Roller Coaster of Life
Recently while in conversation with a friend about the trials, struggles, tribulations and growing pains, I explained, “Sista, we are in it together and we will laugh through the pain.” I was reminded how this was the same conversation I had with someone I recently met when he explained, “I am on the same roller coaster as you,” after I shared my ups and downs in this season. His comment brought to memory something the Lord shared a little over a year ago which I had completely forgotten about until he brought up the word “Roller Coaster.”
If you are in a season of highs and lows, along with pain, struggles and testing, this is an encouragement to learn to laugh in the midst of it all.
I was at a theme park where I went on a roller coaster, I was at the very front of the train, we started climbing and there was a 5 second hold at the very top of the track before the big drop. Like any thrill-seeking person would do on a roller coaster, I put my hands up and we fell, fast. I started laughing, the air started hitting my face, I couldn’t breathe. The air was coming towards me so strongly, preventing me from breathing, nevertheless, I kept laughing. The ride stops. I turn to my cousin and express, “what just happened?” Still with laughter trying to catch my breath.
We go on a second roller coaster. I am not in front this time but again, the ride begins, instantly I begin laughing. My hands in the air, the turns came so I tried to hold on as I was being tossed, then the loops came, I held my belly it hurt from the laughter and again I couldn’t breathe, tears started coming from the depth of the laughter. At the end, I asked, “why am I laughing so hard?” My cousin turns to me and explains, “Maritza, it’s because you are having fun. This is what it’s like to have fun.”
Once I got off the roller coaster and began walking, the word of the Lord came. “Maritza why don’t you laugh on the roller coaster called life the way you laugh on these roller coasters? Just like these roller coasters you were on; life comes the same way. The twists, the turns, the loops, just like on Ghost Rider the turns come so unexpectedly and suddenly. You laughed from the depth of your being when these turns came so quickly. In the same way Maritza, you can laugh when these turns and twists of life come.”
Laughter is powerful, terrorizing the kingdom of darkness and eliminating anxieties and fears. Laughter brings lightness to your being, blowing away the heavy weights of worry. This is why The Lord brought this up. He wants you to step into His confidence, laughing at the plans of the enemy!
Psalm 2:4 says, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.” (This is speaking of the Lord ridiculing the conspiracy against Him. Which means, any kind of attack from the enemy against you, the Lord laughs and ridicules those plans because you are HIS.)
Let go of all the expectations and fears of the unknown and laugh, put your hands up (which is a sign of surrender) and let the roller coaster take you through the twists and turns. Let the wind hit your face and learn to have fun, listening to the laughter of others, and even their screams, knowing that the Creator of heaven and earth holds your future.
Who knows in the end He may just be waiting for you with a funnel cake in hand, a boysenberry punch in the other ready to sit with you, laugh with you and recount the exciting parts of the roller coaster.
May this season be filled with the joy of the Lord and genuine laughter for you in Jesus name.
