What if…? {Hope Restored Series}

Today’s post is from my friend Bethany A.  She is a friend from college and was one of the RAs (Resident Assistants) in the dorm where I was the RC (Residence Hall Coordinator).  Bethany is currently in a battle against Lyme Disease, a struggle in which she daily must draw hope from Christ.  Here is a story she shared with me from a couple weeks ago where God used His Word to restore hope in the midst of fighting this battle and making decisions about whether or not she would be able to continue her DCE internship:

Thursday was a rough day for me for a few different reasons, but as I was falling asleep something a friend shared with me a few years ago crossed my mind: “My God will take care of me.” You see, my mind had been playing the “What If…” Game again.

“What if my doctor has no answers?”
“What if, due to the health care system reforms, my doctor will no longer be able to treat me?”
“What if I can’t beat this?”
“What if I have to live with this forever, because the people in control don’t believe chronic Lyme disease exists?”
“what if…what if…what if…”
And in that moment my heart was reminded that no matter how much I play the “What If…” Game, I have to remember to play it all the way through.

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all…The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” -Psalm 34:17-19,22 (ESV)

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)

At the end of the “What If…” Game I found that no matter what is happening or could happen or will happen in my life, MY GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF ME!

And with that I placed myself and all my fears in God’s arms and drifted off to sleep.

How do all the “what ifs” of life try to steal your hope and joy? How do the verses Bethany shared above restore hope in those moments?