Leveling off the Roller coaster of Life

December 22, 2009

Leveling off the Roller coaster of Life

Psalm 143

Paul McCown

Central Truth

We need to allow God to "level off" the peaks and valleys in this roller-coaster life so that our lives may speak of His love for us.

Teach me to do what pleases you,
for you are my God.
May your kind presence
lead me into a level land.
(Psalm 143:10)

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
    give ear to my pleas for mercy!
    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD!
    My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
    I have fled to you for refuge.^{1

143:9
One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered}
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
    on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your servant.

Footnotes

[1] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered

It has been said and sung that “life is a highway.” At times, it feels like it is actually more of a tumultuous roller coaster than a flat, straight highway. This fallen world is full of ups and downs and twists and turns. Sometimes, the problems of life even seem to turn us upside down! As we get older, it certainly seems that the peaks and valleys get larger and more difficult.
I love this passage in Psalms because it paints a vivid picture of how life sometimes feels. At times, events leave us feeling dry, beaten up, and hurting. In Psalm 143 David writes: “[N]o one alive is innocent before you. . . . [M]y enemies chase me. They smash me into the ground. . . . My strength leaves me . . . .” (Psalm 143:2-4) Sounds like David had lived through the same ups and downs we do.

After all of this description of struggle, verse 10b comes as a refreshing oasis: “May your kind presence lead me into a level land.” Man, that is what I need – a level land! In the past two years, the valleys on my roller coaster have gotten bigger in the forms of tremendous financial stress and the murder of a family member. Through these times I have experienced pain on new levels and often felt smashed to the ground. I honestly can’t imagine trying to face these trials without God’s leveling presence in my life. His love for me has given me something to cling to, even as life's roller coaster plunges into frightening valleys and yanks me up overwhelming hills.
David’s prayer in verse 11 is such a beautiful finale: “[F]or the sake of your reputation, revive me!” Let this be our prayer as we cry out to God for help when it feels that our life is careening out of control. With God's help our lives will be a testimony to the peace and joy that only His presence can provide.

1. What valleys are you experiencing on your roller coaster?
2. How are you clinging to God to stay level?
3. How are you building up God's reputation by letting others see His calming presence in your life?