Casting "If" to the Wind

 "King If" must be cast to the wind and banished forever from our praying. 

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." 1 John 5:14-15

From R. A. Torrey:

"One of the most frequent usages of 1 John 5:14-15, which was so manifestly given to bring confidence, is to introduce an element of uncertainty into our prayers. Often, when a person is confident in prayer, some cautious brother will come and say: 'Now don't be too confident. If it is God's will, He will do it. You should add, "If it be Thy will."' Doubtless, there are times when we do not know the will of God. And submission to the excellent will of God should be the basis for all prayer. But when we know God's will, there need be no 'ifs'. This passage was not put into the Bible so that we could introduce 'ifs' into our prayers, but so that we could throw our 'ifs' to the wind and have confidence and know that we have the petitions which we have asked of Him."

Here's my story...

The Lord impressed on me, after years of doubt-filled praying for the salvation of my children (they were living on their own by then), this comforting truth. I then began praying for my children with confidence, knowing that it was His will to bring sinners to repentance. 

During those years of doubts and "ifs", instead of having confidence praying for them, I could only wonder if God had chosen to save them. But after a great struggle, I realized that my only business was to pray with confidence for them and leave the "choosing part" to God alone and not wonder about His business. 

This happened as I began to depend upon two Scripture verses that gave me the assurance that it was indeed God's will to save my children. The first Bible verse that I rested in is 1 John 5:14-15, which says, "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

But how could I know if it was God's will to save my children? How could I leave off that little word "if" - "if it's Your will, Lord" from my prayers? This is what made me stumble in praying for them. 

This was my dilemma until the Lord, through His word, provided an answer to that question from 1 Peter 3:9 which tells me what His desirous will is. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance."

And so I began to pray, knowing it was the Lord's highest desire and will for my children to know and love Him. And after six months of praying like this, the first of our four children bowed her knee to the Lord. 

But within the next 13 years, all of our children, one by one came to know, love and worship the Living God. But the Lord even answered our prayers more specifically. During our years of confident praying, we had continually asked Him to save our children while we were still alive so that we could worship alongside of them. And this is exactly what He did.

Unbeknownst to me and my husband, the Lord saved the last of our children in February of 2023. At that time (and for three years prior), we had been attempting to move from our four story home because I had fallen multiple times on the stairs. It was then that our kiddos swiftly came to our rescue by helping us move, though we did not yet know where the Lord would move us to. 

That was in March of 2023. and with the help of our kids, we were packed and ready to go and had even sold our house by early June, within just months of the help of our kids. 

But it soon became abundantly clear that we had to move to the city where all four of our children lived, which was only half an hour away from our own home. Why would we not, seeing how helpful they had been and also considering that both my husband and I were our mid-seventies?

By late June, we were moved in and settled into our new home. And we worshipped with our children in the same Bible-teaching church for the first time within a week of moving. 

This added blessing the Lord so graciously gave! And to this date, we all continue sit in one row at church every Sunday, praising the Savior for His grace and mercy in having answered the confident prayers He had us praying.

It was in the course of all of this activity, we became aware that the Lord had saved the last of our children, a daughter, in March of 2023. And He had us moved and worshipping together with all of our kids by June, within just months of Him having saved her. And within weeks of our move, we witnessed her baptism. 

Stunning what the the Lord does!

Backing up just a bit in this story based on praying confidently when we know what God's will is, I wrote the following poem. And I wrote it before any of our children came to know Him, but after I had cast "if" to the wind!   

Casting "If" to the Wind

“If” God is willing,

“If” God is able;

“If” is a word

By which prayer is disabled.

“If” – such a small word

Looms great in our minds,

Obscures all God’s promises

And makes faith go blind.

"If” feeds on ignorance

Of not knowing God;

Not knowing His willingness,

So deep and so broad.

"If” is a small word

That grows to be king.

King “If” then enthrones

“Uncertain” as queen.

“Uncertain" the Queen,

Nurtures twins “Fear” and “Dread”;

“Worry” feeds them their breakfast,

"Anxious” tucks them in bed.

“King If” now dispatches 

His henchman named “Doubt”

To hunt down “True Faith”

And force “Confidence” out.

But sincere prayer by faith

Is what God longs to hear,

"Iffy" prayers must be banished,

For Christ to draw near.

So cast “If” and “Uncertain”

Out into the wind,

Uproot and dethrone “Doubt’,

Upon Christ now depend.

For then and then only

Can faith settle down,

And hope with great confidence

Truly abound.

You’ll find God so willing

And certainly able,

His goodness so broad

As you feast at His table.

