I waited in line with my niece, brother, and sister-in-law for our first roller coaster of the day at Dollywood, an amusement park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For my eight-year-old niece, this was her first roller coaster ever. Excitement. Nervousness. Laughter. Uncertainty. She felt it all. And I’m not going to lie, so did I because it had been years since I’d last stepped on a coaster.

We made our way to the loading zone and then took our seats in the first row of the car with my sister-in-law and myself on the ends and my brother and niece in the middle. Park staff came by to ensure our safety harnesses were secure and then it was game on. I had no idea what I was getting into and neither did my poor niece.

The coaster, appropriately named Mystery Mine®, first hurled us into the darkness of an abandoned coal mine and then all kinds of craziness followed like zooming in and out of darkness, fast jerks and loops, and an insane vertical drop. Oh my goodness, that drop. The track literally went completely vertical, leaving us flat on our backs as it lifted us to the top and then, BAAM, straight down the other side we went into darkness. In all the chaos, my niece called out Daddy, where are you?

In response to his daughter’s cry for him, my brother spoke three words: I’m right here.

 As the ride concluded and we rolled back into the unloading zone, I heard my niece say get me off this thing. I never want to do that again! (I will say that she did ride another coaster later in the day which left a more favorable impression).

We laughed about it afterwards and my brother even joked I’d probably write a blog about this.

The more I thought about it, I couldn’t help myself.

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Life can often feel like a roller coaster in these days between what Jesus has already accomplished on the cross and the full realization of his Kingdom to come.

You know, one minute you’re laughing and excited and then suddenly a drop here, a twist there, and then your world gets flipped upside down. In the scariest parts, you may even doubt God is with you. But, let me assure you that God is not standing on the sideline, waiting at the exit to hear how everything went. He is sitting next to you, with the love of a Father, as you navigate every dip, drop, curve, and loop that comes your way.

You have been adopted into the family of God through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus, and you have the same right as Jesus to intimately and affectionately address your Heavenly Father as Daddy. (Romans 8:15)

When you feel confused, afraid, and alone in the dark, it’s ok to cry out, Daddy, where are you?

Friend, I pray you hear God saying to you through these words, I’m right here.

There is no ride so intense that it separates you from the presence of his Spirit.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139:7-12 NIV)

Claim this truth: your Heavenly Father is right there with you on this crazy ride called life, even when you can’t feel his presence.

He has not abandoned you and he will not abandon you.

The only child God has ever forsaken is Jesus and that was so he would never have to forsake you. (Matthew 27:46, Psalm 94:14)