Life is scary. I would compare it to a roller coaster. It’s an adrenaline rush. You enjoy it, but there are times when you are mid air in a loop that seem more than frightening. Approaching the ride, blood rushes throughout your body – you feel a charge.

Yet, when you take that turn and hear the clinking of the hill that you are about to free-fall down, fear sets in – your heart races. The cart you are inside drops and flips and you are left staring at the ground below you. This moment in time, though fleeting, feels like it will never end.

Will you fall out of the cart – or live to tell the story of overcoming this ride the next day? This experience incites fear and excitement. But fear typically trumps energized senses.

It is easy to fixate on the hard times in life. Remember Jesus said, ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ {John 16:33} He also tells us, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’ {Mark 5:6}

Trials in life make us stronger. It’s like breaking a bone. Yes, it is easy to fixate on the pain of that broken bone. It hurts – but, it is only for a time. That bone grows back thicker and stronger. That is a medical fact. It is said that the area that was broken becomes denser and is therefore stronger. Isn’t that like life? Trials, fears and failures teach us and make us grow stronger and more courageous.

Trust. It’s so hard to trust when we are afraid. One of my favorite verses as a child was Psalm 56:3. It states, ‘When I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.’ I had this note plastered to the walls in my bedroom. I’d look at it at night – just to reassure myself that God was there with me – and there was no reason to fear the blackness of my room when the lights were out. I also like what George MacDonald said, ‘A perfect faith would lift us absolutely above fear.’ Amen. However, we can never have a perfect faith. We can aspire toward it like we can aspire toward holiness – and this is grand!

Focusing on faith alleviates fear. I am so inspired by the story of Helen Keller. This was a woman that overcame the odds and flourished beautifully. She has motivated and still encourages so many to this day. She had faith – and truly believed God when he said ‘Do not be afraid.’

I am sure in her darkest moments she felt a deep seeded terror. This woman lived in darkness physically – but, hallelujah carried within her the light of Christ! She was recorded as saying, ‘It’s wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky. Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears.’ Wow, what words! Trust always, even if you are in the air of a roller coaster loop. God has your best interest at heart. He loves you with an everlasting love. When you are afraid – trust. When you trust God – there is no room for fear in your life.