Strapping in with other thrill-seekers and launching to soaring heights, the entire park visible from the top. I braced myself for the free fall and gripped the sidebar until my knuckles turned white.
But when the sound of an electronic release bellowed behind us, the bottom fell out, dropping us with terrifying speed and force that took my breath.
A complete free fall. So I remember the day well.
Still, along with friends, the wait in line gave us ample opportunity to watch and ponder the decision to follow through with the adventure. Then, a fear of heights gave way to assurance from college friends. I could do this. They would be with me.
Yet, really elated this amusement park ride, Free Fall, came to an end. I unbuckled and resolved to keep my feet on the ground for the rest of the day. Resting my body, mind, heart, and soul from further fear.
Life’s Free Fall
When the bottom drops out of our world, are we prepared for the free fall? Maybe we never received a warning to strap in and brace for the ride. Or how we need a tight grip on something—anything. Because we never signed up or volunteered.
Life has a way of dropping us with stunning speed and force, leaving us unable to breathe. And it robs our hope in goodness. Free-falling through a loved one dying, losing a job, broken relationships, wayward children, or illness.
Now the current world-wide pandemic has brought on a free fall of fear, an unfamiliar way of life, hopelessness, grief, financial loss, and an unprecedented time none of us has ever experienced.
Perhaps we wonder if this ride ever ends. Maybe we hope to unbuckle and get off soon. And we wish to plant our feet back on solid ground again.
Furthermore, what happened to the good parts of life? This isn’t how we envisioned 2020 or our lives—the bottom fell out.
Instead, a free fall consumes our mind and heart. Fear and hopelessness become constant, unwelcome companions for the ride. “We’re in this together,” they promise.
My recent article discusses Fearful in the What-ifs or Fearless in Christ.
Will we ever know the thrill of life as an adventure again? Will our heart dare to risk another free fall?
When life isn’t good, we wonder if it will ever be good again. We search for hope—something to grip when everything else has fallen away.
Assurance for the Ride
During past free falls, when the bottom fell out of my world, I went on a quest for hope. And I discovered hope’s power lies in truth: God is good, full of mercy, and steadfast in love—no matter what happens.
That’s the place where hope rises.
Scripture speaks of this hope in God’s goodness. “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” Psalm 27:13-14 NIV (emphasis added).
God promises assurance for our adventure and journey in life. Hope in His goodness. “We’re in this together. Bring me along for the ride. I can see your entire life. My view is from the top. And I am always with you.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You created me. Life begins with Your love and inherent goodness. It’s who You are and continue to be. Cause me to recognize the presence of goodness today. And when life hasn’t turned out as I once hoped. Or when the bottom falls out of the world. You alone make my heart strong and confident as I hope in Your goodness. I wait for You. Amen.
The Bible speaks of hope in none other than Jesus Christ.
Do you know Him?
Is He along for the ride with you?
Featured Photo by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash. Top Photo by Devin Phaly on Unsplash. Middle Photo by Sylvia Prats on Unsplash. Bottom Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash.
Such an anchor to hang onto: “God is good, full of mercy, and steadfast in love “. The trial we are all in seems to shake our faith to the core. Many of us have been able to see where our hope and trust really lied. Was it in our finances and possessions, positions or status? It seems Karen that everything that can be shaken will be yet at the same time this shaking has reposition people that were lukewarm or apathetic to the things of God. Though God didn’t cause this, He sure knows how many will turn to him like never before. Seems like a time for all of us to realize our only hope in tomorrow lies Him alone.
Valerie, it is an anchor of hope to remember no matter what happens, God IS good, full of mercy, and steadfast in love. This shaking and stripping of what we’ve held onto has indeed opened our eyes to who or what we placed our hope in. Thank you for your encouraging comment.
The promises of God and the encouragement he has written for us really carry us through these hard times, even a free fall. As always, an uplifting post! Thank you!
Thank you, Melinda! God promises assurance for our adventure and journey in life. Hope in His goodness. “We’re in this together. Bring me along for the ride. I can see your entire life. My view is from the top. And I am always with you.”
God bless, friend!
I am thankful we can rely on God in all circumstances. His love is never ending. His mercies are new each day. Great message.
Yes, Melissa! Me too! “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” Psalm 27:13-14 NIV.
