OVERCOMING “WHAT IF?”

“What and If are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life.”

After reading this quote and living in a world full of so much uncertainty I immediately questioned myself – Am I living a life of “What If?”

We can be tormented with so many “What Ifs”… WHAT IF a missing parent was there? WHAT IF I was born with money? WHAT IF I had more time? WHAT IF I was smarter? WHAT IF, WHAT IF, WHAT IF! But the biggest one I find myself living in is “WHAT IF I FAIL?”

Months before launching this blog my husband and I were out and about. We were carrying on different conversations about our ambitions, goals, accomplishments, and so on. I remember telling him, “Babe, you know one of the things I admire most about you is that you aren’t afraid to try.” When he has an idea he’s not afraid to pursue it – no matter the outcome.

Me on the other hand, not so much – until I started to really look at the words “WHAT” and “IF.” Why have they been so intimidating?

I realized these two words are only intimidating when I look at my abilities (or lack thereof) through my eyes, especially when it comes to something new and outside of my normal routine. It’s easy to have confidence when I’ve mastered a task. I know what the end result is supposed to look like. But not when it’s new. There seems to be no blueprint leading me to find my way.

I had to check myself! I’m not in this life alone so I need to stop acting like it. Especially because I know the one who created the blueprint. So why not seek God like in Matthew 7:7-8. It says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Since the phrase “WHAT IF?” is nothing but a hypothetical question based on fear of the unknown I have a new practice. I’ve decided to swap “What” with “He” and “If” with “Is” – making my new personal statement “HE IS!” I love this statement because Jesus is way more concrete than the unknowns of “WHAT IF”. He is whatever I need Him to be as I travel on this journey and the same applies to you. Now, what He is will vary during different seasons of our lives but one thing is always the same, He is always PRESENT {Joshua 1:9}.

What ifs will no longer have a stronghold on my life because I know who Jesus is to me. I will no longer live my life according to something that could or could not happen. And even if the worst-case scenario like failure was to happen, so what? It doesn’t define who I am. Because according to Luke 12:7, I’m valuable. By understanding this, I’ll bring everything I have to offer to the table and allow God to get the glory out of my life.

Fear of the unknown will no longer hold me hostage. What about you?