Do you find your thoughts drifting into the “what if” zone? They can keep us up at night. The loud voices of the media fuel them. We Google around, looking for possible answers, fretting. Wondering. Trying to take control…again.
“What if” thoughts jab our souls when we suffer. We try to bravely face unknowns, constantly anticipating future challenges. It’s exhausting because suffering often feels scary. Suffering can produce fear when we think about possible outcomes. Anxiety looms in a dark cloud.
But Who holds every detail of the future? Every outcome? The Lord, Adonai, supremely in control, and fully self-sufficient. All over Scripture, He tells us He is sovereign. Remembering this soothes our fears and brings peace about “what if.” Even in the dark storms upon us. I’ve been reading the words of pastors and missionaries in Ukraine with awe. They’re resting on His sovereign care for His beloved children. As disciples of Jesus, it’s such a gift that He gives us peace in knowing Him, in the face of fears.
God is sovereign
The panicked disciples shook Jesus awake when it appeared the sudden storm would kill them all, accusing Him, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mk. 4:38). Jesus gently questions us too: “Why are you so afraid?” (v. 40). The wind and the sea calmed by His commanding word (vv. 39-41). The storms submitted to the sovereign authority of the One who wisely and lovingly controls all things (Job 38-41), to the One who is in control of political powers (Dan. 2:21), and holds all things together (Col. 1:17).
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform.
He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
(“God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” Cowper, W., 1774)
Immeasurable peace floods my heart when our loving Lord reminds me of His sovereign control over storms in the universe He created and powerfully sustains.
Because He then controls the storms of my personal suffering.
My loving Father is sovereign over my life
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows (Mt. 10:29-31).
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev’ry hour.
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:13-14 ESV).
We can rest in His always-loving control, His perfect timing and plan, because our Lord’s perfect kingdom purposes are far better than anything we could “ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). He is our always-loving Father who brought us to Jesus Christ, so we already have peace with Him (Rom. 5:1). This is the God to Whom we are praying right now, for ourselves and for others. Beloved, God’s got this, all of it.
The “what if” is in His sovereign hands.
Anxious thoughts become “God is sovereign” thoughts
“Thought-replacement” can become God’s beautiful, rescuing, transforming work into our times of suffering.
The thought that our loving Father is sovereign over what might happen “tomorrow” can give us great peace and courage for “today.”
We can continually pray for His help to trust in His sovereign and good plan for our lives and those of loved ones, no matter what. If you’re like me, it’s an hourly prayer! We find peace-filled courage as He helps us to remember, facing tomorrow…by knowing He’s got this.
You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Truth is…how could we possibly know the answer to “what if?” We aren’t God! In our anxious imaginings, we contrive so many things that “could” happen, but they often don’t! The enemy wants to make us think we can actually control and foresee everything that happens, but we aren’t God. God alone knows all the myriads of tiniest details, like every hair on our heads, of all that happens and will happen. Let’s read Job 38-42 if we need a reset on our anxious thoughts!
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan his work in vain.
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
Material adapted from Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle. Copyright © 2022, Singing Christ’s Hope.
A playlist to find peace instead of anxious “what if” thoughts, as we suffer
Let’s battle the anxious thoughts, replacing them with truths of His Word. Let’s sing to our sovereign Lord in order to battle! Let’s praise Him for His perfect kingdom plan, His good purposes, His reigning authority, His complete power. Let’s rest there, trusting in His perfect care for us, singing, “Be still…my soul,” as we sing to our heavenly Father who is supremely in control. Let’s ask Him to settle our hearts as we find peace in His sovereign and good care.
If you’d like the YouTube playlist of songs I’ve made to help me battle anxiety into my own suffering right now, sign up here and I’ll send them to your email too! He’s got this and He’s got us, dear sister.
