Roller Coaster of Fear

roller coaster

 

When I was about fifteen, my youth group took a trip to an amusement park.  Everyone was so excited to ride all the rides; especially the roller coasters.  I shared a smile with everyone else and pretended to be excited to ride all the coasters.

But the truth was that on the inside I was completely terrified. 

The only roller coasters I had ridden were kiddy coasters at the local fair, and as a child I was terrified then too.

Once we got into the park, the time had come.  I couldn’t delay it any longer.  Everyone got in line for the first coaster, but I held back.

What if I fell out?  Would everyone make fun of me for sitting out?  And what if I threw up?! 

My palms started to sweat and my heart began to race.

One of my dear best friends took my hand and encouraged me to get on.  “You’ll love it if you just try it,” she said.  “I’ll hold your hand the whole time, and if you don’t like it you don’t have to ride anymore after this,” she offered with a sweet smile.  I hesitated but agreed.

Click. Click. Click. Click.

My heart was beating out of my chest as we approached the top of the roller coaster.  You could practically see the entire amusement park from the top! Then the free fall came.  And I was hooked. I couldn’t get enough of that feeling.  You know the feeling when stomach is going to fly out of your mouth!  After I got off the ride I was so glad my friend had encouraged me to face my fear.

Has fear been holding you back?

Among all the four letter words we’re taught as children that are bad words to say, fear is not usually among them.  But fear can be an ugly word can’t it?  It brings about self-doubt, confusion, hesitation, and often times doubt in God’s plan for our lives.

There have been many times that I’ve let fear take over my desire to pursue something.  For a long time I felt the call to become a writer and begin my ministry but I let fear stop me.  Fear (i.e., Satan) likes to plant seeds of doubt in our minds.

Fear.

Fear tells us we’ll be rejected.

Fear tells us we’re not good enough.

Fear tells us we can’t do it.

But there’s another word we should take into account…

Faith.

Faith tells us we’ll be accepted.

Faith tells us we are made in God’s image.

Faith tells us that with God all things are possible.

When I think of fear and faith, I can’t help but think back to Abraham.  What a faithful man he was!  Each time he was tested, he continued to show unfailing faith.  I’m sure he felt fear just like we do; but he completely trusted in God’s promise to him.

Fearless

What’s fear holding you back from?

Do you feel called to take a leap of faith on something you feel God is calling you to do?

Has fear stopped you from reaching out to someone you’ve wanted to share God’s word with?

If you’re a teen or twenty-something, have you been fearful of what your future holds?

Life can be just like a roller coaster, full of ups and downs, twists and turns.  Some we see coming and some take us by surprise.  But we can have faith that God will be holding our hand through the whole ride.  So let us no longer be fearful.

Let us be fearless.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that you will help us to erase fear from our lives.  Help us to trust in you and have the unfailing faith that Abraham had.  Your promise is true and your word tells us that you have plans for us to prosper.  Thank you for the freedom we have in Christ.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Light, space, zest-

that’s God!

So, with him on my side I’m fearless,

afraid of no one and nothing.

Psalm 27:1 (MSG)

Today will you choose to have faith like Abraham?

Download the BRAVE resource to help you fight fear with courageous faith.

 

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