Learning to ride a bicycle can teach you a lot about life.

Last week Martha and I had a delightful time visiting with our children in South Florida. We were blessed to visit with Brad, Emily, Reagan, and Luke. Luke is about to turn 3 and has matured so much since we last saw him.

Reagan is now finishing the first grade. Since we saw her last she has learned to ride a bicycle. I had a wonderful time running alongside as she rode her bicycle and as Luke pedaled with his training wheels.

Here are some lessons that we all need to learn.

First, to succeed in life you must conquer your fear.

Life is filled with fears. Whether we are young or old there’s almost always some kind of bogeyman behind a door. If you don’t stave off your fear, you will miss many of the joys of life.

Riding a bicycle is filled with fear. Who wants to fall and skin a knee or worse? One of my girls fell into a ditch as she was learning to ride. I’ve forgotten which girl, but I still remember what turned out to be a funny sight. You will be afraid of falling into a ditch, but you have to overcome your fear so that you can enjoy the thrill of riding your bike.

Reagan didn’t like falling, but she obviously overcame her fear. You can, too.

Second, you must persevere. Everyone falls. The question is not whether or not you will fall; it is whether or not you will get up. Learning to ride a bike teaches you to keep trying and not to quit.

Our lives for God require perseverance. In the world, you will have tribulation. Through Him, we can overcome.

Third, learning to ride a bike encourages you for other trials. Anytime you overcome, you are strengthened for the next time you face adversity. Remember “when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (James 1:3-4).

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