The Dangers of "What Ifs"

The past couple of days my mind has been drowning in "what ifs". These questions have soaked up more of my thinking than I would like to admit and so I turn to writing. The only thing that has helped me empty my mind allowing for clarity seems to be blogging these days.

The "what if" questions are flooding my mind like a tsunami. This tidal wave thinking has caused me to doubt and is a danger to my soul. 

"What if we had stayed in Florida?"

 "What if we weren't in debt from school loans? 

"What if God did this....?" 

"What if we hadn't gotten pregnant with Addyson...Would we still believe in God's blessings?"

"What if we lost our jobs?"

"What if the benign pathology report hadn't been benign?"

"What if he never comes to surrender his life to Christ?" 

"What if..."

They are the questions that have filled my mind but I haven't had the courage to vocalize. They are dangerous questions that even as I type cause me to be overwhelmed with doubt, embarrassment and fear. "What if" questions are dangerous to relationships, churches, and do not honor God.

How do I stop the "what if" thoughts? If I know they are not from The Lord and I am called to take every thought captive to the lordship of Christ but how do I pull myself out of the current and onto shore?  These dangerous questions take my focus off the one who already knows the answer. (I know insert cheesy Sunday School answer here). But the "what if" questions more importantly take my focus off the present, they prevent me from living fully present in the moment.

Maybe it isn't possible for me to stop this kind of thinking? Is it a lack of faith? I don't think so...I think it shows more faith to honestly address the "what ifs". That may not be the correct  Sunday School answer, but I don't care. The only way I am finding that I can make the "what if" tidal wave keep from taking me under is to cry out to God. To literally think and then say the names of God aloud.

Jehovah Jireh- my provider
Jehovah Nissi- you reign in victory
Jehovah Shalom- my prince of peace

Jehovah Rapha- my healer 
Jehovah Shammah- always with me
Jehovah Sabaoth- my strong deliverer

For me I need to address the "what if" questions head on.

"What if we had stayed in Florida?"     Jehovah shammah, my God is always with me.

 "What if we weren't in debt from school loans?  Jehovah Jireh, my provider.

"What if God did this....?" Jehovah Sabaoth, He is my strong deliver.

"What if we hadn't gotten pregnant with Addyson...Would we still believe in God's blessings?" Jehovah Nissi, God reigns in victory... no matter what.

"What if we lost our jobs?" Jehovah Jireh, my provider.

"What if the benign pathology report hadn't been benign?" Jehovah Rapha, my healer.

"What if he never comes to surrender his life to Christ?" Jehovah Shalom, He is my prince of peace.

"What if..." Jehovah shammah, The Lord is always with me.

Do you need freedom from the "what if" tidal waves? Answering the "what if" questions with Biblical truth saves me from drowning. Calling on the names of God is helping me be fully preset in the moment today.