IF ONLY

And all the children of Israel complained

against Moses and Aaron, and the whole

congregation said to them, “If only we had

died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we

had died in the wilderness.

Numbers 14:2

The adventure of the Israelites trip from Egypt to the promised land has always fascinated me. This was a people who had spent a lifetime in captivity. With God-called leadership, they arrived at the banks of that promised land. In the forty years in the wilderness, they hadn't been the most behaved people one could find but God had been patient with them. They had griped and complained beyond belief and now, in this moment we hear, “If only...”

We have had our own times when we have dwelt on some “if onlys” in our lives. Shortly after Brian went to Heaven, I spoke with my pastor of those things I could/should have done I didn't do that might have made a difference. He reminded me that our regrets are in the past and dwelling on them is anything but healthy.

Bottom line is that in the decision times of our lives, we probably make the best decisions we know to make at the time. We can't see into the future with any kind of accuracy so we do the best we can in thinking things over. David's son had died. He called out Absalom's name several times and then said, “If only I had died in your place!” Our if only statements come from us when a time of sadness or regret has been experienced. There is nothing present or future in those two words.

A real hero of mind through the years has been Corrie ten Boom. She, her father and sister had been in concentration camps because of harboring Jews in their home. Corrie lost them in the process. Through the years, after being liberated, she spoke all over the world and authored books one of which became a movie. Looking back, there were things Corrie wished she had handled differently and had some regrets. However she came to grips with those thoughts and said:

"I had to surrender my 'if onlys' to Jesus!”

May that be so for you and me as well.

Father, we feel we've done all we could in various situations but harbor regrets. Help us to move away from the “if only's” in our lives and move on in Your strength. Thank You very much.....In Jesus' precious name....Amen