WHAT-IFS
FOCUS SCRIPTURE:
Deuteronomy 31:8, " And the Lord, He is that that go before thee, He will be with me, He will not fail thee neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
In this scripture, there's a promise from the Lord, as well as a statement. There is consolation in this verse for us to know that God himself goes before us, no one else. He comforts us with these truths that
1. He himself goes before us
2. He will be with us
3. He will not fail us
4. He will not forsake us, and then He encourages us not to be fearful or be discouraged.
Sometimes, we feel fearful because we cannot see ahead and we think about the what-ifs in a negative manner. These are expressed in thoughts or questions such as, 'What if things do not work out?', ' What if I stand up for myself and I lose my job?', 'What if I take this path and people don't like me?', ' What if I give my life to Christ and I'm not able to 'be perfect'? or even, 'What if I start this course and I'm not able to complete it?' Oftentimes, these negative what-ifs cause stagnation and paralysis.
Let's flip the switch and ask ourselves. 'What if I take God at His word, trust His promise in this verse, and look at the same questions in a positive manner. ' What if I take the leap of faith knowing that God goes before me?' ' What if I stand up for myself being confident that God is with me?', 'What if I take this path because God is leading me and I'm being obedient?' ' What if I give my life to Christ because He says He will not forsake me and He will guide me?' 'What if I start this course and completely dedicate it and myself to His cause?' Faith based what-ifs cause growth and blessings.
We will be able to prove God at his word and to see that He's a faithful God who cannot and will not fail. Therefore, with him going ahead of us, us being obedient to His leading, we cannot and will not fail either. One writer states that 'fear says what-if but faith says even-if' . This morning, I declare that faith says both - what-if and even-if. Faith is not the ground of our salvation, nor what makes our what-ifs and even-ifs possible but it is a great blessing—the power through our faithful Father who gives us the eye that sees, the ear that hears, the feet that run, the hand that grasps even when we do not see or know the end result. Joshua 1:9 reminds us to "be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Our what- ifs and our even- ifs are proof that we cannot see ahead but because God is seeing for us and has gone before us, He has taken care of those what-if's and those even-if's before we even thought of them.
What is the what-if and the even-if that is holding you back today?
Let us place them in the hands of the only one who can see into them, trust his promise, and take that what-if leap or that even-if jump. God says He goes before us. He is with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. We should not fear nor be discouraged. Take him at his word. I will take him at his word and step into my what-if and my even-if today. What about you?
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, thank you for the reminder this morning through your faithful promise. God, you comfort us through your word that gives clarity, direction, instruction, and guidance. Father, help us to trust in your words and to step in confidence as you are with us, holding us in the hollow palm of your sweet arms. As we step this morning with courage into a faith of what if and even if, keep us in your will as we give you glory and say thanks in Jesus's name, Amen.