I’m always looking for something of a great metaphor to compare my life to. I’ve heard many comparisons to how fast that life goes. There was only one that really stood out to me:
Life is totally like a roller coaster. You start out with no idea how anything is going to go, and before you know it, you are already through the first part of the ride, wishing you could go back to your childhood. And as the ride of life goes on, you start going around curves and quick jumps up and down you have never faced, seeing temptations and feeling new things for the very first time. And before you know it, your teenage years through high school are over.
The ride keeps on getting more and more exciting, leading you to want to get to the next part quicker, graduating college and finding that first job. Even perhaps finding the love of your life and starting a family. Then you run into the ups and downs that don’t make you feel as good. In fact, life gets so hard that all we want to do is shut our eyes and hope that the next part isn’t as bad as the hill we just came up and down.
Now we’ve been on the ride for a while, so now we think that we know what is ahead of us based on all the spins that we’ve already made, we grow wise from all of our prior experiences that we have dealt with so far. But before you know it, eventually something hits you; you now realize that just as quick as the ride started, and all the fun that it was, that you can now see the end of the ride in sight.
And as for everyone, the ride finally comes to an end, with people all around you, watching how you handled the ride, observing just how well you took it. And just like that, the next generation is on board and ready to take off on the same journey, not really realizing what’s ahead.
When I think about all of this, it makes me realize, that no matter how fast my ride of life is going, that if I let God be a part of it, I have that security for my soul. That no matter what ups or downs are in front of me, that I will be content with my life, and knowing that when my ride is over, that there will be a even better place to go, with far more beyond my own imagination.
This all brings me back to a scripture. I’m posting the whole thing, and letting you read for yourself, to find how it speaks to you:
Psalm 139:
1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.