What if…

Two words that begin the unraveling.

What if I didn’t do enough?

What if I had gone sooner?

What if I had not gone at all?

What if I had been a better son or daughter?

What if….

Reflection is necessary to help us gain perspective.

But this contemplation was never meant to rob us of our peace or cast shame and guilt our way.

Sometimes it implies that we have more control than we do in this world.

What if can paralyze us from moving forward.

What if it doesn’t work out?

What if I fail?

What if I make the wrong choice?

What if others think less of me?

What if…

Two words that can cast a shadow over us.

Many occasions have occurred over the past month that those I hold close to my heart asked this very question.

What if?

In a world that feels out of control, where people are suffering from deep hurts and unimaginable losses, peace seems out of reach.

We all search for a light in the darkness of despair.

In those moments I try to shift my focus from what if to what is….

When everything around me feels like it is changing, I fix my eyes on the One who never changes.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 TLB

Doubts may change the way others see us or the way we see ourselves.

But God only sees us through the eyes of love.

He has always had a plan for us..

Read His promise in The Message.

“How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son.” Ephesians 1:4-6

Friends, He took pleasure in planning this all along!

God was not worried about the what ifs in our lives.

Despite our doubts, we can always be sure of what is:

His unfailing, never ending love for all of His children.

Amen.