If you have ever been on a roller coaster ride then you know that constant feeling of being up and then down and then up and down again. The roller coaster ride is a perfect analogy to our Christian life. One moment we are up, feeling great then another moment we are down and things are not going so well. Life is unpredictable and we never know what is around the corner.

The Bible is full of stories of people going through ups and downs. One perfect example is Job. Job lost everything he had but still praised God. He lost his family, his wealth, and his health but in spite of all these hardships he decided to keep his trust in God and kept praising him. God gave him double what he had and gave him a new family after the hardship was over. The Bible doesn’t go on to say anything further about the life of Job but I am sure he had to face more ups and downs in his life after also in his life.

Most of us will probably never face any situation in our life as bad as Job did but we all have our ups and our downs. It is just part of being life on Earth and how we deal with these ups and downs is what determines how rooted we are in our relationship with our Lord and Savior. Do we lose our cool? do we start swearing when things don’t go our way or do we trust that God is in control and things will work out exactly the way that God plans it.

The Bible says in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The Bible also says this in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” From both these verses it is very clear that we must embrace the ups and downs in our life by giving thanks to God. 

That is how the Bible wants us to live our lives by giving thanks to God in all circumstances and embracing the ups and downs of life knowing that they will come.  Deuteronomy 31:6 says “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” When the ups and downs come in our life, always remember that God is always with us on this roller coaster ride that is called our life.  The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Life is always changing but Jesus is the one constant that we can always trust to never change. The best way to deal with the ups and downs in our life is to trust in God and his will for our lives.