Ronan Keating once sang in his usual cheesy pop kind of a way, ‘life is a roller-coaster you’ve just got to ride it.’ Maybe Ronan’s not your usual cup-of-tea, but at that point I think he was onto something in describing life’s ups and downs.
Some people think that Jesus should magic away the ‘downs’ of the ‘ups and downs’ in life. Instead, he promises to be with us in the downs.
Some people think the ‘downs’ in our faith mean that we’re ‘bad Christians’, that somehow honest questioning is bad. No. Doubt is the ants in the pants of faith; it keeps it moving. We have to be honest in our ‘downs’ and stand with each other in support for we’re all on different stages of the roller coaster, experiencing different feelings and different views. Some of us are in an enjoyable part. Others of us have had enough. Being honest about where we’re at in Fuse is what matters.
If life is so up and down, what can we do in it? I think we need a presence-driven life. As he’s the only travelling companion that will be with us every step of the journey, it would be good to get to know him more. Whether you are totally fired up about your relationship with Jesus or you hardly ever think about him, each of us needs to desire his presence. We chase around trying to get this or do that, often thinking we’re too busy to simply stop and remind ourselves that God has promised to be our travelling companion; that he loves us passionately, that he sent his Son Jesus to demonstrate a better kind of humanity for us to lead, that Jesus died for us, and that he has given us his Holy Spirit to empower us on the roller coaster. One thing I love about God is that even in our doubts, and especially in our low points, He is with us.
Let’s talk to each other about where we are on the journey. We need God’s presence with us in each and every day, for we don’t know what’s around the next bend or loop the loop but we do know a travelling companion who’ll be with us when we get there. And it’s not Ronan Keating. |
