You know how some things can be both good and bad? "What if" is one of those.
We've been using a little Advent devotional from the church we've been visiting. Most days are super short and rather simplistic, but it's something.
Last week the devotions are all on 'hope.' One day the writer was reminiscing about his sense of excitement at upcoming trips or adventures when he was young. As he got older though, he got less excited because he spent too much time on all the "what ifs." "What if the car breaks down, the kids get sick, I lose my job," etc., etc.
It was ironic because that very morning on my way to work *I* used "what if" in the exact opposite way! I am a creature of habit. I don't like veering too far from my normal routines because of the "what if" of things. "What if I ruin things, or they turn out worse, etc." Well, this particular morning I decided, "You know, what if I changed and things actually turned around for the BETTER!?!" So I took a different route to work. I did my opening process in a different order, and such. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? WHAT IF THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A POSITIVE CHANGE?!
So, while it's true that "what if-ing" can be negative... it can also lead to something better!
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"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13
1 comment:
It's amazing how much the "what if" questions can keep a person stuck. What if the next job is worse? What if I can't figure it out? What if I was wrong about that? But... What if it's not? What if I can? What if I wasn't?
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