Stop the Ride! I Want to Get Off.
You’ve felt that way before, haven’t you?
My niece HannahBrooke smiled with glee as she settled in next to her Uncle Rob on the Sea World water ride. But by the end, terror capsized her glee. She wanted off the ride.
Her ride-loving mom (my sister) laughed while our brother tried to soothe her. But she had no love for this ride.
I could snap this picture only because I’d refused to even get on the ride.
Unlike amusement park rides, we can’t refuse to get on this wild ride we call life. God chose to create us, and He doesn’t make mistakes.
We’re on it together, but we don’t all have the same experience.
While some of us are screaming in terror, others are laughing with joy.
No matter what kind of ride you’re experiencing, at some point, you’re going to want off.
Jesus knew that feeling (Hebrews 4:15), and He left us encouraging words that help us ride to the end—and be glad we did.
From “Let Me Off” to “Nevertheless”
Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let me off this ride.”
Ok, not really. He actually prayed:
We can pray that, too.
But then let’s remember to end our prayer as Jesus did:
Now My Soul Is Troubled
Jesus said, “Now is my soul troubled” (John 12:27).
Jesus wasn’t whining with this statement. He never dishonored God once in what He thought, said, or did. Thus, if Jesus could express that His soul was troubled, can’t we? And without feeling like a failed Christian?
Why did God’s Spirit inspire the gospel writers to record Jesus’ words? Why didn’t Jesus just keep His thoughts to Himself? Perhaps the disciples—and we—need to hear them.
We need to watch Christ’s example for when our soul is troubled and we want off the ride. It’s okay to admit it to God and to the world. God knows anyway, and He cares. And our friends get it. They’ve felt the same way.
A Troubled Soul Doesn’t Have to be a Hopeless Soul
After Jesus revealed His soul was troubled, He spoke words that will infuse our courage with strength if we understand the power of them.
Jesus never reconsidered continuing the treacherous ride God had placed Him on.
The ride He’d willingly chosen, but He could stop in an instant.
When Roman guards came to arrest Jesus, the disicple Peter slashed off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus stopped him and said:
Imagine what would’ve happened if Jesus had abandoned the ride before the end—if He’d refused God’s plan for Him.
If He had, all hope for us would’ve skidded to a tragic halt. Even if we were to strive our entire lives from the crib to the grave to make ourselves right with God, we’d fail. From the first day, we’d fail.
Thankfully, from the beginning, Jesus intended to accomplish everything God had prepared for Him.
Christ knew the cross would be terrible, but it would bring great joy. So He didn’t abandon it. He stayed the course all the way to the end.
Troubled, But Not Darkened with Doubt
As fully God, Jesus knew the end from the beginning. He knew what His sacrifice would accomplish.
As fully man, Jesus trusted His Father. Never a doubt darkened His mind.
Don’t doubt that you’ll want off the ride at times, but don’t doubt God’s plan either.
We can’t see the end from the beginning, but God sees it all. And you can trust that the end of your wild ride will result in your good and God’s great glory. It will end in a joy you wouldn’t want to miss.
God has a specific purpose for our ride aside from His glory. If we knew the purpose, that knowledge would give us the strength to endure to the end. But God doesn’t always reveal what He’s doing. When He doesn’t, don’t give doubt an inch.
Like Jesus, trust God’s heart and His hand.
Never give doubt an inch. It’s so stingy, it will demand a country mile.
Three Powerful Truths for Whatever Ride You’re On
How’s your ride now? Is it the ride of your life ❤️? Or the ride of your nightmares ??
When you stop laughing and start shrieking, remember these three powerful truths:
1. It’s God’s plan for your life.
2. God never makes mistakes.
3. Jesus will never leave your side.
Please share this with anyone you know who’s on a bumpy ride. Or will ever be on one. (I think I just covered everyone.)
