Does your life feel like a roller coaster ride?

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). 

It's been quite a roller coaster ride the last few months. But I was reminded in our prayer meeting last night in a devotion by Ovi Poenar (worship leader) that "trials do not speak of the absence of God, but of the presence of God" in the life of His children. His words reminded me of the Apostles' panic during a storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:38).  Because Jesus was on the boat with them there was no need to panic. In fact, they could have enjoyed the journey in the same way many enjoy a thrilling roller coaster ride. Jesus was in total control. Therefore, as our brother Ovi shared from the book of James, we can count it all joy when trials come. Although the roller coaster journey may look scary and unpredictable, God is the chief architect and designer of the ups and downs of life that test our faith.  Even when Satan is at work, as he was when Job came under fire, God was ultimately in charge. "The Demon" roller coaster Job was on was subject to the limits that God ordained. Satan could only go so far. What Satan meant for evil, God worked for Job's good and His glory. 

In his devotion last night, Ovi also highlighted the little word "let" in James 1:4 where James wrote, "And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing". According to the dictionary the word let means to, "Not prevent or forbid; allow." This seemingly insignificant word teaches us that when trials come we must be careful not to resist the work that God wants to do in our lives through them by believing the lies of the enemy like, "God has abandoned you or doesn't love you. Instead, we must believe that our loving God is just as present when we are down in the valley as He is when we are up on the mountain. "The God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is still God in the night." In light of these truths and in the midst of our trials "let" us rejoice and trust that our God is up to great things—that He is preparing us for the heavenly thrill ride of our lives.