The Big Question...

For most people, when they hear someone say that they are going to ask the "Big Question", it refers to a marriage proposal, but I would argue that there is an even bigger question that gets asked much more often, and much more frequently by both married couples and singles alike.

It is the question, "What if?"

These two simple words, combined together in this short phrase are the instigators of hundreds, thousands if not even millions or billions of hours of worry in the lives of people today. 

These two words spark curiosity, doubt, worry, fear, and so many other mixed emotions. 

They tend to spur within them individual emotions that then lead to irrational motives of actions, often disrupting their lives and relationships over the fear of something that has never even actually happened. 

"What if I had been there?" says the father who lost a daughter in a car accident.
"What if I hadn't paid that bill?" says the mother who has no money for food for her children.
"What if I had said this differently?" says the young woman who just lost a job interview.
"What if she is cheating on me?" says the newly married husband.
"What if I had just been different?" says the child who's parent just put them in a foster home. 

They say that "Hindsight is always 20/20 vision," and sometimes it is, but it can also leave us grasping for answers to questions that are unknown. 

Scripture says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Prov. 3:5-6

If you're familiar with the Bible you have probably heard this passage referenced before, and may even have it memorized.

To trust in Him means to put our faith in Him unwavering. There is another passage of scripture in the New Testament that says something very similar. 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, or "Don't worry". 

I don't know about you reader, but even for this pastor, that is a hard thing. 

Why is it a hard thing? Because we have that so trendy little two-word statement we were referencing a moment ago. "What if"?

Part of the problem is is that we don't necessarily NOT trust God, but we question our circumstances. 

We find ourselves willing to submit ourselves to God for the eternal preservation of our souls, but we then hesitate to believe that He will provide our needs, or lead us through the valley of death. 

We need to learn not to question God and His plans for us. We will never this side of heaven understand why He has us go through...but we know that for whatever His plan is, it's for His glory.

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

9 

“For as the heavens are higher than the Earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts."