“If Only”
I get caught in a whirlwind of thoughts that crush me. If you are human, you hear that phrase in your head almost daily: “If only ….”
I had these junk thoughts just today. “If only, I tried harder to work. If only, I had not married him. If only, I had listened to my parents and left him alone. If only, I had gone into another career field. If only, I had not taken that job. If only, if only, if only …..
These thoughts are traps, life-suckers, and a brain drains. They are brought to you by the one that wants to steal your faith, your hope, and your happiness.
What are we to do with these thoughts that rob us, junk up our lives, and propel us down dark roads?
- Turn around! Don’t follow those thoughts into darkness. Turn to the light!
- Capture those thoughts and replace them with the truth of forgiveness.
- Remember, darkness wants to keep us captive and helpless so that we are useless to point others to the love and truth that Christ offers all.
- Focus on your victories to replace those “if only’s.” In my life, I regretted becoming a newspaper journalist because of the low pay and because I felt I never advanced very far; however, I loved writing and I am proud of the awards that I won as a journalist. I also covered education as a reporter which lead to me returning to graduate school and mastering in Library and Information Science. I would have never became a librarian if I had not been an education reporter. My journalism degree serves me still as a writer and researcher.
- Think through your “if only” statements. Remember, you will find that you can turn them around and see major truths for your life. Your “if only’s” are part of who you are. They make up your testimony, and they can be used to inspire others.
- Finally, meditate on these important scriptures. Put them in your heart and live them.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Psalms 94:19
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.
2 Corinthians 10:5
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Genesis 19:20
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 64:8
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
What are other ways that you overcome regret and put those “if only” thoughts out of your mind? Share in the comments area.
Joining this hop at Karen Beth’s Finding the Grace Within
where the prompt for the week was “if only.”
Also Joining 
where the prompts were junk and jumble.
Hop sponsored by Hazel Moon
#WordswithWinter Linkup
Great truth here Mary! I used to have “if only” down to a science. Thoughts spinning and heart breaking. Praise God every day for helping me to understand they don’t change anything but my attitude. I still have the “if onlies” on occasion, but God is helping me replace them much more quickly. I’d love it if you’d share this at Counting My Blessings Link Party. God bless you!
Deb Wolf recently posted…You Need to Know and Live Your Plan with Purpose
Deb, thanks will do. 😉
You’ve shared important wisdom for us here. The key to ridding ourselves of any negative thought pattern is to retrain ourselves toward godly ones. And that begins with preaching the truth to ourselves! I’m glad you linked this up with us at Grace & Truth! This will be my feature at A Divine Encounter this week. 🙂
Jennifer Clarke recently posted…Remembering God’s Presence
So true, we need to retrain our minds and guard our thoughts.;)
Mary Hill recently posted…Time Management To Overcome Unproductive Days
This is a great list to tape to the bathroom mirror! Thanks for linking up with #JoyHopeLive Hope to see you again tomorrow
THANKS!!!!
Ariella recently posted…Don’t say: God isn’t using me!
The “if only’s and what if’s” do make a mess of our thinking. I try to remember, “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Can’t rejoice or be glad if worries and doubts fill our heads.
Patricia recently posted…Exit to enter…
That passage in Philippians 3 helps me so much. Nothing is wasted in God’s economy! #RaRaLinkup
Kelly S recently posted…Discipline the Parent
Thank you for the feedback. I am glad you found help in the Scriptures that I shared. 😉
Mary Hill recently posted…The Gift of Legacy
Yes, we must learn to recognize those “If only” and “What if” thoughts where they usually come from. Even today, I had some of those “What if” thoughts about my trip to Nineveh. Quickly I realized that If I had not gone there I never would have began this blog. Then when the Fish spit me out, I landed just where God wanted me. I was so glad that all things work out for good when you get your will in line with His will. Thanks for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
Hazel Moon recently posted…Remember the Sabbath Day
Keeping a list of joys (small things, big moments, everything in between …) keeps me focused on what matters. Thanks for linking up at #ThreeWordWednesday.
Kristin Hill Taylor recently posted…The Real Story of Running Errands at Lunch Time
I have quite a few of those scriptures on repeat mentally. Thanks for sharing additional scriptures that I can add to my arsenal 🙂
Latonya recently posted…Five Minute Friday :: Gift
Glad could be of help and suggested some scriptures for your faith arsenal. 😉
Mary Hill recently posted…Literacy Musing Mondays, Week 20
What an awesome meditation, Mary! “If only” is probably one of the most dangerous and damaging places we can take our spirit. Most of us could make a lengthy list of all the “if only’s” we wish we could undo, but the reality is that there are no do-overs in life, and so we torture ourselves needlessly if we spend our time and energy looking back with great regret. Sure, there are times when we feel a pang of guilt over some poor choice or course of action, but we can turn those thoughts around to acknowledge how they did all work together for the good to bring us to where we are now, and Who we serve! I am, overall, ok with my past, because I am forgiven and loved, and it is only I that recount my wrongs. What things did you do right today? I’m betting there are more than you realize! XOXO
Josie Two Shoes recently posted…Off Balance
Hi Mary! Thinking positive, moving forward and prayer are excellent ways to stay positive and push those useless if only thoughts away.
Sheena-kay Graham recently posted…IWSG: I am going crazy
Mary, I am happy your faith can help you focus on the positive and not give in the the negative junk that clutters our minds. I don’t usually play the “if only” record in my head, but I do get mired in the anxiety of “what if?” Either way, faith and belief in goodness and positiveness always helps.