I recently had the opportunity to go to Universal Studios with my family, and like anyone who’s been there, you get caught up in the experience pretty quickly. The rides feel real, the environments are immersive, and for a few minutes at a time, you’re completely locked into whatever world you just stepped into. Whether it’s the speed of a roller coaster or the intensity of a simulation ride, it all pulls your full attention. But what stood out to me wasn’t just how exciting it all was; it was how quickly it ended. You get off the ride, and almost immediately, you’re looking for the next one.
It made me think about how similar that is to real life. There are so many things that pull us in, success, recognition, distractions, even just staying busy, and in the moment, they feel important. They feel real. But just like those rides, the feeling doesn’t last. There’s always something else to chase right after. Scripture speaks directly to this reality in 1 John 2:15–17 NKJV: “Do not love the world or the things in the world… And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” It’s a reminder that so much of what we invest our time and energy into is temporary, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.
Another thing that stood out during the trip was the amount of time spent waiting. You can easily wait an hour or more for a ride that lasts only a few minutes. And while it can be frustrating, you wait because you believe it will be worth it. That idea connects directly to what we see in Isaiah 40:31 NKJV: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…” Waiting is not wasted time. In fact, some of the most important work is happening in those seasons where it feels like nothing is moving. Just like behind the scenes at a ride, where everything is being coordinated and controlled, God is still working even when we don’t see immediate results.
It showed me how much trust we’re willing to place in something we don’t fully understand. Before every ride, they secure you in a harness, check everything, and then you’re off. You don’t control the speed, the direction, or what happens next, you trust the design and the system. In a lot of ways, that mirrors what it means to follow God. We don’t always understand where things are going, but we’re called to trust anyway. Proverbs 3:5 NKJV says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” That’s easier said than done, especially when we want control, but real faith requires letting go of that need to have everything figured out.
At the end of the day, as you’re leaving the park, you realize everything you experienced, while fun and memorable, was temporary. The rides stop, the lights go out, and you go back to real life. That perspective stuck with me. It raised a simple but important question: what am I putting the most energy into? Am I chasing things that feel exciting in the moment but don’t last, or am I investing in something that actually has eternal value?
Psalm 16:11 puts it clearly: “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” There’s nothing wrong with enjoying moments like a trip to Universal, but it’s important to keep them in perspective. Temporary things were never meant to fully satisfy us. Only something eternal can do that.
So I ask, where might God be asking you to trust Him instead of controlling the outcome?
Frank D.