When was the last time you received bad news? After you received the bad news what did you do?
I know you probably started to worry. You started to run the scenarios. You probably didn’t sleep that night(s).
But before you started worrying you actually did something else. It happened so fast you probably didn’t even notice you did it. You told yourself a story about that information. You told yourself a story with the worst possible outcome. You imagined the worst case scenario. No wonder you couldn’t sleep at night.
What makes us fearful isn’t our information it is our imagination.
Once we get the bad news our creativity kicks into overdrive. The news was possible layoffs are coming…we imagine we are penniless and living under a bridge. The news was the doctor wants to run more tests…we imagine it’s stage 4 with 3 weeks left to live.
We get caught in a death spiral…I’ll never be able to carry on…It’s all over with…I’ll never recover. Our imagination comes up with all kinds of worst case scenarios.
For me…my worst case scenario has never happened. Sure bad things have happened, but they could have always been much worse.
When I really reflect on that fact I can’t believe I still waste so much time and emotional energy worrying about something that never happens any way. You would think I would have learned from all of those past experiences that worst cases never happened.
I had one of those moments two month ago as we were working on our new location. I was talking to a friend in church and said, “I’m nervous about this move. We’ve bet the farm on this new location. I hope it works.”
He looked at me very matter of factly and said, “We haven’t bet the farm.” I’m thinking, “Enlighten me because where I sit it sure looks like that.” He said, “If this place doesn’t work out what have we really lost? We’ve just lost money. The real church, the people, will still be here. We still have our good name in the community. We can go somewhere else if we need to. What have we really lost?”
Good word.
My imagination had ran away with me and the death spiral was starting. I’m thankful a friend pulled me back to reality.
As we get ready to open this beautiful new location this weekend. It’s better than I could have envisioned and none of the bad stuff I imagined actually happened.
Where is your imagination getting the best of you?
The one thing your imagination isn’t taking into account is God.
God is with you! Even better God is within you (1 Cor. 3:16). That same God who said nothing is too impossible for Him (Matt. 19:26; Jer. 32:27), the same One who speaks worlds into existence (Jer. 32:17; Ps. 33:9), the same One who has power over death, hell, and the grave (Rev. 1:18). That God says be strong and courageous because not only am I with you, I’m within you speaking to your mind, guiding you, empowering you, and working behind the scenes.
As you move into each new season of life remember that the same God that was with you in the past is the same God who will help you in the future. Tell your self that story!
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9
