Everyone knows what it’s like to worry. Have you ever been fearful over what might happen—to you, your child, your spouse, your country, or your future? Many of my concerns fall into the “what if” category. Maybe you can relate to some I’ve felt or heard others mention.
What if I lose my job?
What if this is cancer?
What if our economy collapses?
What if my child is addicted to …?
What if my husband can no longer work?
These kind of “what if’s” “kill, steal, and destroy.” But there is another kind of “what if” that empowers.
Some “what if’s” “kill, steal, and destroy.” But there is another kind of “what if” that empowers. #RefreshingFaith, #BigGod Share on XInstead of focusing on the negative “what if’s,” Isaiah tells us to replace our fears with the Lord. “Then He will become a sanctuary” (Isaiah 8:13-14 NASB). When we substitute a trait relating to God in place of our fear, faith grows. Here are some healthy substitutions for your “what if’s.”
- What if God is for me?
- What if He is trustworthy?
- What if God is using this for our good?
- What if He’s worthy of my worship and obedience?
- What if God is bigger than my fears and imaginations?
Whenever dread arises inside of you, put the Lord in its place, and He’ll become your refuge. Fix your thoughts on the Lord instead of your worry. Replace your dread with the healthy dread of missing Him and move from being fearful to being faithful.
To learn more on this—and how to take it one step further and turn your fears into courage—read my article “Dealing with Stress by Trusting God with Our ‘If’s’” at Biblestudytools.com.
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Blessings,
Photo by Lucas Silva Pinheiro Santos on Unsplash
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Thank you Debbie for this timely message. God is Good!
Thank you, Melaney!
It always takes some serious self talk to remind myself that God has not promised grace for things I am imagining in my head!
Well said, Michele!
Beautiful post! Especially love these words, “Whenever dread arises inside of you, put the Lord in its place, and He’ll become your refuge. Fix your thoughts on the Lord instead of your worry. Replace your dread with the healthy dread missing Him and move from being fearful to being faithful.”
Thank you, Mary. That principle from Isaiah caught my attention many years ago. It still speaks to me.
This is SO relevant to what our world is like now and a beautiful confirmation of what I received in my devotional time this morning. Focus on Him!
Yes! what a difference it makes. Thanks, Ann!
yes, so good! it is about perspective, isn’t it? Reorienting towards His perspective and His “what ifs”. thank you for sharing this, Debbie.
Thank you, Mariel! May we keep our focus on who He is!
Those “what-ifs” are our enemy. I had a panicked experience this weekend when I lost my wallet. After spending an hour canceling credit cards, I found it. If I had just stopped to pray first and asked God for direction, He could have led me to where I left my backpack and I could have avoided the fear I went through. All those “what-ifs” about what would happen if someone used my credit cards were unnecessary. Trusting God before panic should be the first action.
Barbara, I can feel the panic with you. Those type of situations really create “what if” fears. How much better when we can take a deep breath and listen to our Father.
I love your twist of replacing fear with Faith! What a treasure for those who will think, “What if God….” in the direction of faith! Thank you for this excellent post!
Thank you, Susan!
Amen. I trust the Lord and He brings peace when I go to Him.
Yes He does. Thank you, Melissa!
Encouraging post, Debbie! Isaiah 26:3-4 is my go to for keeping my mind from going places it should not go. It always stops the anxiety spiral for me.
Donna, that is such a good verse to rein in our thoughts. Thanks for sharing it.
Love the way you encourage us to turn around our thinking. Perhaps from worldly thinking to Word-y thinking. Great post ma’am.
Love you play on words, J.D.! Maybe worldly versus Wordly?
This is something I have to remind myself of all the time. I fought Lyme Disease for 3 years and every time something feels off I get that sudden fear and onset of what if’s. I love that scripture from Isaiah. Thank you for sharing.
Jennifer, I certainly understand that. I believe Satan and our flesh use our past injuries to sow seeds of fear and worry. But the Holy Spirit helps us triumph through Christ!