The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)
I hear the words “if only” at least once a day. Once in a while,
I say it to myself. Most times, someone in pain utters it.
· If only… (s)he would
· If only… I won the
lottery
· If only… I get a job
· If only… _____________
had won/lost the election
· If only… (s)he would
notice me
· If only… my grades were
better
· If only… I had listened
· If only… the coach,
director, team, job, spouse force me
· If only… I was better
· If only… it was
_____________ ( a past year/era)
· If only… we had more
money
· If only… I wasn’t so busy
· If only… my job didn’t
suck
· If only… God would tell
me what to do
· If only… I would have
done_________
· If only…
__________________ (you fill it in)
In most of these cases, we are bemoaning the fact that we have little
current control over things AND we set a trajectory previously in life that got us where we are.
When we let God run the show we are doing this.
- Admitting that our efforts to control are often futile. If only’s give way to a contented clarity of thought and heart.
- We realign our If only, out-of-control life to God’s trajectory, which is life in abundance. Abundance not because we have-it-all. Rather, a life of contentment because God has it all.
“Father,” Jesus said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup
from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36 (NIV)
