It's amazing how your life can change so fast. In the past year and a half my life has been shaken. I've been up and down in my emotions. I've been thrown from side to side with life events. In this time, I have been broken and beaten to my knees, calling out for Christ everyday. I cry out because I have learned that in this time of change the only way I stand is with faith in Christ Alone. You may have heard it said that life is like a roller coaster, so have I. And after what I have been through the past year and a half, I truly do believe that statement.
The Pre Game Rush
When you first get into a cart on a roller coaster, you have the anticipation that something great is on the brink. You have stood in line waiting for hours to get your turn on the ride. All you have is the story's of friends who have been on the ride before, or the faces of the people coming off as they pass you standing in line. When you get into that cart you know it's finally your turn and you are excited for the upcoming experience. A year and a half ago I was a senior at my Institution. I was ready to graduate and move right into the world of children's ministry, as I have felt called by God to do. I've had senioritis since the day I was born and I was excited to finish my schooling. However, God had more for me in my senior year than I anticipated.
Going Up
Click....Click...Click. If you have been on a big roller coaster, you know the feeling you get when you're in the cart and you hear that sound. The sound of the coaster going up and up with only the sound of the chain clicking. The sound puts nerves in your system and adrenaline shoots through your body. That is the exact feeling I got when I met the girl of my dreams. In the first week of my senior year I met the girl I would spend the rest of my life with. The early days with her were filled with nerves and adrenaline. I knew she was special and was thankful that God put her in my life. I was starting the year on a high note and I my heart was filled with so much joy, God was doing so much more during this time than I ever expected.
Going Down
As soon as you hear the click on at the top of the roller coaster, the downward plunge begins. You get sent down at incredible speed and at an angle that makes you feel like your going to fall right out of your seat. Right before winter break, I received a letter that I was dismissed from my Institution. My GPA was not at the level that Institution required. Although I thought otherwise, I was told there was no way to bring it back up to the requirement they had in place. All of a sudden I had been sent down at an incredible speed. With one semester left I was removed and told that I couldn't do it. This sent me into a whirl wind of emotions as I returned home. I was physically sick and emotionally broken. I spent my Christmas with sores in my mouth and my mind moving thousands of miles an hour. After everything I worked for was taken from me, I had no idea how I would go on.
Whipping back and Forth
All roller coasters have to have that middle part with quick turns and tight ups and downs. These jolting lashes help gain speed for the bigger moments ahead. I started online schooling in March with my Institution and planned to finish in the next semester. I got to continue my schooling, but I didn't get to stay on campus with friends for our last semester. I got to finish school, but I did't get to walk and celebrate our achievements with people I've been through so much of life with. Little things like this were some of the twist and turns that life suddenly threw at me. In the summer I had a chance to travel out of the country to do ministry with a team and my relationship with Ashlyn continued to grow. With each twist I was picking up speed and getting ready for some big moments that were to come.
The Finale
When so much momentum is gained on a roller coaster, the chains aren't needed to help the carts glide across the tracks any longer. You get sent up fast, the clicks have silenced, and you don't even know where that momentum and speed is going to take you. In the end this momentum takes you to the best part of the ride, even if it scares you a little bit. This could be a loop, a flip upside down, etc. In my life, all the momentum building in these past years took me to a new place that I have never been before. ENGAGEMENT. I proposed to Ashlyn and she said YES. It was the biggest rush of my life. It happened so fast and a little scary with where I knew God was taking us but it was the best thing to ever happened to me.
Easing into the Station
When you get into the station, you breath. You know it's over and you relax .You look to the friend next to you and take a big sigh of relief filled with bewilderment. After I got engaged in November, I graduated in December and finally had a chance to breath knowing that I was done with school. I looked to my friends and family next to me and took a breather with them, they were with me the whole way. Looking back I had them next to my side through every part of the ride. During the first weeks of school my friends were right there helping me make decisions about a future relationship, my parents were there when I got dismissed without any judgment, and Ash has been there the whole way through everything and I couldn't thank them enough.
The Picture Station
After a great ride you always go to the picture station. You see the face you made at some of the scariest and most exciting points of the ride. I look back frequently at what I have been through. I see all the highs and lows that have happened in the past year and a half and see how God is continually teaching me through those moments.
Jumping back on
If its a great ride, even when it's an unexpected one, you jump right back in line or on to the next ride. I am ready to jump on to the next ride. I have been through a lot and know that I'm going to have highs and lows, tosses and turns. However, during every part I realized that I needed something to get through all this. I needed Christ through everything. I had to have faith in God in every high and every low and trust in His sovereignty. He was that safety bar holding me into the cart. He knew what drops were coming and what turns were about to happen in my life. I had to trust in Him that I would be safe and I would get through the ride that season of life safely. I have a greater faith in Christ right now and I have fallen on my knees asking for his help multiple times in the past year and a half and I will continue to do that as I jump onto the next ride of life. As of now I am searching for a job, planning a wedding, and preparing for marriage. I seek his help everyday. I fall on my knees and worship Him because I have faith that he will provide, and for that, and so much more, He alone deserves my praise. I have no reason to fear, God is in control of every unexpected twists and turns and has a plan for everyone's roller coster of life.
