Six months ago, God began taking me on a journey filled with life-changing health challenges. Within three months, I faced three consecutive infections, sepsis, a life-threatening low sodium level, multiple ER visits, hospitalization, and signs that my Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) was starting to progress. My muscle loss, weakness, imbalance, fatigue, and confusion were some of the symptoms that persisted for months, leading to the sale of our townhome and a move to a retirement community. I watched helplessly as my wife coordinated every aspect of our home sale and relocation. Friends had to come and care for me while she attended appointments and ran errands. Everything was changing.

During this time, one of my daughters wore a sweatshirt with words printed on the front that planted the seed for a life-altering change in me. In this blog, you will see how the two life-altering words differentiate faith from fear.

But first, we need to consider two life-altering words, as they tend to be our default. I know these life-altering words have been my default.

The two life-faltering words are “What if.”

They always appear as the first two words in a question.

• What if I get cancer?
• What if we don’t have the money?
• What if we run out of money?
• What if I fail?
• What if I lose my job?
• What if the market drops?
• What if our plans get canceled?

Sometimes, “what if” questions are warranted and can lead to sensible contingency plans. Other times, they are inquisitive and can foster innovation. However,

“What if” questions often reveal our inability to control the situation.

Our attempts to answer “what if” questions reveal our futile efforts to be in control. My counselor wisely advised me to “not fill in the blanks” or “don’t try to finish the sentence,” meaning

. . . don’t attempt to predict outcomes of things over which we have no control.

Our attempts to control stem from a fundamental fear that something we wish to avoid might occur.

“What if” questions are life-faltering because they drain life and strength from us.

Instead of a life-faltering stance, we can shift to a life-altering position with two words.

Here’s the history of the two words printed on my daughter’s sweatshirt.

In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon attacked Jerusalem and took many of the Israelites back to Babylon as captives. In the ensuing years, Nebuchadnezzar sought to strip the Israelites of their identity and established laws mandating that the Israelites assimilate into the Babylonian pagan culture. His strategy included a decree requiring everyone to bow down and worship a gold statue. Those who refused to obey would be thrown into a blazing furnace. Three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—refused to bow down to the gold statue and were sentenced to death in the furnace.

When the three men were brought before Nebuchadnezzar, they gave their life-altering statement of faith before the king.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18 NLT)

I cannot find the author of this quote, but these lines articulate the distinction between fear and faith:

Fear asks, “What if…?”
Faith says, “Even if…!”

The words “even if” were a statement of faith for the three men and can also be a statement of faith for us. Following their example is life-altering.

By faith, we can trade in our “What ifs” for “Even if.”

• Even if I get cancer, God’s grace is sufficient for me, for His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).
• Even if we don’t have the money, my God will supply my every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19 NET).
• Even if we run out of money, if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for us. Why do I have so little faith? (Matthew 6:30-32).
• Even if I fail, “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. (Psalm 34:5 NLT).
• Even if I lose my job, “ Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7 NLT).
• Even if the market drops, “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31 NLT).
• Even if our plans get canceled, we “can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail” (Proverbs 19:21 NLT).

The prophet Habakkuk offers us another example of a life-altering stance of faith.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk 4:17-19 NLT

Make a life-altering decision to stand firm in your faith.

At the beginning of this blog, I noted that these two words planted the seed for a life-altering change in me. For most of my life, fear drove my “what if” questions. However, over the past six months, my weak and unstable condition has made me more aware of my inability to control anything, which has freed me to be more observant of God at work. My wife and I have seen God prepare the path before us and provide for every need. We went to bed every night with a long gratitude list to God. I am experiencing a deep sense of peace and contentment, even when things have not gone as I had initially planned.

I invite you to join me on this journey from fear to faith. Silence the “what-ifs” by accepting what you cannot control. Instead, make a life-altering decision to stand firm in your faith that God is in control and that we can trust Him with the outcomes.