KUOMagazine.com

 Faith Session - The “Roller Coaster called Life”

Written by Dr. Phillip A. Lee Fatt, KUOM contributing writer, 

Article published April 2015 of KUOMagazine.com

“Life is like a rollercoaster, you don’t know where it ends; There’s ups and downs and lefts and rights and so many bends” – Lewis Bunting. In the ups and downs, lefts and rights, and many bends of life - can you ever be at peace with yourself? Or like the literary genius Thoreau stated, are you just living “a life of quiet desperation?” At age 61, famous historian and philosopher H.G. Wells despondently declared: “I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether.” Whatever your age, do you also find yourself saying, “I have no peace”, and if so, how can you reorient your perception to find that measure of inner peace, which would make you not only cope with, but also enjoy this “Roller Coaster called Life”?

Realization

First wake up to the reality that each day comes with its own unique mixture of experiences, some of which will appeal to you as good or bad – at least for that particular day. A week from now, your perspective of what appeared to be good or bad could all change as new developments unfold. One Biblical verse that may help you with this realization is from Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Realize that all things work together for good no matter how they appear today!

Anticipation

Instead of dreading the day, why not look forward to the day? Anticipate that every day may have one or more unexpected things that will pop up as problems, challenges, and apparent disappointments. This is not to be misconstrued as having a dark foreboding negative attitude toward facing the day, but rather to not be rattled when unplanned interruptions arise. As the popular paradox goes, “expect the unexpected.”  Since you know that unexpected issues can arise, why not embrace them and become really good at impromptu problem solving? While everyone else is running around yelling, complaining and frustrated, simply exude an air of positive expectancy and busy yourself with getting answers and resolving problems. After all, one of the keys to enjoying the “Roller Coaster called Life” is to become the best problem solver you can be.

Illumination

Right now, it appears that you can’t get off the “Roller Coaster called Life”, but the truth is that one day, sooner or later, you will. Become very clear that your overall life is not measured by the happenstance of any one single day. Instead your life will comprise of the sum total of all your days; all the people with whom you interacted; all the events you have experienced; and all the thoughts and machinations of your heart, soul and mind. 

Who then can reconcile all these complexities intertwined within your life; only the Almighty Creator God, who already values your life so much that He was willing to die for you, in order that you may have abundant, everlasting life (John 3:16). Having this question settled about the eternal destiny of your life will give you the master key to inner peace.

Realize that all things work together for good; anticipate that unexpected issues will call upon you to be a problem solver;  and become illuminated as to your eternal destiny – these keys will truly allow you to relish the wild and thrilling ride known as, the “Roller Coaster called Life”.

~ Dr. Phillip Lee Fatt, bkf contributing writer

                                          www.jaacfl.com

Dr. Phillip Lee Fatt is the 8-year host of the Dr. Lee Fatt Gospel Show (New Frontiers Ministries), which airs weekly in Central Florida on WOKB radio 1680AM. Previously, he served as senior pastor of the Ocoee Foursquare Church as well as the Director of Ministry and Christian Education with the Foursquare Orlando Metro District. He holds doctorates in Christian Education and Christian Counseling from Southwest Bible College & Seminary.