Occasionally, one of my children will begin to worry about something. He or she will come to me, brow furrowed and voice laden with stress and say,
“What if?”
“What if Daddy loses his job and we have no place to live?” or….
“What if you get cancer, Mommy?” or…..
“What if a bad guy comes into the house at night?”
“What if…”
“What if…”
“What if….”
I look at them, rub their little heads and pull them close. Then, I say…
“Why don’t you let me take care of that? It is not your job.”
Recently, we made an offer on an almost 100 year old house. It was not a decision we made flippantly. We prayed about it and thought about it. We did our homework and talked about it endlessly, but when all was said and done, we really felt it was God’s plan for us to pursue it even if His purpose in it was less about moving and more about teaching us something along the way.
Even so, it is tempting to look to Heaven and say, “What if…”
“What if the wiring is all bad…”
“What if the seller won’t accept a reasonable offer?”
“What if our current home does not sell?”
And God is pulling us close to softly say, “Why don’t you let me take care of that? If you are genuinely seeking me, I’ll never lead you astray and if in your weakness you make a mistake, I will cover you.”
It is that assurance that frees us to live without fear. He never promised life would be problem free but He calls us to transcendence because the “what ifs” are no match for Him.
“Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. Surely, I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131: 1 -2
Sherri, I love this image! I love that there are no ‘What ifs’ with God! I am moved and inspired by your writing, your journey, your faith…
May I place a link to your blog on mine?
Thelma (a friend of a friend of Marisa’s)
http://www.lifeastwo.blogspot.com
Thelma,
Thank you!
I would love to have you link to my blog. I have already added you to my blogroll.
Blessings,
Sherri
I so needed to read this post. My head constantly swirls with “what if…” regarding work, money,family…and He hasn’t let me down yet.
I also needed to be reminded that He cares for me. Thanks for writing about your struggles and how the Lord provides for you.
Love, Kelly
Sherri, I realize I have had some “what if’s” swirling in my head about my family’s future and I loved your post and reminder that they are no match for God–and even “if” I sometimes make mistakes in my weakness, He will be there. Is that a most beautiful thing? Thanks for this post!
Sherri thanks for this bit of inspiration. I have so many questions for God… and sometimes I feel like I just need to have faith that HE DOES have it all figured out, and I just need to work on my end of things.
Thanks for sharing this.
LOL- oh the great things God can do with us when he removes our fear 😉
Praying protection over your brood and that God will do great things with your children!
Kimmie
Mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted
(come meet us- we love new friends!)