When faith conquers “If”,

And trust drives away doubt,

When God’s glory and goodness

Are what you’re about.

A glimpse of Your Savior,

You’ll view from your knees,

And find your kind Father

Hears all His child’s pleas.

Copyright 2008 Sharon Kaufman 

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Casting "If" to the Wind

on March 30, 2026 0 comments

The Very Best Sermon I've Ever Heard on Suffering

This is, hands down, the mose encouraging, equipping and comforting sermon I've ever heard concerning suffering. Paul Tripp is completely honest about the thoughts that enter our heads as Christians when we suffer, as well as prescriptive as to how to suffer well in bringing God glory during these difficult times in our lives. No more words needed to describe Paul Tripp's sermon. Please just take a little time to listen.

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

The Very Best Sermon I've Ever Heard on Suffering

on March 24, 2026 0 comments

And I Long to Worship Thee

The following note that I entered in my Bible...

...as I read Daniel 3:1-30, the account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they refused to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, reminded me of an experience that I had regarding worship. 

But first a little more information about our story from Daniel. This command from King Nebuchadnezzar, to worship was to be the response for all the peoples in his kingdom whenever they heard “the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipes” or ant other kind of music. But the trio of Israelite men would bow to worship no other god than the true and living God.

How this text really ministered to me  

While recovering from an extremely painful surgery, wherein I spent many hours either silent or in tears, my husband began singing to me songs of the Christian faith. When I heard him singing (when I heard the sound of his music), I was reminded of the comforting biblical truths they expressed and that sparked in me a response of quietly singing with him.

At the moment I began to sing with my husband, a flood of pain-relieving tears poured from my eyes. In worship of my God and King - the true God, not a false manmade god - the pain in my body fled. Now I wept with joy for the goodness and compassion of my Lord’s acknowledgement of my love for Him, expressed in my worship at a time when worshipping Him was the last thing on my mind.

And we see this also with the three Israelite men who were cast into the fiery furnace. The difference was that at the sound of the music, rather than fall to worship a false god, they remained standing by faith, committed to worship only Yahweh.

That was a worshipful response and for it they were cast into the fiery furnace. But in that dreadful place, I’m sure like Paul and Silas in the Roman jail, their worship became very vocal. Whether that was prayer or singing or both, their reward was the visitation by a fourth man, the Lord Himself, who prevented the fire from harming them and literally walked in the now-quelled danger with them.

True Worship yields divine intervention

What divine and amazing rewards the Lord pours forth when we worship Him in the most difficult, painful and even dangerous experiences of our lives. At the sound of our praise and worship, which is music to His ears, He sends forth protection, relief, freedom and peace.
We see His protection from death here in Daniel. We see His rescue from physical bondage in the Roman prison when Paul & Silas worshipped in song. And I experienced relief from excruciating pain when my mind, controlled by suffering, turned to worship. 

The Martyrs and how they sang in the fire

And now I begin to understand how those who have been martyred - lit on fire and burned at the stake for their faith - have been able to enter God’s presence, joyfully worshipping in song. as the fire consumed them.

They knew the divine power that Yahweh releases to rescue one from physical suffering when that suffering isn’t what is preeminent in their minds. Rather it is how God will use their suffering for His glory and in that they revel as they are empowered to worship Him even in the danger and/or pain. Their suffering is then transcended by His glorious presence as He walks with them in it just like He did in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. How amazing is our God?

But  you may ask, what about Paul when he prayed three times for relief? 

We read in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 about a suffering that the apostle Paul experienced. He asked the Lord three times to remove what he called "a thorn in the flesh". Though we are not certain of what his physical problem was, we can be certain that the Lord did indeed intervene in his suffering. 

Paul's description of what the Lord did for him reads, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

How wonderful. Strength for weakness, sufficient grace for our insufficiencies, joyful praise for our sufferings! I'd say that the Lord ministered to Paul even though his pain remained. But God's marvelous grace was more than enough to motivate Paul to rejoice in his discomforts. 

But there's something of even greater significance to all of this

However glorious these truths are, and they are wonderfully marvelous, they are not the most astounding truth as far as human suffering is concerned. As I thought about the grace that God gives His children, I realized that He did not give this same grace to His own Son on the cross.

