From “What If” to “Even If”: How to Find Peace in the Middle of Our Panic
- Cara Blondo
- Nov 12, 2025
- 3 min read
What if instead of fixating on the what-ifs, you consider even if? What if we affirm our faith in the One we know instead of dwelling on the fearful and unknown?
While mindlessly following the directions down a deserted road, my GPS navigator suddenly froze. It didn’t register the turn I had made, the road I was now on, or where to go next. I was in an unfamiliar and uninhabited area without a clue how to reach my destination or get home. The screen remained frozen for minutes or miles, and as it did, my heart raced alongside my mind.
I wondered: What if the GPS doesn’t work again? What if there’s no one up ahead to ask for directions? What if I can’t figure out where to go? What-ifs overtook my mind.
Have you been there, too, because of a broken plan or a derailed dream? Did something unexpected come your way, and the what-if questions flooded your mind: What if things don’t work out? What if this situation never changes? What if I can’t do this?
For many of us, those thoughts can spiral into panic and fear, fueled by scenarios that haven’t even happened. Can you relate? If so, let me offer a shift in perspective for the next time this happens. What if instead of fixating on the what-ifs, you consider even if? What if we affirm our faith in the One we know instead of dwelling on the fearful and unknown? What if instead of panicking, we express praise, regardless of how weak it feels at first?
Three reasons to replace the what-ifs with even if:
1. The phrase, even if, expresses trust in our unfailing God–not for what He may do, but for who we know Him to be.
Example: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it. . . . But even if he does not . . . we will not serve your gods. . . .” (See Daniel 3:17-18).
2. Saying, “even if” (or “though”), is an act of praise for our God–a declaration that God is good, even when circumstances are not.
Example: Habakkuk, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the
vines . . . yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (see Habakkuk 3:17-18).
3. Saying “even if” (or “therefore”) expresses confidence in God’s presence–He is near and willing to help.
Example: The psalmist, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. . . .” (Psalm 46:1-2).
When we feel the urge to give in to panic with what-if questions, let's recall these examples instead. God is worthy of our trust, praise, and confidence. As He was faithful in the past, He is faithful now. With His Spirit at work within us, our worry can turn into worship and our panic into praise. Even if life feels uncertain, God remains certain.
Do you have a favorite verse that helps you replace the what-ifs with even if? We’d love to read it in the comments below!
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