What If?

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV.

When I interviewed to be an elder, they asked me several questions. I felt one question was the worst one for a believer in Christ. What are your five-year goals? I always answer wherever the Lord places me because genuine believers follow the Him and not theirs.

Someone can focus on what-ifs. What if I told the girls who liked me in high school that I liked them too instead of being shy? What if I went to Hahnemann University and got my master’s in art therapy? What if I chose a different path in life? Then circling back can bring remorse.

What if?

We could regret the decisions we made in life, but the Lord wants us to forget the past. We can look back and doubt God’s plan for us. He has a purpose for everyone—a future for His sons and daughters.

We may wonder why life unfolded as it did. God has a plan for us even when we can’t see it. Our lives have meaning, and every soul matters.

Stay present, not in the what-ifs. Today begins a new day. The past is the past. The Bible says all our messes and failures are gone. They are behind us. One of my favorite words I learned in Psychology was Tabula Rasa—a clean slate. We can move forward forgiven into any situation—the what ifs are done. Let's follow Jesus' plans for our futures.

Give us the direction to move on, Lord. Move us into the present and help us forget the regrets of the past. Thank You for Your plans and purposes for our future as we follow You. In Jesus’ name, amen.