I have been thinking a lot lately about how much “What if’s?” society places on us. 
What if you don’t find a good job?
What if you don’t find a husband or can’t have kids?
What if you get hurt?
What if you get sick?
What if so and so doesn’t approve?
I have been living for so many years in a world of “What if’s?”. I put away savings for my “What if I don’t have enough money when I retire?”. I went to school earning both a BA and a masters in teaching to extinguish possibilities about “What if I don’t find my calling in a lucrative career?” I even went to more doctors than one would desire at the age of 28 to help combat the “What if you get skin cancer or a serious medical problem?” I have been doing everything that my society and world has trained me to do. I paid off my student loans, worked as a teacher for 7 years, got married, had the cars and even thought about the cute house and dog but then God started to switch my paradigm. He began to whisper to me “What if.…!”
Now this “What if….!” is drastically different than the “What if?” I described before. The first “What if?” is based on fear, the second “‘What if…!” is mounted on hope. I now realize that life is full of “What if’s….!”. We all have the power to make choices that lead to endless possibilities of adventure, freedom and trust. Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the cute house, finding a career one loves or raising a family in suburban America—much of me still desires that—but what I am eluding to is that I need to desire all things in life from a perspective of hope and trust in the God who formed me and set me in motion in this world to do His will. His will being to bring His kingdom to this earth. Some bring kingdom in their jobs, to their families etc…but He has been revealing to me that I am to bring His Kingdom through my job and through my family. I don’t regret a single day of my adult life but I also have made it a point to being obedient to God’s call, where ever that may lead me. For a time that was suburban America and I LOVED my ministry as a teacher. Then I was called all the way to China and was stretched/blessed beyond measure. Now I am serving as a missionary in a new country every month with my husband. The future…that is HIS what if…which excites me to see.
I am no longer afraid of the “What if’s?” because I serve a God who has more than enough money to support His dreams for my family’s life, more than enough power to heal any sickness that can come my way and more than enough love to heal this hurting world. My only concern these days is missing the “What if… I don’t say YES LORD to what He asking me to do!”
What if….you are my hands, feet and voice in a hungry & hurting America!
What if…you Lindsay, are my resource to help free women from the red light district in Chiang Mai, Thailand!
What if….I am going to call you to equip the nations with the knowledge and power of my love and plan for their lives!
What if…your offspring will be a part of the 42nd Generation!
Lately these “What if’s….!” from my Lord excite me beyond measure for He knows the plans He has for me, to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
Which “What if” paradigm are you presently living?
