Don’t we all worry and think negative thoughts at times? “Negative worry is imagining your future with God not showing up “(from Worrying with God by Steve and Wendy Backlund). Isn’t that ridiculous to think? Perhaps because worry is based on past experiences in life, right? But what if we imagined only positive thoughts instead of going to the negative?
Peggy and I had just listed our house for sale and have already placed an offer on another house. The offer was accepted and is contingent upon us having a contract on our house at 309 Kelly Drive in the next 14-days (as of 2 days ago). Instead of seeing and hearing God regarding His/our desire, I have contemplated worrisome, negative “what ifs” instead of thinking positive thoughts.
What if we don’t get close to or receive the asking price for our home?
What if too few people see our house for sale?
What if we don’t get an offer/contract on our house in the next 12 days?
What if I regret moving elsewhere?
I will try to answer these “what ifs” with positive thoughts in mind.
If we don’t get our asking price or a price that would allow us to afford the new home, then God has something better in store for us. That’s positive thinking. Perhaps interest rates will continue to fall. Wouldn’t that be a blessing in the event we don’t move immediately. God’s got our best interest at heart.
If too few people see our house for sale, I am reminded that it only takes one to like it.
What if we don’t have a contract in the next 12-days and the offer on the new house falls through? Worse case is we continue living in our current home which I like anyway. Perhaps God is trying to protect us. God has something better in store for us.
Will I have regrets about moving? God knew that I was anxious about moving from the house I have lived in for 30-years. I am comfortable here. But I also knew it was time to move. As I asked God regarding my concerns, I randomly opened my Bible and looked down at Hebrews 6:14. The following jumped off the page at me – “Have no doubt, I promise to bless you over and over.”
On another occasion when I was praying to God about moving, God already knew my mind and had anticipated my concerns. It was a reminder that He always tenderly cares for me, and that I am to quit struggling so hard to make it happen, and trust Him at the right time and place as He sees fit. Again, I randomly opened my Bible to 1 Peter 5:6-7 which says in the Passion Translation “… leave the timing in his hands.7 Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.”
I continued reading on in 1 Peter 5:8-9 where it says. “Take a decisive stand against the devil and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. This is especially important because God, in so many words, was telling me to resist the temptation to think negative thoughts that would steal my peace and joy.
Now go ahead and read Steve Backlund’s “Worrying with God.”
Copyright 2020 by Bill Hutzel
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This is so relevant today for us. We want to move and join some friends to start a work there for God, we didn’t even put our house on the market but sold it to a man down the road through a friend but haven’t been able to find one we like or can afford . He has got fed up of waiting and he has backed out which i am sad for him as he really wanted our house . Confused and flustered over
the whole thing. But like your post God just keeps dropping reassurance into the situation that he has it in hand and to stand on faith and trust in his love for us and our destiny is in his hands . Thank you for your post ??