Roller coaster rides

Read Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is always the same,yesterday,today and for ever. (JBP)

We can never be quite sure what the day might bring. We can hit the heights or plunge the depths. The very unpredictability of life can be a strain for us. When will the darkness lift? When will the gladness fade? Will this healing be confirmed or will I have a relapse? Is this new friendship to be a lasting encouragement or a temporary respite? Life can be much like a roller coaster and following Jesus doesn’t always level things out.

Instead of trying vainly to wrestle circumstances so as to smooth things out,we do better to cling to the truth expressed in this text. Only Jesus is unchangeable. Our life situations are always fluid. While we thankfully enjoy what we have,we remain aware that circumstances can change. This awareness can lead us to despair and a lack of thankfulness.

So we have to factor in this deeper awareness of the sure and constant love of God shown in Jesus. I can’t get off the roller coaster that seems to constitute my life,but I can be sure I am loved through all the ups and downs.

We live life to the full,but life itself is not our God. It is too changeable for that. Our God fills our life but is not subject to its vagaries. He is,as the poet Eliot puts it,”the still point of our turning world”.

Blessings
David Reay