Have you ever considered the “what ifs” of your life?
These thoughts of the “what ifs” comes about in our lives when we imagine what could have potentially happened in our lives, similar to probabilities.
I have pondered this one question for some time as I looked over my life and thought about the many times God has shown up for me. He has been my Saviour, Shield, Redeemer, and Sustainer, amongst so much more. Some people only choose to know God based on what He can do for them instead of building a relationship with Him and experiencing Him in His entirety, and God is much more! As you read this post, I ask you to consider the many times you have experienced God in a unique way other than the tangible blessings.
The children of Israel knew God as Yahweh, the “I am that I am,” who led them in the wilderness by a cloud by day and a fire by night. The lady with the issue of blood knew Jesus as her healer, for when she touched the hem of His garment, she was made whole. The woman at the well met Jesus at the most vulnerable time in her life, and after He saw her beyond her circumstances, she went away rejoicing, delivered from her broken place, and she knew Him as the Messiah. There are many more examples you can learn from in the Bible, but in these cases, “what if God didn’t show up? Regardless of the “what ifs,” we know the outcomes because of His word. Amen!
What are your “What ifs”?
Nevertheless, what were some of the “what ifs” in your life…in my life???
What if He didn’t love you?
What if He had allowed that accident?
What if He didn’t place that one thought in your mind to make that appointment for that doctor’s visit that saved your life?
What if that surgery was not successful?
What if He had allowed you to be on time for work this morning?
What if He had allowed that relationship to work out?
What if you didn’t apply for that one job?
What if they didn’t deny your application?
What if God didn’t allow you to meet your significant other at the time that you did?
What if you had gone out that one night?
What if you didn’t have shelter, food or clothing?
What if you didn’t write that book?
What if…and the list can go on and on, but thank the Lord that He is an on-time God, and He has allowed certain things to happen in our lives to shield, protect, provide, and edify us for our good and His glory.
Looking Beyond Yourself
I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the different ways God has shown up for you. Sometimes, when we are troubled on every side by the enemy and feel like giving up, it may seem like that is the easiest way out, but His Word reminds us that we are overcomers. If you can remember all the times God rescued you from something, it will help you overcome. The “what if” situations we face daily pose as testimonies to God’s uncharted love, grace, and mercy toward us. He finds you valuable enough to keep you in all your ways. The next you may feel like giving, consider the “what ifs” that didn’t happen, and you’ll have the strength to keep pushing. When you find yourself thinking that God is a genie in a bottle and is full of wishes, remember that there’s more to God than the blessings you see with your natural eyes and what you can acquire from Him. Can you look beyond yourself and see that God has been so good to you in every way, regardless of what is happening around you or what is happening to you?
I always say that every disappointment is a way of God telling me that there is better in store for me. I remember when I first separated from the military and had my first civilian interview at a law firm. I was so nervous because it was my first interview in years, and now I was sitting in the waiting room, waiting to be called by the receptionist. My nervousness showed in the interview…it was awful! At one point, the interviewer asked me to tell her about myself, and I recited my resume… Lesson learned: Interview Don’ts 101! Anyhow, I digress! She said, “I can read what’s on your resume, so tell me about yourself,” and I froze.
Anyway, after the interview, I felt discouraged, and the thought came to me: “Do not be discouraged; greatness is ahead.” Looking back, I believe that God spoke to me at that moment because of the sense of peace that followed, and I was okay with how badly I did on the interview. And you guessed it, I didn’t get the job, but another opportunity became available with my current employer. Now, I have moved up in my company so others can have a chance like I did, and I am grateful. What if the law firm had offered me the position, and I accepted it out of desperation? I could have been stressed or extremely unhappy because of the workload and demands, but thank God I don’t have to think about the what-ifs because He works all things for our good. I can present countless more examples, but for the sake of this post, I will leave you with that one. But the point I wanted to make with that example is that God knows everything, and when we have our desires and expectations outside of His will for us, we set ourselves up for disappointments, shame, and fear. Our disappointments, shame, and fears block our perception or view of what God is doing. When we step back, we can see God at work and know that God has stopped a lot of “what ifs” from our lives.
So, I am asking you today to take some time to reflect and thank God for the things that have gone right in your life and that life is not all that bad, especially since God is in control, and even when we cannot see it, we are still blessed.
Lastly, be encouraged today, be blessed, have a heart of gratitude, and share your testimony with someone today.
What was a “what if” moment in your life? Share your own testimonies and join the discussion.
