THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 10TH OCTOBER 2025, FRIDAY MESSAGE
On the Merry-Go-Round
Fred Reinhart (Michigan, USA)
Today’s Reading
Psalm 46:1-11
Key VerseGod is not a God of disorder but of peace — as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. – 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV)
When I was a child, I loved riding the merry-go-round. Watching the world spin by in a blur was fun. Getting dizzy and trying to walk a straight line after hopping off brought laughter from all my friends. Life was simple and easy.
Years later, as a husband and father of three girls, my life was often complicated and confusing — even with the joys of family, college, and a new career. I sometimes felt overwhelmed by money worries and managing my family’s busy schedules; and by concerns about war, economic downturns, and political disagreements. Trying to keep up with the fast-paced, spinning world was no longer fun, and dizziness was no longer enjoyable.
Then I remembered something about riding a merry-go-round. At the edge, you move fast and things rush by. You have to hold on tight or be thrown off. At the center, however, it is calm. In the same way, when life seems out of control, God is unaffected by the speed, challenges, and complications of human life. God offers us a dependable and quiet refuge in a fast-changing and confusing world. Moving closer to God brings peace.
Thought for the Day
God is a refuge from my fast-paced life.
Prayer Focus
Young families
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, when we feel out of control, remind us to put you at the center of our lives. Help us to focus on you, our refuge, always. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 10th October 2025 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More