You’re so right! When life isn’t good, we wonder whether it ever will be again. Fear looms. Faith sustains. Thank you, Karen. God bless!
Nancy, I like how you said, “Fear looms. Faith sustains.” That’s good.
Heavenly Father, You created me. Life begins with Your love and inherent goodness. It’s who You are and continue to be. Cause me to recognize the presence of goodness today.
What powerful imagery, Karen! We are in a free fall but I believe God holds us safe when we cling to him. Thank you!
Thanks, Norma. I still cringe a little when I think about that ride. Comforting to know the Lord holds us up when the bottom falls out of everything!
That Psalm was one I memorized years ago because I think it is so powerful! It brings me such comfort to remember that no matter what happens in this life, God never changes. He is still good, all the time!
Yes, Emily, me too. We trust in seeing God’s goodness whatever comes our way. Our hope lies in His goodness.
I’m so grateful we aren’t alone in life’s free fall. God has us safe and secure, no matter how it might look from our human perspective.
Exactly, Jessica. We are always hidden in the shelter of His wings.
Karen, I love this – it speaks to everyone whether they realize it or not as no one is immune. Jesus said we would have troubled times on this earth – ‘free falls’ as you so aptly identified them. But we can take heart because He didn’t leave it there! There is a ‘rest of the story’ for those who believe in Him. Thank You, Jesus!!!
Thank you, Karen, for spreading The Truth!
I love you dear friend.
Thanks sweet friend! During past free falls, when the bottom fell out of my world, I went on a quest for hope. And I discovered hope’s power lies in truth: God is good, full of mercy, and steadfast in love—no matter what happens.
That’s the place where hope rises. Hallelujah!
Love you!
I shared this with a friend who’s in the midst of a free fall with no safety net. Thanks, Karen!
“…with no safety net”–I like that imagery, Candice. Thanks for sharing with your friend. And I pray she finds hope and comfort in God’s goodness surrounding her.
Beautiful, hope-filled words here, Karen. I have had free-falls, and the ones where I don’t completely land on my face are when I am clinging to Him on the way down, keeping my eyes steadfastly focused on Him.
I loved what you wrote here:
‘Hope in His goodness. ‘We’re in this together. Bring me along for the ride. I can see your entire life. My view is from the top. And I am always with you.’”
Thank you, Jeanne. Yes, when I’m holding on to the Lord, the experience isn’t near as scary or fearful, because He’s holding me in His right hand.
Great message Sister, very uplifting as well as full of reminders of who we truly are in Christ and why we need to focus on Him. I was studying this morning and I heard an important statement, we need to have constant absolute dependence on God! That’s my goal in life….. God Bless you and yours….
Hey Stephen, I like that statement about constant and absolute dependence on God! That’s the only way to get through free falls in life or on any given day.
God’s promises provide a safety net for us. They keep us from harm in a free fall. I am so thankful for them and grateful for your wonderful encouragement in these difficult times.
Yes, I’m grateful for God’s comforting goodness for such a time as this!
Several years ago, in an amusement park in the Wisconsin Dells, a young teenage girl did have the bottom literally fall out in one of those free fall rides. There was a net to catch the participants, but the net didn’t rise up to meet her. Inside, she landed full-force on the cement. It was a terrible tragedy! She survived it, but is now living with severe disabilities. I will never forget that story because of the harsh reality of her life – just a girl who wanted a thrill for a moment that ended up destroying her body. Sometimes there are no happy endings. But God…. just as your post points out, with God there is always hope; maybe not in this lifetime, but in the one to come for sure.
How sad and horrible, Lisa. Yes, God’s hope is secure for whatever comes our way, in this life or the next.
Karen, you so perfectly described this experience in the amusement park and it truly captures how life for us feels today. I used to love the thrill rides in the amusement parks, but due to physical problems I can no longer “enjoy” them. I love how you pointed us to our only anchor and hope when there seems to be no bottom to our drop, that is Jesus Christ. Our Rock. Now and forever.
Hi Melissa, truth is I never enjoyed amusement park rides. The only time I rode this ride or the few times I got on a roller coaster, friends convinced me . And you know what? I never liked it and regretted it the entire time. I’m just a feet-on-the-ground kind of girl.
So thankful Jesus is our safety net and holds us up when the world threatens to let the bottom fall out underneath us!