What if it doesn’t work out? Suppose there are serious repercussions? What if I lose my job or I’m diagnosed with cancer? Suppose God doesn’t come through? Do these swirling questions sound familiar?
Most of us are too quick to look at the “what if’s” of our circumstances. Circumstances that may or may not happen in the future. These suppositions, if lingered on can lead us to despair. Therefore, we must let go of the “what if’s” and remember that the tomorrows of our lives are not ours to govern, but the Lord’s.
Just Suppose
In Genesis 24, we find Abraham asking his servant, Eliezer to take a journey back to his homeland and kindred to find a wife for Isaac. Immediately Eliezer began looking at the possible problems that could happen in the future circumstances. In verse 5, He says, “Peradventure the woman will not be willing…”
Peradventure means ‘perhaps, maybe’. To put it in our vernacular, “What if..” Abraham immediately reassures Eliezer with the words, “The Lord God of heaven….He shall send his angel before thee…..” The long journey begins and Eliezer ponders on His master’s God and the ‘what if’s’ of the situation.
I have identified with Eliezer these last few weeks in my own journey of faith. Similarly, I, too, have said, “Peradventure it doesn’t work out.” What if it doesn’t happen as it should? Does God really have a plan for this situation? As I struggled with the ‘what if’ thoughts, I kept going back to Abrahams words, “The Lord God of heaven……He shall…”
What if He had not trusted?
Meanwhile, as his destination is reached, Eliezer decides to reach out in trust to the Lord of Heaven. If you look in verses 12 and 13 of Chapter 24 you can see that He had made a decision. It wasn’t just about his master’s God. Eliezer definitively states, “I pray thee…I stand here…” He had come to a moment where he had to let go of the ‘what if’s’ and let God lead and direct the circumstances.
Opening my hand and my heart and letting go of the ‘what if’s’ in my own situation has been a struggle. Doubts have come. Yet it is with the eyes of faith that we see past the circumstances, to a gracious and loving God. Consequently, there comes a time to choose to trust that God is in control of all of life. I choose. I let go and I trust.
Trust in spite of the What If
We know the story. Before Eliezer is done speaking Rebekah comes out to the well with a pitcher. After Eliezer requests a drink and is given one, Rebekah offers to water his camels. Subsequently, he watches in awe and wonder as Rebekeh carries pitcher after pitcher to the watering trough for his camels. Eliezer is overwhelmed. It has happened just as He had prayed. Verse 26 says, “And the man bowed down his head, and worshiped the Lord.” His heart swells in gratitude and praise as He realizes that God Almighty has heard his prayer. “And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me…”(v. 27)
As a new day dawns, I can say, “The Lord God hath not left us destitute of His merciful loving kindness.” In other words, the Almighty God has heard my prayer and worked His way in the situation. I praise Him. While I journey onward, the answered prayer in this situation can be used as a stepping stone of growth. Most importantly, I am reassured that God has a plan and I can rest in the knowledge that He is in control.
God Is Glorified
At Laban’s house Eliezer had to tell the story. He told it all. His doubts, Abraham’s assurances, his journey and choice to trust and pray. And then he told of the answer and how he had worshiped the Lord God. As a result, in the telling God was glorified again.
And so I record my story to praise God and let it be known that it doesn’t matter where our journey of faith takes us, God is there. In short, we must choose to leave our “what if’s” in the hand of God. And then reach out in trust and accept the plan that God has prepared for our particular situation.
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