If Only

When they returned from scouting out the Promised Land, Joshua and Caleb were upbeat. They had faith and believed that God would enable them to take possession of the Promised Land. But the other ten spies felt hopeless, focusing on problems they might face. The people caught this negative spirit, moaning, “If only…”

It can be so easy to develop an “if only” attitude. With this attitude, we lack confidence and question our decisions. We think about what could have been, if we had acted differently. This distracts us from our present situation and God’s calling. It encourages us to speculate, and it poisons our minds and hearts. After we have prayed and sought God, an “if only” attitude indicates we don’t really trust Him. It fills us with wishful thinking and distorted views. It also can lead us to draw wrong conclusions about ourselves, other people, and the world.

Forty years later, a second group of spies learned that the people in the land were afraid of the Israelites (Joshua 2:8-14). Instead of worrying about “if only,” Israel should have trusted God, who already had prepared the way for victory.

Today, be on guard against this tendency to second-guess. Avoid “if only” thinking. Start every day and every project by seeking God. Seek His direction for decisions you make. Obey His Word. Trust Him in every situation. Have faith, no matter how things appear on the surface.

Be thankful for where you are right now. Focus on staying faithful and obedient. Avoid a life filled with “if only” thinking. Be confident that, as you have committed your way to Him, He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:5-6).