“What If” or “Even If”?

FaithFi: Faith & Finance | Oct 7, 2024

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Show Notes

One of the enemy’s favorite tools for discouraging Christians is the question, “What if…?” Unfortunately, those “What if” questions lead right down the road to fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us:

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

How many times have you worried about your finances, asking those scary “what if” questions like:

“What if I lose my job?”
“What if I don’t have enough money for retirement?”
“What if something bad happens to me or my loved ones?”

We all have these fears, often driven by uncertainties about the future. The problem with “what if” thinking is that it focuses on events that haven’t happened—and may never happen. We can’t control the future, but we often let fear about it consume us. Yet, God knows this struggle, and Jesus offers a comforting reminder in Matthew 6.

Trust in God's Provision

In Matthew 6:25-27, Jesus tells his disciples:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Jesus challenges us to move our focus from anxious thoughts about the future to trust in the One who holds the future. God isn’t overwhelmed by the complications of life. Our circumstances, no matter how tangled, are never beyond His ability to work out.

Changing "What If" to "Even If"

When life feels uncertain, we have a choice: give in to the "what if" fears or trust God's provision and guidance. Rather than living in the grip of fear, we can transform our “what if” questions into “even if” statements of faith.

Let’s take a cue from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three young Israelites were faced with the threat of death in a fiery furnace because they refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. Their response in Daniel 3:17-18 was full of courageous faith:

“If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

Their trust in God was unwavering, not based on whether or not they would be saved from the fire, but rooted in who God is. They embraced an “even if” mindset, trusting God’s sovereignty regardless of the outcome.

Applying "Even If" Faith to Financial Anxiety

In moments of financial worry, we can embrace the same kind of trust in God. What if you lose your job? Even if you do, you can trust God to provide. What if you can’t afford retirement? Even if that happens, God will still be your provider. What if something bad happens to you or a loved one? Even in those moments, God is present, and His grace will be sufficient.

Here’s how we can change our worries:

“What if I lose my job?” becomes “Even if I lose my job, I will trust the Lord.”
“What if I can’t afford retirement?” becomes “Even if I can’t afford retirement, I will trust the Lord.”
“What if something bad happens?” becomes “Even if something bad happens, I will trust the Lord.”

Faith in God’s Sovereignty

Accepting that God’s plans may not always align with ours is challenging. The Bible doesn’t promise that life will be worry-free. But it does promise that God will be with us through it all. Faith in God’s sovereignty allows us to trust Him, even in the face of uncertainty, knowing that He works all things for our good (Romans 8:28).

I challenge you to take a moment and write down your “what if” worries. Then, cross out the “what if” and replace it with “even if.” Submit your anxieties to the Lord, trusting that He will fill you with peace, strength, and hope.

As you navigate financial anxieties, lean on God’s promises. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10:

“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”If you or someone you know is struggling with financial anxiety, I invite you to check out FaithFi’s new devotional, Look at the Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety. This resource will strengthen and encourage you to trust God in the midst of your financial concerns.Visit FaithFi.com to learn more and start your journey from “what if” to “even if” today.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

I'm a teacher in my 20s, and I've been able to amass a little bit of savings, but my salary is not going up with the rate of inflation, and I'm starting to have to dig into my savings. I tithe 10% with every check, but I will need to pull from my savings to continue to do that. But if I pray about this and don't tithe, I feel guilty about it, so I’m looking for some wisdom on this.
I have a fairly large portfolio, and I'm just wondering: If the stock market starts to dip, what is your opinion on moving everything to cash?
Recently, I heard you say that you can freeze your credit because I received an email that said my Social Security is on the dark web due to the data breach from the national public data. I'm figuring out how to do this quickly and efficiently. Should I email them or call them? If I call them, do I have to contact each credit company?
I'm about $26,000 in credit card debt. My husband walked out on us and stopped paying the bills, so we racked up more debt. My credit score has dropped significantly. We're doing okay without major expenses, but now we must pay lawyer fees and replace the roof. What's the best option—a home equity line or something else?
I just found a $154,000 home near my new job, which I started a week ago. I don't have much to pay for a down payment, but the monthly cost would be about the same as my rent. Is it wise to buy this house right now, even though I don't have a large down payment?

Resources Mentioned:

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