After a surgery to remove a lobe of her left lung, we had great hopes that my mom was cancer-free. She recovered quickly, her breathing capacity — albeit a bit diminished — was seemingly restored. The doctors were encouraged that the prognosis was good and that she was postured to live a long, healthy life.
Now a little over a year after her surgery, she is having back pain — back pain she knows is not caused by sleeping wrong or strenuous exercise. And she is afraid. Her thoughts are plagued by the "what ifs." What if the cancer has returned? What if it has moved to another part of her body? What if the doctors can't remove it successfully this time? What if she does not live long enough to see her granddaughter married?
The struggle is real.
The "what ifs" became a nagging din in her ears. She suffered in silence for a few weeks. It plagued her sleep, made her cranky, and convinced her to disconnect from activities she normally loves. She finally reached out and was honest with me.
We've All Been There
We give the microphone to our fears instead of the Lord. We spend unnecessary time marinating in the "what ifs" instead of the truths of "WHO is" — who is God?
Who is the One who made you? Who is the One who loves you enough to send His only Son to redeem you? Who is intimately acquainted with the thing that is making you fearful? Who is the One who works all things for good?
After I admitted that I have also spent seasons focused on the "what ifs" instead of the "WHO is," I encouraged my mom to sit with Philippians 4:4-8. It is such a practical set of instructions for combating anxiety — and for navigating our thoughts back to the Lord.
The Practical Roadmap
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things."
Philippians 4:4-8
Some of the highlights from this passage — a checklist worth keeping:
- Rejoice — even before the answer comes
- Be gentle with others and with yourself
- Recognize the nearness of the Lord — He has not moved
- Choose prayer and gratitude over anxiousness
- Think about the wonderful instead of the worries
Paul follows this passage with a charge to put these things into practice. Not just to read them and nod. To actually do them. Sometimes we need someone to write us a reality check — and to ask us to remember WHO God is and WHAT He is capable of.
WHO Is, Not What If
Fortunately, my mom's back pain has subsided and she is back to normal. I am thankful that we chose to replace feelings of fear and worry with intentional focus on the character and capabilities of God.
The "what ifs" will always come. They are persistent and they are loud. But they are not the loudest voice in the room — not if we choose to turn the microphone back over to the One who actually knows what happens next.
The next time you feel heavy with the weight of worry, go back to Philippians 4 and remember the hope of WHO is. Not what might happen. Who is already there.
One Question for You
What "what if" are you giving the microphone to right now? I'd love to hear what this brings up for you. Send me a note — I read them all.
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