Do I have any ʻwhat ifʼ readers here in Frankfort? Any people who commonly think of the ʻwhat ifʼ scenarios that can stop you from starting or doing something. Letʼs think of some very common ʻwhat ifʼ statements. What if it doesnʼt go well? What if they donʼt like me or laugh at me? What if I fall on my face? What if I fail? What if no one gets it? What if...

Iʼve used what if plenty of times. It has stopped me from doing things I know would probably be good - whether talking to someone, starting a project, or creating something new. But somehow something in my brain triggers an unlikely scenario that would only occur under apocalyptic circumstances. Iʼm able to think of the worst case scenario instead of the best case scenario so I stop. Paralyzed by my worst case thinking I keep from my best case doing. # A man named Moses had this same problem. God told Moses to go to the king of Egypt, and tell him to let the Hebrew people go. And Moses who is known for great faith as a believer gives horrible excuses. He says “what if they donʼt listen to me.”

Do you think God was pleased with Mosesʼ ʻwhat ifsʼ? Do you think heʼs pleased with ours. I donʼt, and so today I want you to consider a different response. If your mind just canʼt stop thinking of those worst case scenarios how about replacing your ʻwhat ifʼ with ʻeven ifʼ.

Got another story for you. Three dudes were commanded by the king of Babylon to worship and bow down to an image of gold. As believers in the Lord they wouldnʼt do it. The king was angry and threatened to throw them in a fiery furnace if they did not. You know their response? “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it... But even if he does not...we will not worship the image of gold.” (Daniel 3:17-18) They were threatened with a real worst case scenario - death. But used Ê»even if,ʼ and the story actually played out quite well. Read the rest in Daniel 3 I dare you.

So how do we acquire this Ê»even ifʼ mentality? I think it works best as we look at the story of Jesus. If God would send his only Son to die our death and spare us the ultimate worst case scenario, why wouldnʼt he also guard and protect and guide us in all things? Consider this promise, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) And I believe this means heʼll give us what we need in every situation. Whether protection - to the degree that the mountains could fall into the heart of the sea, and the seas could roar and we wouldnʼt need to fear. Whether providence - as he knows our needs and is able to meet them. Whether the hope of new life - just as those 3 could face a fiery furnace knowing the God of life could raise them up from death, so this is our hope as well. So may you trust in him and in so doing walk through lifeʼs situations saying Ê»even if.Ê» May you know God is with you and for you.