What If?

These two words could cause debilitating anxiety or could lead to profound breakthrough in thought.

“What If?”

Many times we may ask, "What if it doesn’t happen?" "What if it doesn’t work out?" "What if the dream doesn’t come true?" 

My therapist asked me “What if it doesn’t? No really, ask yourself. What if things don’t work out the way you planned?” (Sometimes I can’t tell if my therapist is a friend or foe….)

As dreadful as it was to think about, she had me consider that I may be just fine either way and already equipped to handle the worst case scenario.

I was reading a Psalm of David.

As he was writing, he admits that he’s older in age. He’s experienced life and probably had more days behind him than ahead. Towards the end of his journey, he came to the consensus that he’s never seen the righteous abandoned by God or their children begging for bread. (Psalms 37:25)

This same David, earlier in life, also cried out to God in Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?”

It must mean that God responded. God revealed Himself to be present. As humans, we experience hard things and we may wonder if God is really with us in those moments. But David (who experienced what it was like to be counted out, who also made poor decisions that caused him intense pain, and who also asked God where he was in a rough time) confirms towards the end of his life that God never leaves those He loves. 

So next time you, like me, are facing the fear of “what if?”, ask yourself: What if I chose to believe that the limitless, all powerful God was with me, even now? What if the God who called me at this exact time has it all under control? What if I surrendered my plans for His? What would happen if the presence of God became my greatest treasure?

I hope David’s words ring true in your heart this week. Throughout all the feelings and experiences of the day, find comfort in knowing that God is in it with you, and release the fear of the unknown.