The Master of “What if…”

The words “what if” contain a powder keg of potential. All of the amazing advances we have experienced through the centuries in physics, technology, healthcare and so much more started with someone uttering these two words, “what if.” One generation of discovery is built upon by the next, reaching new heights by asking the same little question. 

These two words also help us to solve the problems we encounter around us. “What if” is filled with hope and possibilities for a brighter future. It can turn a really bad outlook into a not-so-bad one, or, even better, into something pretty good or surprisingly great! Hope is powerful.

On the flip side, these very same words can lead us down a much darker path. Rather than imagine the positive future possibilities, “what if” can help us envision what could go wrong. And if that goes wrong, then another terrible thing is bound to happen. Link a few more negative “what ifs” together and we’re well on our way to experiencing fear. This cascade of fearful negative thoughts drives us to imagine what could be lost. Even a fleeting thought of loss can be emotionally taxing, especially if it involves losing something or someone we love. Fear is powerful.

It is at this point in the article that you might expect me to tell you that negative “what ifs” are bad and positive “what ifs” are good. That would be true if my purpose were just to make you feel better or if I were trying to persuade you about the power of positive thinking. I do happen to be a fan of positive thinking, but that is not the purpose of this article. No, today I must be more nuanced that that. Both kinds of “what ifs” have their pros and their cons.

God created us to be caretakers of the earth and to use our creative abilities to bless others through our discoveries. It is impossible to accomplish these things if we don’t have the natural curiosity of “what if.” We are broken people, and we have become very good at corrupting even our most well-intentioned work. Many of our most significant discoveries were quickly followed up with, “What if… we can use this for our own selfish purposes?” That hardly ever ends well.  

Sometimes we play the game of positive thinking because we are simply avoiding bad news. If we just say the positive “what ifs” loud and long enough, maybe it will still happen. This is a dangerous path. You can’t solve a problem that you don’t ever acknowledge. I suppose that is why we confess our sins every worship service rather than pretend that everything is all right. Sometimes it’s not all right, and we need to see what might be ahead. Change is real and it’s not always easy. When we acknowledge the negative possibilities, we allow ourselves to make good and godly choices, even if that choice isn’t what we want.  

What about the fear? What about the loss? It’s real, and it’s ok to feel it. We just can’t let it take us over. The God who gave us the good things we are afraid of losing is the same God who created everything out of nothing. If God can save the world from sin through the torture of the cross, He can certainly bring good out of our negative situations. So, we say “what if” in faith. For every negative “what if”, we balance it with a positive “what if God…” Trust in God with all your heart, and allow Him to be the Master of your “what ifs.”