Roller Coaster Ride

Malachi timidly walked up to the roller coaster and crammed into the long line with a bunch of squirmy kids. There was a lot of shouting and chattering. He stood silently staring as the line crept along. "There's no, um, big drop on this ride, is there?" he asked Grandpa nervously. "Don't worry!" Grandpa said. "It's a smooth ride--just one big drop at the beginning. You'll be fine." Malachi's eyes shot open and he glanced at the emergency exit up ahead. "Uh, the line looks pretty long, Grandpa. Aren't you getting tired? Let's go on another ride." "You're not scared, are you?" asked Grandpa. "Me, scared? I've been on hundreds of roller coasters!" Malachi knew this was a bit of an exaggeration. The only rides he'd been on were a few merry-go-rounds.Soon he and Grandpa were in a coaster car with bars locked across their laps. There was no turning back now. Malachi took a deep breath and glanced at his grandpa one last time. "Don't worry, Malachi," Grandpa said as the roller coaster clanked upward. "I know it's a little scary, but I wouldn't take you on this ride if I didn't think you'd like it. Just relax and have some fun!"Malachi gripped the bar in front of him as the coaster rounded the top of the track. As the roller coaster roared off, he let out a big shriek. Before he realized it, it was all over."How was the ride?" Grandpa asked as they got out. "Great!" said Malachi. "After you told me to relax and have fun, the scariness kinda went away! I remembered that you've been on lots of roller coasters, so I trusted you.""I know you've always been afraid of roller coasters," Grandpa said. "You know, that roller coaster ride was a lot like the ups and downs and scary turns that come up in our lives sometimes. But God tells us to trust Him whenever we feel afraid. Jesus gave His life to save us, and He will always be with us through life's ups and downs. He helps us ride through whatever fears we have.""Yeah," said Malachi. "Kind of like how you helped me on the roller coaster. If you hadn't been there, I would've headed for the emergency exit for sure!" – Doug Lim