If only...

On my walk this morning, I noticed the words "if only..." printed on the pathway. Someone had neatly written these words with blue sidewalk chalk a short distance from the playground. It got me thinking.

A lot of us tend to view our past through glasses of regret, and view our future through the telescope of evil forebodings. It's okay to admit that, because it's human nature. Thinking positively is good, but it has to be tempered with reality.

I imagine there are many people with a lot of "if only's" in their lives. If only I was younger. If only I was older. If only I had a spouse. If only my spouse hadn't left me. If only I had a job. If only I had a job I actually liked. The list could be endless.

It can be difficult to see where our lives are taking us. Questions of predestination aside, what control do we truly have over our lives? Can we change who we are, and if so, how much?

A short-term perspective cannot yield a long-term solution. Yet we try so desperately to imagine what tomorrow will be like (i.e. I can't imagine my life without x, I can't imagine my dream coming to pass).

I am glad that I am serving a God who works outside of time. My immediate surroundings only tell me where I am in life right now. It informs me of my lack and abundance. It provides me with a set of unreliable data derived from past experiences. I either think in terms of favor or bias, which is ultimately pointless.

Yet, hardship builds character and endurance builds faith. Yes, there are unspeakable tragedies in this world, and I am not here to justify or defend those things. But I do believe that God can turn everything around. He can take something ugly, hurtful or untrue and turn it into something beautiful.

Maybe you can't see how you're going to survive the next two months. Maybe you find yourself in the midst of financial trouble. Perhaps you have lost all hope in life.

What you may have forgotten is that life is not built on your past. If, like me, you believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins, and you have accepted Him in your heart, you have reason to hope. He gives you a fresh start. He gives you as many chances as you need. Your past is not important to Him, and besides, He is willing to take it and make it into something beautiful.