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
The Pre Game Rush
When you first get into a cart on a roller coaster, you have the anticipation that something great is on the brink. You have stood in line waiting for hours to get your turn on the ride. All you have is the story's of friends who have been on the ride before, or the faces of the people coming off as they pass you standing in line. When you get into that cart you know it's finally your turn and you are excited for the upcoming experience. A year and a half ago I was a senior at my Institution. I was ready to graduate and move right into the world of children's ministry, as I have felt called by God to do. I've had senioritis since the day I was born and I was excited to finish my schooling. However, God had more for me in my senior year than I anticipated.
Going Up
Click....Click...Click. If you have been on a big roller coaster, you know the feeling you get when you're in the cart and you hear that sound. The sound of the coaster going up and up with only the sound of the chain clicking. The sound puts nerves in your system and adrenaline shoots through your body. That is the exact feeling I got when I met the girl of my dreams. In the first week of my senior year I met the girl I would spend the rest of my life with. The early days with her were filled with nerves and adrenaline. I knew she was special and was thankful that God put her in my life. I was starting the year on a high note and I my heart was filled with so much joy, God was doing so much more during this time than I ever expected.
Going Down
As soon as you hear the click on at the top of the roller coaster, the downward plunge begins. You get sent down at incredible speed and at an angle that makes you feel like your going to fall right out of your seat. Right before winter break, I received a letter that I was dismissed from my Institution. My GPA was not at the level that Institution required. Although I thought otherwise, I was told there was no way to bring it back up to the requirement they had in place. All of a sudden I had been sent down at an incredible speed. With one semester left I was removed and told that I couldn't do it. This sent me into a whirl wind of emotions as I returned home. I was physically sick and emotionally broken. I spent my Christmas with sores in my mouth and my mind moving thousands of miles an hour. After everything I worked for was taken from me, I had no idea how I would go on.
Whipping back and Forth
All roller coasters have to have that middle part with quick turns and tight ups and downs. These jolting lashes help gain speed for the bigger moments ahead. I started online schooling in March with my Institution and planned to finish in the next semester. I got to continue my schooling, but I didn't get to stay on campus with friends for our last semester. I got to finish school, but I did't get to walk and celebrate our achievements with people I've been through so much of life with. Little things like this were some of the twist and turns that life suddenly threw at me. In the summer I had a chance to travel out of the country to do ministry with a team and my relationship with Ashlyn continued to grow. With each twist I was picking up speed and getting ready for some big moments that were to come.
The Finale
When so much momentum is gained on a roller coaster, the chains aren't needed to help the carts glide across the tracks any longer. You get sent up fast, the clicks have silenced, and you don't even know where that momentum and speed is going to take you. In the end this momentum takes you to the best part of the ride, even if it scares you a little bit. This could be a loop, a flip upside down, etc. In my life, all the momentum building in these past years took me to a new place that I have never been before. ENGAGEMENT. I proposed to Ashlyn and she said YES. It was the biggest rush of my life. It happened so fast and a little scary with where I knew God was taking us but it was the best thing to ever happened to me.
Easing into the Station
When you get into the station, you breath. You know it's over and you relax .You look to the friend next to you and take a big sigh of relief filled with bewilderment. After I got engaged in November, I graduated in December and finally had a chance to breath knowing that I was done with school. I looked to my friends and family next to me and took a breather with them, they were with me the whole way. Looking back I had them next to my side through every part of the ride. During the first weeks of school my friends were right there helping me make decisions about a future relationship, my parents were there when I got dismissed without any judgment, and Ash has been there the whole way through everything and I couldn't thank them enough.
The Picture Station
After a great ride you always go to the picture station. You see the face you made at some of the scariest and most exciting points of the ride. I look back frequently at what I have been through. I see all the highs and lows that have happened in the past year and a half and see how God is continually teaching me through those moments.
Jumping back on
If its a great ride, even when it's an unexpected one, you jump right back in line or on to the next ride. I am ready to jump on to the next ride. I have been through a lot and know that I'm going to have highs and lows, tosses and turns. However, during every part I realized that I needed something to get through all this. I needed Christ through everything. I had to have faith in God in every high and every low and trust in His sovereignty. He was that safety bar holding me into the cart. He knew what drops were coming and what turns were about to happen in my life. I had to trust in Him that I would be safe and I would get through the ride that season of life safely. I have a greater faith in Christ right now and I have fallen on my knees asking for his help multiple times in the past year and a half and I will continue to do that as I jump onto the next ride of life. As of now I am searching for a job, planning a wedding, and preparing for marriage. I seek his help everyday. I fall on my knees and worship Him because I have faith that he will provide, and for that, and so much more, He alone deserves my praise. I have no reason to fear, God is in control of every unexpected twists and turns and has a plan for everyone's roller coster of life.
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20