I was listening to Victor Thompson, a gospel artist, a few mornings ago. In one song in particular, he repeated the cry 'take the wheel oh God.' That phrase really ministered to me and resonated with my spirit. It was a cry of surrender to God to take the wheel of control and do what only He can.
My immediate thought was: Take the wheel, God, and control what feels like a terrifying rollercoaster ride without an attendant or worker in sight. This ride has made me nauseous, dizzy, fatigued, tired, feeling alone, dazed, and so much more, and it has been going on and on aimlessly. With every dip, turn, and belly dropping scare, the reality is I am still on this awful ride.
I somehow feel like I am on this rollercoaster alone, but the hard truth is we all have had or will have a seat on this dreadful ride. It is inevitable. As unwelcome and daunting as it is, it will come to a stop at some point, and that's because God is in control and has the wheel.
This is a ride that I will never forget, but the good news is eventually, the worse will be over and I won't endure this ride at this magnitude again. Praise God for that!
In this life, we will endure hardships, suffering, and struggles. Yet we serve a God that will comfort us through every hardship and strengthen us to persevere. Grief and loss are hard to navigate, but with God in control He will not let us go. It may feel like we’re on a chaotic journey on a wild ride, but when we let God take the wheel, we can begin to experience His peace.
God is still faithful…even in this.
Uplifting Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 4:13 - “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”
Isaiah 40:31 - “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”
What are some things we usually lean on for protection, trust, and security while on a horrifying ride?
We ensure that we're well harnessed
Our relationship with the Lord keeps us safe and secure on this rollercoaster.
We secure any loose items such as cell phones, glasses, or flip flops
While grieving, the Word of God can keep things in our lives from falling apart and intact.
We trust the attendants, workers, and inspectors of the rides.
In addition to the Lord, resources such as counselors, therapists, and pastors help us through.
We lean on others on this ride and those seated beside us for support.
Friends, family, and others who are going through grief can be supportive
I hope this is encouraging, friend. With love,
PS: I wrote this blog in my journal on April 19th, typed it as a draft on April 26th, and finally published it on May 3rd. The very next day, May 4th, I received day 24 of the griefshare daily devotional emails titled Uncontrollable Emotions. The devotional also used the example of a rollercoaster to describe the emotions someone enduring grief could be encountering. The timing and synchronicity of it all blew my mind!! God is intentional.