Jesus experienced the wrath of God, so that I can experience His grace

Jesus went to the cross to bear the wrath of God that I as a sinner deserved. In His suffering there on the tree, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Jesus could not cry out to His Father for help in His great distress for His Father had, in fact, turned away from Him. This is because He became sin, who knew no sin for me. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is stunning, the most glorious exchange ever! Jesus took my sin and graciously gave me His righteousness. He experienced poverty so that I might gain His riches! "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though being rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Our Savior suffered like this for those who wanted nothing to do with Him

What adds further amazement to this unimaginable grace, is that Jesus suffered agony without any help from heaven for me while I still wanted nothing to do with Him. As one who had no use for the Creator, the full weight of the suffering that I should have experienced, without any relief, without help from the throne of grace (which I now experience daily) fell on Jesus. This truly is the most startling truth concerning human suffering. Jesus, God in the flesh, was denied this grace so that I can now experience it.

This is so humbling!

These truths realized create in me a humility, a desire to think less selfishly about my own suffering and recognize therein my Savior’s agonizing physical, emotional and spiritual pain on the cross from which  He was denied relief.

How can we respond, other than to truly worship our amazing Creator and Redeemer?

I now long to lift my voice in worshipful gratitude in every opportunity that my suffering provides. And, of course, with every breath that is free of suffering.

“As the deer panteth for the water,
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You're my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything.

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire.
And I long to worship Thee 

 

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

And I Long to Worship Thee

on January 25, 2026 0 comments

How I Experienced Hospitality at its Best

It was a Sunday morning and after the worship service ended, my husband left church to visit a friend that was in the hospital (out of town). 

That meant that I would need a ride home. I thought of asking a friend who lives close to me, but she didn't sit in her usual place (down the isle from us). Instead, another friend sat next to us, who usually sits elsewhere. So after the service ended, I asked Myrian if she could take me home. She was happy to do so. 

We left the church and made the short five-minute trip to my house. But, I didn't get out of the car immediately because we had been engaged in conversation which now continued in the parked car in front of my house. In fact, we continued to talk for about an hour in Myrian's car. 

All this time, I was being nudged by the Holy Spirit to invite Myrian into my house, which wasn't in perfect condition - it looked lived in. But I just continued on with our conversation until I had to go into the house to feed the dog. Even then, I didn't invite Myrian in (I'm ashamed to say!). 

Once in the house and after feeding the dog, I looked around the living room area of my home and it hit me. What was keeping me from welcoming in my friend? The house simply looked a little lived in. 

Besides, it was lunchtime and I had an opportunity to feed the hungry - that was both of us. But what could I serve my friend? And then I remembered the homemade soup - delicious at that - in the refrigerator from the day before.

It was time for me to swallow my pride and obey the mandate given in Scripture to be hospitable. So back out to the car I went and finally asked Myrian to come in for lunch. She was delighted.

I put the soup in a saucepan to heat and while it was heating, I set about to make a simple salad to serve alongside the soup. Next on the table - after pushing aside the papers that were occupying the space we needed for our soup bowls - was some wonderful artisan sourdough bread and butter. Finally, the table was ready with a savory and delicious repast - the perfect meal that Myrian and I needed to nourish our bodies and satisfy our hunger. 

We ate and continued to enjoy the sweet fellowship we have in Christ. What a precious time we had, encouraging one another, laughing and be nourished by the love of Christ as we ate the leftovers from the day before. I've never had a better meal! And what the Lord taught me through this joyful appointment was priceless. 

At that time, I had been reading a book called The Gospel Comes with a Housekey by Rosaria Butterfield. It was the testimony of how the Lord had redeemed Rosaria through a Christian family's ministry of hospitality to her. I had been convicted while reading the book for having had a worldly mentality when it came to opening my home to welcome others. Now the Lord was showing me the joy of welcoming others, prepared or not, into my home, perfect or not.

Through this sweet time with Myrian, I've come to realize that all the busyness and frenzy to get my home perfect for guests had limited me in welcoming others into my home. My home is not a museum nor is it the White House and it especially is not to be shut up to others when it's not perfect. 

We live in our home and it looks lived in. When I thought about that, it hit me that life happens in my home. Productivity via life creates a mess sometimes. And sometimes people come to my door before that mess is cleaned up. Do I typically invite them in? No. Instead. I'll step outside and casually visit with them on the front porch. 

But the Lord has provided a home that should be His first and foremost. If He truly lives here, He would never hesitate to warmly invite anyone who drops by to come inside, no matter what life has done to my house. 

For a welcome mat to be laid at my doorstep and yet nary a welcome extended by me is paramount to hypocrisy. It is anti-Christ! How stingy I've been with what I've always said belongs to Him. 

What blessings I've missed because of the mentality that my house must have a "photo-finish" look to it for a welcome to proceed from my mouth. And how enslaved I've made myself to the flurry of cleaning and polishing this place I call home before anyone can enter in. What I've actually done is to pamper and polish a house instead of loving and caring for others in the lived-in home I have been blessed to share with them.  

