And Doubt Crept Back In

Following our commitment to move to the Waco area, we put our house in Alvin up for sale. That was about fifteen months ago and it hasn't sold yet. For a long time I was confident. After about nine or ten months on the market, we got an offer, one which, after a bit of negotiation we accepted. However, a week before closing the buyer backed out due to job worries. Still, for three weeks or more I remained positive. Then, almost suddenly it now seems, doubt overwhelmed me.

For quite a while I had an Eeyore-like attitude. No matter how bleak things might seem, they can always get a little bit worse. What was it Paul Harvey used to say? "There's no use worrying; nothing's going to turn out all right." That was me.

During this period I never doubted God, my salvation or anything really important. It was just the house in Alvin that was troubling me so much. It wasn't life changing but it was crowding out a lot of positivity. Worrying about it was taking a lot of my time.

My prayers re that house would go something like this: "Lord, we truly need that house to sell, but I'm not really expecting anything. It's all up to you."

At some point I realized this wasn't real sane, and began praying for help in shedding the doubt. The answer came, over time, and basically I was led to recall to mind two scriptures. These I have been thinking about and repeating often. They worked for me. They continue to work for me as I continue using them, that is, thinking about them and including them when I pray. Negativity and doubt no longer have that grip on me.

The two are:

Rom 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.
KJV

Mark 9:23-24
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
KJV

The context of Mark 9 is the very inspiring story of Jesus' healing of a young demoniac. It runs from v. 14 through 29.

Lord, I believe; help you my undelief.