Why We Need To Shift ‘What If’ To ‘Even If’

“‘What if’ equals fear; ‘even if’ equals faith.”

I wasn’t expecting to stop scrolling through Pinterest and have a dawning theological moment, but it happened anyway. It’s amazing that simple words, so carefully printed and composed, can have such a soul rattling effect. We underestimate the weight words carry, even when transmitted through a digital route.

The difference between ‘what if’ and ‘even if’ seems unimportant, miniscule even. Yet, when considered deeply, the gravity of such a difference and the connection to faith in an all-powerful God is staggering.

‘What if’ comes from a place of anxiety. “What if I fail?” “What if this doesn’t work out?” “What if I don’t achieve this dream?” “What if they don’t think I’m good enough?”

What ifs shake us to our very core. I’m a person who loves reading quotes, but remembers very few of them; however, a statement by John O’Callaghan has stuck itself within my brain for the past several years:

 

“The what ifs and the should haves will eat your brain.”

 

Anxiety is a consuming force. O’Callaghan was right; what ifs eat your brain.

In contrast, ‘even if’ comes from a place of confidence. An even if mindset isn’t naive-it knows that the possibility of everything going wrong still exists. Yet, it is not shaken by that possibility.

An even if mindset is rooted firmly in the strength of God and confidence in who He is and what He will do. An even if mindset firmly believes Isaiah 54:10 when it says,

 

“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

 

Scripture states over and over how those who cling to God will not be shaken. That produces confidence and peace even in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Even if the bills go unpaid, God is still good and I won’t be shaken.

Even if the person I love doesn’t love me back, God is still good and I won’t be shaken.

Even if my worst nightmare comes to fruition, God is still good and I won’t be shaken.

If we believe that God is our rock, if we believe that we are clutched within His hand no matter what comes, we need to alter our what ifs into even ifs. Even if the worst may come, my confidence and hope is in Christ, and nothing can steal that from me.