The Land of What-Ifs

The Land of What-Ifs is a tempting place to dwell. It is also a dangerous place to be. And chances are, if you flipped to this page, you’re stepping foot into its territory. Before you even pull the covers back, your mind is racing with questions. What if I choke up during the meeting tomorrow? What if my child is diagnosed with learning disabilities? What if the test result comes back positive? What if I don’t get the job? There are countless “what-if” scenarios, both big and small. But they have one thing in common: they don’t help. While you’re lying in bed, trying to gear down for the day, your mind is whirring, spinning every possible negative scenario into a sticky, all-consuming web.

You get trapped in it, and spend hours burrowing deeper and deeper—with nothing positive to show for it. In fact, you are so imprisoned in this web that you’re paralyzed with fear, anxiety, and panic, all because of two simple words: what if. The Land of What-Ifs is tempting—but it is also trouble. It’s living out anxiety in our minds, hyping ourselves up to frightening, stressful scenarios that may never come true.

It places ourselves in the role of God—and relegates the Lord elsewhere. In short, it’s a place that Christians need to fight against.