What if?

I never take for granted that I’ve got relatively good mental health at the moment. But it saddens me that I haven’t yet returned to baseline normal after my last admission in 2023. I wasn’t able to return to work and I’ve been left with a crippling tendency toward anxiety.

In relatively minor situations, my mind can conjure up worst case scenarios that affect my functioning and disrupt my sleep.

My overthinking mind goes into hyperdrive and spirals into a whirlwind of calamities and catastrophe.

“What if?” are the most commonly used words when my thought processes are on that trajectory 

Maybe you too dwell in the realm of “What if?” Where fear becomes so loud that faith gets drowned out. Where anxiety robs us of peace and joy.

Maybe we need to focus  on “What is”

and get grounded  in the present moment.

Think:

What is here?

What is now?

What is true?

What is good?

I try to focus on the positive things to be grateful for. As I read, ‘What if we overthink the good things?’

The anxieties don’t disappear, but I can say:

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Or to deal with worries another way, instead of thinking “What if?”, consider “Even if”

Even if the worst thing happens, we can hope in God. Even if the very worst thing happened, God would be there with us.

Habbukuk brought his greatest concerns to God & declared:

“yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!”

‭‭(Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

We can trade our “What ifs?” for God’s presence and peace . We can trust our Almighty God who is bigger than our anxieties and fears.

{Today & always

Now & forever}

Blessings,

Ruth