Click. Click. Click. My knuckles whitened as I clutched the black steel bar in front of me. I felt my body stiffen as the massive orange roller coaster began slowly climbing the wooden track.

Click. Click. Click. The ride operator's words still rang in my ears: "Cedar Point's Magnum is the tallest roller coaster in the world. The Magnum will take you to a height of 204 feet before plunging 194 feet at a 70 degree angle."

What am I doing here? I thought as my stomach tightened. I swallowed and took a deep breath.

Click. Click. Click. The coaster seemed to slow as we neared the peak, increasing my nervousness. I glanced at my 15-year-old sister, Sarah, sitting in the seat next to me. She was looking straight ahead, her eyes wide, her face flushed with excitement.

"Are you ready for this?" I asked.

"Yeah," she answered, her voice quivering.

Click. Click. Screeeech. The Magnum shuddered as we reached the top. I gripped the steel bar tightly, preparing for the plunge. Sarah and I, seated in the first car, would receive the first view of the sheer drop-off.

The coaster eased over the peak, and my stomach leaped to my throat as our car dangled precariously over the edge. We remained suspended in mid-air for several seconds before plunging straight down 194 feet.

Sarah and I screamed in exhilaration as we plummeted to the bottom of the first hill. We threw our arms in the air and continued screaming as the coaster maneuvered a series of steep hills, sharp turns and tight corkscrews.

When the roller coaster screeched to a halt at the boarding area, Sarah and I looked at each other and grinned triumphantly. "We did it," I said. As we exited, I felt a sense of accomplishment, having survived a thrilling ride on the Magnum. In the excitement of the experience, I forgot the anxiety I had felt while climbing that first hill.

As I begin a new school year at Multnomah, I find myself struggling with fears of the unknown. Worries about responsibilities, finances, relationships, and future papers and tests crowd my mind. Like that initial climb on the Magnum, my inability to see what lies ahead fills me with anxiety.

And yet as formidable as the tasks ahead seem, I also look forward to a new year--the excitement of making new friends, tackling new challenges, and deepening my knowledge of God's Word. I know God has great plans in store for this year. And I am confident that He will accomplish them.

Even when my roller coaster car was dangling over a 194-foot drop-off, I enjoyed the thrill of the ride, knowing I would survive. And as the coaster madly rushed around unexpected turns and plunged down unseen hills, I found myself thrilling at the experience.

As I begin a new year, I can look forward to the things God has in store for me. I can have confidence, knowing that no matter what twists and turns lie ahead, He has everything under control. Resting in God's sovereignty, I can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.