God's Ferris Wheel is not ridden by choice. It is part of God's design and has purpose and necessity written all over it so enjoy the ride.



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Well, one of the greatest treasures in the Bible is found in the next few words of verse four which says, "who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." Here is the purpose and necessity of God's Ferris Wheel!

No one is exempt from the wheel. Some kick and scream along the way but all in Christ will ride the wheel. It took me time to find this nugget of faith that is more valuable than riches and gold. But now I know and of course, the rides are more enjoyable!

That evening after Angelo prayed with me and my wife surely prayed at home, a peace that passes all understanding did come over me. I have no words to explain this experience other than it had to be supernatural. I still had no assurance of my son's condition for there was no communication available. I waited for the news for what seemed to be a lifetime but had a peace that passes all understanding.

After a few hours a doctor who I never met before came out to speak with me. The news was that they were barely able to save his life. I was taken to my son and he had all types of things connected to him including a breathing device inserted in a freshly made tracheotomy. We would later have to have brain scans done because of the length of time he stopped breathing.

I don't remember all the details and names of all the doctors but Dr. Riley performed the tracheotomy and another assisting doctor said to me that it was a miracle that saved your son's life. Even after the brain scans were done, we were encouraged with the news that everything was OK. None of the doctors expected those results.

Now, I have a friend of mine who lost his son as a martyr because He was a preacher and ambassador of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His ride was very different than mine, but he too will tell you of this God of all comfort who is with us on every ride on God's Ferris Wheel. He still preaches the Gospel and this suffering has heightened his faith for the journey.

You see, we are in good company on this Ferris Wheel Ride. Look at the words of the apostle Paul who wrote this portion of scripture in 2 Corinthians. In verse eight and nine it clearly says, "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."

I wrote a song some years ago and put it this way in one of my verses:

Seems life has thrown some dirt my way, it's getting hard to see,
I've got to keep my eyes on you Lord and keep them off of me,
Because riding on that highway, I can see above the ridge,
A place so much better, it's not mine its part of His.

God's Ferris Wheel is not ridden by choice. It is part of God's design and has purpose and necessity written all over it so enjoy the ride. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.