Roller Coaster

Up and down. Up and down. Does anyone else's life seem like a roller coaster? Kind of ironic that I am terrified of that particular theme park ride....

I've just finished reading a book called "God Said Yes" by Heather Hornback-Bland. It's a story of a woman who has had well over 100 surgeries, divorced, miscarried... seems like if it was something bad, it has happened to her. As rough as her life was, she found strength in God. It's really an amazing story. And it's given me some fresh perspective on this roller coaster ride.

One of the points in her book was that we can tell God what we really think. We can be mad at Him. We can say we hate Him. We can scream and cry and moan to Him. He can take whatever we dish out. It's no surprise to Him. His shoulders are big enough to carry the load.

She also says that God doesn't owe us anything. At one point she thought she was being rewarded for her pain but the "reward" was then taken away. She couldn't understand it. But she came to learn that God gives gifts. He gives them freely, not as part of a reward system.

I knew these things already...really, I did. It was a bit strange to see them spelled out on the page I was reading. It was like the light bulb came on over my head (like you see in cartoons) but at the same time I was slapping myself in the forehead because I already knew it! God spoke to me in so many ways in this book. Please read it for yourself if you get the chance.

One thing I do know for sure...the ups and downs don't end. Sometimes I'm prepared for them and sometimes they sneak up on me. But I am learning to lean on the one who is always prepared. He is always there, knowing what will happen before it happens to me. He comforts, He loves, He provides. And I am forever grateful.