What if… and What About?
by Paul Lawrence
I found myself in a ‘What if?’ and ‘What about?’ mood today. Questions ranging from: What about my job? What about my future? What about the family? And they were all legitimate questions in my head.
The ‘What if?’ questions were even more exciting to worry about. What if I run out of money? What if I can’t provide for retirement? What if I get sick? What if I can’t meet the work expectations? What if they don’t like me? And so the list goes on. Is my list more exciting than yours?
What are your ‘What if?’ and ‘What about?’ questions today? I’m sure you’re like me and may be able to think of a few. Spend a few minutes quietly thinking of all of them. But what does our Heavenly Father think of our ‘What if?’ and ‘What about?’ questions?
Firstly He wants us to take them all and cast them on to Him. Not bury them, but tell Him. ‘Casting all your cares on him because he cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7). What an amazing Father! He actually wants to know what we’re worried about. He also has a fantastic response for us in Matthew 6:27, ‘You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it’. In fact, Matthew writes about what Jesus says about worry in Chapter 6:25–34. Have a read.
But what’s even more encouraging is that, firstly, He wants to know about the problems, secondly, He tells us not to worry about it and then He also says, “Now that you’ve told Me, and I’ve told you not to worry about it, I won’t leave you, but I’ll always be with you”.
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you or forsake you’ (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Psalm 23 further encourages us in our ‘What if?’ and ‘What about?’ questions today with words like – ‘The Lord is my shepherd’… ‘He leads me’… ‘He gives me’… ‘I will not be afraid’… ‘You prepare a meal for me’… ‘Your goodness and love will be with me all my life and you let me rest’.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, these are my ‘What if?’ and ‘What about?’ questions today. I place them into Your hands and thank You for Your word that is a lamp unto my feet (Psalm 119:105), in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Paul Lawrence is the Centre Director at Ellel Grange, UK and is married to Anne, who is the Deputy Centre Director for the Grange. He has lived in Africa for over 20 years and China for 5 years. His passion is to see the Lord do bigger and greater things in peoples lives that they cannot do on their own, not just in healings but also in the fun things of life. His belief is that nothing is ever big enough and as a team we can achieve anything if the Lord is at the centre.
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