Have you ever thought about where you would be if things were different in your life?  I know that many of us  often go there…thinking about where we would be if this or that was different.  Where would I be if I had more money, where would I be if I had a better job.  As a single-mom I know the thought can often go to where would I be if my husband hadn’t left or if I had a spouse to help with the daily tasks of work, house, and kids.  It is inevitable that we go there from time to time.  But, doing this really isn’t very productive.  It brings feelings of depression, of anger, it can bring feelings of jealousy at what others have.  In reality, it does nothing  more than bring you to the edge of the slippery slope of self-pity and despair.

However, there is another way to ask this question.  One that can bring joy instead of sorrow, gratitude instead of jealousy, life instead of death.

That  is…Where would I be without God?

The other day I was driving in my car just listening to music and running some errands for a busy weekend ahead. I had just finished up a very busy week at work.  Our church had our annual Vacation Bible School last week.  We had a little over 200 kids attend and it was an amazing week.  It was also a very exhausting week!  But as I was driving on Friday after it was all over, I really got to thinking about where I was in my life.  I got to thinking about some of the amazing things that God has done in my life.  I thought about how I couldn’t have gotten through this week without His strength and as I thanked him for that, I really started thinking about where I would be without Him.

This isn’t a question I take lightly.  I know the type of person I am and  I shutter to think of where  I would be without God.  As I look back over my life, and more specifically over the last 4 yrs of my life, I see God’s hand at every turn.  Providing for me and my children, giving me strength when I feel like I can’t possible go on, giving me peace in the midst of trying circumstances, protecting my kids and I  in ways I can’t even imagine.  No, walking this path isn’t easy, but walking it alone, would be unthinkable!

Thinking about all this, lifted me up, brought a joy that I couldn’t explain, and led me to worship God for who He is!

The truth is, the enemy would like nothing more than for you to focus on what you don’t have, for you to focus your thoughts on how great your life would be if only this or if only that.  He loves when we compare, looking at other people’s lives like they are perfect and ours is so awful.  It alienates us from others and leaves feeling alone and unloved.  However, you can be sure he hates it when we focus on all that God has done for us.  When we remember who we are apart from Christ, when we realize that our joy is found in Christ alone. When despite circumstances that you never thought you would have to face, you still have joy and peace because you know Who God is and exactly What He has done for you.

What a difference just changing the way you finish a question can make!

The next time you begin to go down the “where would I be if….path”, change that question around and instead ask yourself where you would be without God.  Cry out to the Holy Spirit for help. Ask him to take control of your thoughts!  Keep in mind what Romans 8:6 tells us….

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Don’t allow yourself to be brought down by thinking of where your life could be if only you had this…allow yourself to be lifted out of despair by remembering where you would be without God!