Quite frequently I struggle with the "What Ifs" and the "If onlys" that rule over my life and drown out God.  It causes my heart to be anxious and full of uncertainty.  God encourages me to keep my eyes fixed on my Sovereign Lord in Psalm 141:8:

But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD;
       in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.

In our WIC (Women in the Church), we are reading Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow.  We are on Chapter 10 which is entitled "Trusting God With the What Ifs."

Jeremiah 17:5-8:
    ⁵ This is what the LORD says:
       "Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
       who depends on flesh for his strength
       and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

    ⁶ He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
       he will not see prosperity when it comes.
       He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
       in a salt land where no one lives.

    ⁷ "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.

    ⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water
       that sends out its roots by the stream.
       It does not fear when heat comes;
       its leaves are always green.
       It has no worries in a year of drought
       and never fails to bear fruit."

This passage stood out to me in a BIG, BOLD, way.  My tendency is to control and "help" God out.  Waiting is hard and painful and beating myself up over my "If onlys," just causes disaster for me, giving me a dry, dull, appearance to my life. 

My "What ifs" come in the form of "What if God doesn't give me anymore blessings which I so, so want?  What if I fail at homeschooling my children?  What if I fail as a wife and help meet for my husband?"  My "If onlys" come in the form of "If only God had changed my heart sooner, I wouldn't have lived so many years in the dark, and I could have had more children, a stronger relationship with the Lord, etc."  

I'm tired of trusting in my own strength.  I want my roots planted deep by the river and I long to be content with my surroundings and situation instead of anxious and waiting for "What ifs" or "If onlys."

I remember years ago, when I was struggling with my weight and other life issues, a kind woman showed me the Serenity prayer.  Linday Dillow also mentions it in this chapter that we are studying.

May it bless you today as you let go of your strength and lean on God.

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Posted by Monkeygirl1

NOOOOOOOO.

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