your stories. They certainly give me food for thought. Thank you….and I loved the poem at the end!!