Man, I used to loathe that word! My kids are now grown, married, and raising their own families (thankfully) but not too many years ago, I used to hear the word “whatever” from their teenaged lips and just boil inside. It wasn’t a word that we “allowed” but if you’ve ever had teenagers, you know how well moratoriums work. There would be the occasional slip, just within earshot.
In my recent Bible readings, however, this word has taken on an entirely new meaning. How can you fret when you read Matthew 21:22 which says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer”.
Or when my thoughts stray to earthly things, there is Philippians 4:8, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
In making a big (or small) decision, there is Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans”.
Wow – if I had just had these etched in my brain and in my heart back then, I could have probably responded a little better to that trigger. I am grateful to serve a merciful God, who loves me in spite of myself.
