Managing ‘What if’ Paralysis
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One of the biggest hindrances to the Kingdom of God coming on earth is the ‘What if’ problem.
What if it goes wrong? What if I look stupid? What if I loose control? What if people think i’m not good enough? What if I haven’t heard God properly?
Also the issue on the other side is the ‘Why did’ question, generating regret or shame - Why did I do that? Why did I say that? Why didn’t I do more? Why did I believe all the lies?
The effect in the Christian is paralysis. Fear of mistakes and fear of regrets keep us from doing courageous things. If we are to see the Kingdom come, we have to stop this thinking. The enemy’s playground is our mind, into which he seeks to dominate us with lies which paralyse us. But we are going to break free!
Israel’s king David knew the pressure of real life. Psalm 13 shows us this. And he knew what it was like to have his mind troubled by thoughts and fears (Psalm 13:4). But He learned the secret of overcoming the ‘What if’s’ and the ‘Why did’s’. And from him we can measure if we are being held back by fear. Psalm 13: 5-6 says:
‘But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Iwill sing the Lord's praise, for he has been good to me.’
- A Christian who is dominated by fear of making choices, or manipulated by accusations of regret, has a problem with trust. They have lost connection with the truth that God is not only unfailingly powerful, but He is unfailingly loving towards us. He uses His power for us, not against us. He is able to make all things work for good when we walk in humility, surrender and repentance. All our fears are managed when we remember we can trust Him absolutely to work good in and for us. David learned this and rested in it.
- Another indication that we are dominated by fear of making choices or manipulated by accusations of regret, is that praise and worship are neglected. It’s hard to be a praising and thankful person when our mind is dominated by fear and regret. That is because we become the focus rather than God. And when we are in this state, we loose sight of the fact that, whatever things look like, ‘He has been so good to me’. David looked the reality of his situation in the face, and sang to the Lord. The ‘What if’s’ and the ‘Why did’s’ did not switch of his worship.
Our city, and your world, needs courageous disciples who trust God and grab hold of the Kingdom. It’s time to be free. If you’re dominated by ‘What if’s’ and ‘Why did’s’, then it’s time to repent, renounce lies and be filled with truth. We are a trusting people, and we are a praising people. And we step into our destiny with confidence.