And for the very reason I call it home (not "house"), it should be a home, not just a house. There are phrases that express the meaning of home: "being at home" means for one to have a relaxed sense of well-being, to be able to let all the agitating aspects of life go and simply calm one's self in a peaceful state of mind. Should this benefit of my home be only for me? Would Jesus want me to invite others in to "be at home" here also? Would He want me to use my home as a vehicle to minister to those who are harassed by life?

This, I believe, is what happened when I invited Myrian into my lived-in home. That was true hospitality! It was not me entertaining guests. It was the Lord Jesus ministering to both of us as He used a little piece of earth on which a shelter had been erected in 1941 to calm us, to enjoy one another, to bring laughter and to remind ourselves of the kind "welcome" the Lord Jesus has extended to us. This truly was God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven. In fact, it was "heaven on earth"!

My earthly father used to tell us, his children, about the most welcoming family in the church that he attended growing up (where his own father was the pastor). 

This family was not only the most welcoming in the church, but they were also the most financially deprived family in the church. There was hardly anything of value in their home. The couch was old, threadbare and broken down. Yet folks visiting there sat on that couch with no hesitation because of the warm reception they received from this family. Their feeling at home there had nothing to do with the furniture. Rather it was the Christ-like hospitality extended to all who entered.  

There was a great deal of laughter and love in that little ramshackle house. As a child, my father loved visiting there. The joy inside the home was contagious. It was the healing and strengthening joy of the Lord shared by all who entered. This family truly used their home to bring glory to God. 

I do not know the name of those saints, but you can bet that they are with the Lord now and He's welcomed them into His eternal home with the words we all long to hear from Him, "Well done, my good and faithful servants...enter into the joy of your Master."

And those are the words I long to hear my Savior say me when I meet Him face to face. And it won't be because I entertained others in my sparkling clean museum of a home. It will be because I welcomed others as Christ has welcomed me. 

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, welcome one another, just as Christ has welcomed you to the glory of God. (Romans 15:5-7)

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

How I Experienced Hospitality at its Best

on September 07, 2025 0 comments

Grace - The Great Exchange

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you, through His poverty might become rich." 

2nd Corinthians 8:9

For those who know the Savior, this post really needs no introduction. The truth remains that His grace is far greater than my sin. He has given Himself to us and the riches He imparts to our fainting hearts never, ever diminish. If anything, the longer we know the Lord Jesus, the greater our awe. This is what we experience here on this globe and I cannot imagine what glory awaits us when we have shed these fleshly bodies and at last see Him face to face!

Christ's riches for my poverty

His welcome for my shame

His strength for my weakness

His cross for my blame

His wisdom for my foolishness

His cheer for my rage

His pardon for my guiltiness

His freedom for my chains

His fathering for my orphaned heart

His peace for all my fears

His humility for my arrogance

His joy for all my tears

His hope for my hopelessness

His perfection for my sins

His goodness for my selfishness

His mercy never ends

Now Christ is all I'll ever need

All I had was doom and strife

I now have His eternal love 

And His grace transforms my life

Praise our gracious God for these truths found in 2 Corinthians 8:9.

Copyright 2025 Sharon Kaufman

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Grace - The Great Exchange

on September 02, 2025 0 comments

The Gift of Gifts

Every good gift and every perfect gift 

is from above, coming down from 

the Father of lights with whom there 

is no variation or shadow due to change. 
James 1:17

 Of all of God's gifts, the most highly acclaimed

Came on the first Christmas, by the angels proclaimed

When they sang "Glory to God in the highest of places."

To the shepherds below, as they fell on their faces.

"For to you this day there is given a Savior."

And He is the Gift to those whom God favors.

Yes, He is the Gift that was sent from above

He was wrapped in humanity and destined to love

All those who now come to the manger to see

God in flesh now appearing, and on bended knee

They rejoice that the Gift came to loose captive's chains

To free those who know of sin's terrible pains.

The Gift went to Calvary, the Gift bled & died,

On a cross that was splintered, two thieves at His side.

The Gift went to Calvary, He went there in love,

To pay for our faults and transgressions thereof

That kept us from God, in His sinless perfections.

The Gift died to bring us God's love & redemption.

The Gift was then buried but was raised from the grave,

For us to be sure that our sins God forgave.

Oh, let us rejoice as we think on the reason

This Gift came below to restore us to Eden.

Copyright sharonKaufman.com 2022

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

The Gift of Gifts

on December 19, 2022 0 comments