Theology of a Roller Coaster

Sometimes for me it is easier to process something by writing it out. This is my attempt to work through something God has been teaching me as of late. There have been some things going on in my life, not the least of which is moving across the country to a new life 2,000 miles away, that have me a bit out of my ‘normal’ and ‘safe’ view. These things have rattled me a bit and I wanted to share a bit of me. (this blog is called, ‘You Know Me’ so I figured I’d continue that process)

In my life God seems to talk to me in concentrated times. Just the other day as I was trying to hear from God about some stuff in my life and really needing something to hold on to I came across Romans 12: 33.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

I get caught up in the strategy of life. I become overcome with my chess-like existence. “I’ll move here, then he/she/they will move that piece to there. I’ll counter with ______, etc., etc., etc.” I get tired thinking for others and anticipating life. I am learning about this idea of letting go. It’s not a letting go in an acid-trip kind of way. It’s a letting go like a roller coaster. You know you are not going to fall out so you rest in the craziness of the ride and trust you will make it back in one piece. (but there are those times when you are not too sure, right?!)

The Old Testament is rife with God’s overall plan overcoming the intentions of others. I’m not here to debate predestination or free will. I just know I take great comfort in instances such as with Joseph—arguably the first Metro, best-liked youngest child of Jacob—going from betrayed by his brothers to Pharaoh’s 2nd in command. When the family comes to Egypt to by food, due to the famine, he is gracious to them and then Genesis 50:20 Joseph states, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”

I breathe that in very deeply.

God is bigger than anything we can do. He is bigger than evil and good. He is bigger than “fair.” He is bigger than all that. God is always at work.

2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds me I “walk by faith and not by sight.”

The challenge is not to ignore my fears or explain away things that are hard to understand. But it’s simply to trust, simply to trust to the point beyond understanding and human comprehension. That’s hard.

“Please keep your arms and hands inside the car. Pull down the bar and hold on.”

Here I go?!


NOTE: check out http://www.churchatcharlotte.org/nodes/11.aspx to download the sermon “Ester—The Bad Haman” for a great word on this idea.