Putting the Thrill in "Thrill Ride"

/08One or twice a summer, my family heads to Carowinds in Charlotte for a stomach churning day filled with roller coasters, log flumes, wave pools and water slides. On one of these trips a few years ago, my son Andrew had grown tall enough to enjoy the parks most thrilling rides. As soon as we got to Carowinds, he and my husband headed straight for a coaster called Top Gun, the parks tallest and fastest ride.

It was about 2.5 seconds into the ride when my husband had the panic attack. It wasn’t because the ride scared him…but when he looked over at our young son (who was grinning ear to ear by the way), Alton began to wonder if Andrew was really big enough for the ride. Was he actually secured in his harness? Could he fall out? By the time the ride was over, my poor husband could barely breathe. He was so weak in the knees that he had to sit down for a few minutes just to compose himself. Not from excitement but from pure and utter fear.

Andrew, on the other hand was ready to do it again. And, once he realized that he and his son were safe and that he could trust the harness system on the ride, Alton was ready to take on Top Gun again as well. From that point on they have turned into roller coaster junkies…the bigger, higher and faster, the better.

When we put our trust in Jesus, we have to examine how much of our life we have actually entrusted Him with. If we approach our walk with Jesus with the same apprehension that Alton felt on that first ride with Andrew, our life will be consumed by fear and worry. However, we can learn to trust that Jesus is in control and that my family and I are completely safe in his care.

In Matthew 11:29, Jesus offers this invitation, “Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves.”
Like a roller coaster, life can be crazy, filled with ups, downs and moments of anticipation, acceleration and exhilleration. Place His yoke, His “safety harness” over your shoulders so you can rest and enjoy the ride.