Are you familiar with when/then thinking? You know, when we promise ourselves…
- When my husband changes, then I’ll quit nagging.
- When this bill is paid, then I’ll stop worrying.
- When my son gets a real job, then I won’t fret.
- When I get a diagnosis, then I’ll relax.
- When this project is finished, then I’ll enjoy life.
- When I lose ten pounds, then I’ll stop complaining.
When/then thinking may seem harmless, but it’s a deadly substitute for trusting God—a clever cover for disobedience, because God calls us to enter His rest today and not to wait for whatever condition we insist upon before we’ll trust Him.
It’s easy to tell ourselves that rest will come—after the relationship improves, the problem resolves, or the uncertainty clears. But when/then thinking puts our peace at the mercy of circumstances beyond our control. And worse, it pulls us away from God and can lead to hardening of the heart and disobedience, as illustrated by Israel coming out of Egypt.
A Sobering Warning from Hebrews
Hebrews 4 provides a serious warning about missing God’s rest altogether.
“Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it” (Heb. 4:1 NASB95).
Using the children of Israel as an example, Hebrews 3 and 4 warn against unbelief and how it robs us of our rest, leads to outright rebellion against God, and spreads to others.
“For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard” (Heb. 11:2 NASB95).
God promised to lead them into the Promised Land. He’d proved His faithfulness by miraculously defeating Pharaoh and Egypt and providing for Israel two years in the wilderness. He gave them Moses, His great prophet, to lead them. But they chose to focus on their fears instead place their faith in Him.
The warning is clear. Reading our Bibles and attending church is not enough. We must choose to walk by faith each and every day.
Just as Israel heard the good news about the Promised Land, Jesus has promised us, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
Israel: So Close, Yet So Far
I’ve heard people say they wish God would send them a personal email or give them a sign. The children of Israel witnessed God’s power firsthand—but miracles didn’t strengthen their faith.
In effect, they said:
- When we’re stronger, then we’ll obey.
- When the enemy leaves, then we’ll enter.
- When we can see how it will work out, then we’ll trust God.
Yet if seeing God part the Red Sea did not lead to believing, then more experience wouldn’t produce more faith. And that’s the issue. God calls us to walk by faith (Heb. 11:6). And Israel trusted their eyes, not their God. That generation came close to the Promise—but unbelief kept them from entering God’s rest.
The Fog That Makes Us Quit
A long-distance swimmer told how she and her brother attempted to cross a channel together seeking to become the first brother/sister team to accomplish this. Cold water. Thick fog. They couldn’t see how far they’d gone or how close they were. Her brother grew exhausted and quit.
When the boat pushed through the fog, they saw their destination. If he’d known how close he was, he would have kept swimming.
Israel came that close to the Promised Land, but unbelief hardened their hearts and fogged their vision. May we learn from their blunder.
Today Is the Day
God has appointed one day to enter His rest: Today. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow isn’t promised. If I wait for tomorrow’s “when” to trust God with my concerns, I’ll never experience His rest. Today is the only day I can enter His rest.
“So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:
‘Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts’” (Heb. 4:6-7 NLT).
What are you telling yourself must happen before you will rest in God’s promises?
Don’t let yesterday’s regrets or tomorrow’s fears steal today’s rest. Jesus still whispers, “Come to Me.”
Don’t let yesterday’s regrets or tomorrow’s fears steal today’s rest. Jesus still whispers, “Come to Me.” #Rest, #peace Share on XResources
Under Equipping Resources you can find the free resource, “Good News + Faith = Rest.” It contains promises relating to different concerns.
Blessings,
Sometimes I link to these great sites:
#MondayLinkUp #InstaEncouragements, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Grace&Truth, #SweetTea&Friends
Excellent words of biblical truth and wisdom, Deb. Thanks for this reminder. Never have we needed to be reminded of the call to rest or as our pastor would say “trust-rest/rest-trust”.
That’s good, Pam. Reviewing Hebrews has reminded me of how important it is.
I’m slowly making my way through the OT so your words have struck a bit of a chord for me this morning, Debbie. Thank you, too, for bringing that verse from Hebrews to us.
He whispers peace. Rest. Hope.
Yes, those stories serve as sober reminders.
Such an important truth for God’s people. If we are always waiting for the “thing” to happen before we rest, we’ll never get there!
Kind of like saying, “I cut out sugar—tomorrow!”
Excellent message!❤️
Thank you, Jane.
When/then reminds me of a motivational-type film that they showed our whole high school when I was a sophomore. The film illustrated this type of thinking and how it can rob you if you live your whole life this way [the same excuse in the teen years, twenties… all the way up to someone in their eighties]. It strongly impacted me. I don’t recall the name of the film, but I remember our principal said it had a three-year waiting period. Anyway, your article reminded me that any excuse we make robs us of today, and if we make it a pattern in our lives, it can rob us for decades. A powerful reminder!
Lisa, that sounds like a powerful film. When my kids were young, the Lord convicted me of this thinking. I can’t say I never fall back, but I’m certainly more careful now and see it for what it is.
I have been guilty of the when/then game. When/then is like plea bargaining and does not please God. Trusting His promises through the fog does.
Candyce, it’s an easy trap to fall into. Thankfully, Jesus shows us the way out—”Today.”
Powerful truth, Debbie! “But when/then thinking puts our peace at the mercy of circumstances beyond our control.” When/then thinking is living like you’re holding your breath until God answers your question. There’s no peace, no contentment, no joy in when/then living.
Maryleigh, I love how you expressed it, “like you’re holding your breath until God answers.” No peace indeed.
Great message Debbie. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Yvonne.
This is so true, Debbie: “God has appointed one day to enter His rest: Today. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow isn’t promised.” This is an ongoing lesson for me, but I’m thankful for the peace that comes when we rest in God’s promises.
Lois, I agree, it is a lesson we must choose to apply each day.
So much wisdom and truth in your message, Debbie. We’re so blessed that we can always find our rest in our Lord and jump off the “when/then” merry-go-round.
We certainly are, Katherine!
Debbie this is excellent! You are so right here. I love your insights and encouragement within. So beautifully spoken.
Thanks so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend. I’m so happy you’re here.
Thank you, Paula.