Facing Fear, Trusting God.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

“Come on, Lacey!  If these little kids can ride this roller coaster, you can!”  I was so embarrassed.  This was my first trip with the Youth Group, one that I had looked forward to for so long because we were going to Six Flags in Atlanta, Georgia.  Who wouldn’t be excited about that?  My 12-year-old self loved every part of Six Flags… except the roller coasters. 

My older brother, Josh, was also in the youth group.  My role in the group was quickly established as the girl who was fine and content with holding everybody’s bags and Birkenstocks.  Because she didn’t want me to miss out on something out of fear, my mom finally offered me a bribe: if I could ride a real roller coaster, then she would pay me $40.  So I tried to force myself to ride a roller coaster with only two loops.  I got on the ride with my big brother, my protector.  I pulled the safety bar down, and then did the, oh so mature thing: started crying and screaming for them to let me off.

My brother, his friends, and eventually everyone who was waiting in line started encouraging me and telling me I could do it.  It wouldn’t last long.  It would be over before I knew it.  If the little kids could do it, surely a twelve year old could ride it.  I mustered up all my courage, held my breath, stopped the tears, and I told the guys running the ride that I could do it.  As soon as the ride started, the tears started back.  I screamed and cried the entire ride, begging for it to stop.  A thunderous applause awaited my return.  I was so embarrassed when the smaller kids got off the ride laughing and asking to ride it again, but I did it.  I rode a roller coaster. 

Besides roller coasters, I have several fears, and I hate the way fear controls my life sometimes.  I heard someone say the bigger our fear is, the smaller our God is.  We are ultimately telling God that we don’t trust Him to keep us safe.  The same God that parted the Red Sea, gave sight to the blind, and gave life to the dead can keep us safe on a roller coaster. 

This year's theme of VBS is Colossal Coaster World: Facing Fear, Trusting God.  We are learning about Paul and his scary life situations, and how he trusted God through all of the storms.  I signed up before I knew the theme, and I almost backed out because I’m scared of everything, including roller coasters.  I have no business telling kids to trust God when you’re scared when that is my personal struggle.  My little brother said, “Well, maybe you and the 3-year-olds can get over your fear of the dark together!”  Thanks, little bro. 

 

As a Christian, we are told that we will face trials bigger than roller coasters in this world, but we are supposed to consider trials as a joyful blessing (James 1:2-4).  God knows what trials we will face, and He will be there with us through each one.  He doesn’t want us to be scared through the trials.  He wants us to trust in Him and face the trials with courage and faith.  I’m not going to try to tell you the secret for facing your fears because I’m learning it myself, but I’m hoping this week I can learn how to face my fears and trust in God to keep me safe through this roller coaster of a life.