Trusting God in the What-If Moments of Life

When You Don’t Know What to Write About

I never really know from one day to the next what I’m going to write about here on the blog. Most of the time, I just ramble on, and it all works out. But when Sunday rolls around, I want to share something deeper, something inspiring or thought-provoking.

The problem is, I’m not always inspired. Some weeks, I sit staring at a blank screen, hoping God drops something into my mind.

What I’ve learned to do is pay attention during the week. If a thought keeps coming up, or I hear the same thing more than once, I perk up my ears. That’s usually the Lord nudging me toward a message He wants me to share.

The Shortcut That Took the Long Way Around

Several years ago, when I still lived in Grundy, I had an appointment, and, of course, I was running late. I decided to take a shortcut, thinking I’d save a few minutes. This shortcut was a narrow two-lane road that wound through the mountains for about thirty minutes.

I was almost to the end when I met a couple of cars, and the last driver blinked his lights at me. I thought, Surely there’s not a policeman ahead, but I slowed down anyway. A half mile later, I found the problem: a semi-truck had overturned, completely blocking both lanes. On one side of the road was a steep mountainside, and on the other was a creek. There was no way around.

A worker walked up and told me it would be about two hours before they could clear the wreck. I was aggravated beyond belief. My shortcut to save fifteen minutes had now cost me nearly an hour.

As I turned around to head back, I said a prayer for the driver and started thinking about all the “what-ifs.”

• What if I had left fifteen minutes earlier?
• Would I have been part of that accident?
• What if I’d never taken that shortcut at all?

Every day, we make decisions, most of them small. What to wear, what to eat, what to watch on TV. But sometimes, the smallest decisions can change our path forever.

The What-Ifs That Changed Everything

Joe and I’s anniversary is next Thursday, thirty-nine years! We’re not from the same area, so our paths crossing was a whole string of what-ifs.

What if Joe had chosen a different college?
What if I hadn’t moved into that particular apartment complex?
What if we had listened when people told us to run in the opposite direction?

Would we still have met? I don’t know, but I believe God was guiding our steps long before we realized it.

The Day That Didn’t Go as Planned

I recently came across a story that hit home for me. It’s a conversation between a person and God that goes like this:

Me (in a tizzy): God, can I ask You something?
God: Sure.
Me: Promise You won’t get mad?
God: I promise.
Me (frustrated): Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?
God: What do you mean?
Me: I woke up late. My car wouldn’t start. At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong. On the way home, my phone died. And when I finally got home, my foot massager wouldn’t work. Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?
God: Let’s see… The death angel was at your bed this morning, so I sent another angel to protect you. I let you sleep through that.
Me (humbled): Oh.
God: I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route. I was keeping you safe.
Me: …
God: The first person who made your sandwich was sick, so I made sure you got a new one. I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work.
Me: Oh.
God: Your phone died because the person calling was about to spread lies about you. I didn’t even let you take that call.
Me: I see, God.
God: And that foot massager you wanted to use? It had a short in it that would’ve blown out your power tonight. I didn’t think you wanted to sit in the dark.
Me: I’m sorry, God.
God: Don’t be sorry. Just trust Me, in all things, the good and the bad.
Me: I will trust You, God.
God: Don’t doubt that My plan for your day is always better than yours.
Me: Thank You for everything today.
God: You’re welcome, child. It was just another day being your God, and I love looking after My children.

Isn’t that powerful?

Choosing Trust Over Worry

The what-ifs of this world can drive you crazy if you let them. But trusting God, even when you don’t understand His plan, will bring peace to your heart.

I may not always know what would have happened had I chosen differently, but I do know this: the Lord is always with me, guiding each step I take.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

And as Leonard Cohen sang, “There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”

So, the next time your plans fall apart, take a breath and remember, maybe God’s plan is better than yours.

Today I wanted to leave you with one of my favorite songs by Leonard Cohen.

To GOD Goes the Glory!

Have a Blessed Day!

Let’s End With a Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for watching over me in ways I’ll never fully understand. When I’m frustrated, hurried, or questioning “why,” remind me that Your timing and Your plan are perfect. Help me to trust You with every what-if, every delay, and every detour.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.