Sundown Devotional: God's Rhetorical Question About Worry
MsDora, former teacher and Christian counselor presents practical Scriptural principles for joyful everyday living.
God's Rhetorical Question
The Devotional
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Luke 12: 25 NLT
Jesus taught the crowd not to worry over the basic necessities of life—food to eat and clothes to wear. He explained that God provides for the birds, and that He can also provide for humans who are more valuable. So, in the face of God's promise, why worry?
The question applies to us now when we are busy forwarding texts with uncertain facts about the coronavirus, instead of sharing the certain fact that God is in control. While we do have reason to worry, our minds can benefit from more posts about what God can do. We can help each other worry less, since worrying does not help; and pray more, since we need God’s intervention. If we lose to this pandemic mentally, we will be less able to survive physically.
Let’s be intentional about protecting our minds from worry. Let’s keep God's rhetorical question at the back of our minds, and let our actions demonstrate that we know and believe the answer.
- As often as we wash our hands, let’s whisper a prayer for the recovery of someone who is affected.
- To keep from touching our faces, let’s can clasp our hands, and send up a childlike prayer for safety.
- When we disinfect our surfaces, let’s remind ourselves that the Invisible power of strength within us is greater that the invisible virus that’s threatening to kill us.
- Instead of forwarding distressing news from unauthorized sources, let’s hit delete and send a line of encouragement instead.
When fear and doubt come to our minds, let’s repeat God’s rhetorical question about worry; or His question to Abraham: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14); or His question to Moses: “Has my arm lost its power?” (Numbers 11:23); or His promise: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3).
Prayer: Thank You Lord, for being our refuge, strength, and very present help in this time of trouble. Please help us to accept and share Your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Ten Quotes Promoting Prayer Over Worry
- “The more you pray, the less you'll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You'll feel more patient and less pressured.” ―Rick Warren
- “Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” ―Padre Pio
- “We tend to be preoccupied by our problems when we have a heightened sense of vulnerability and a diminished sense of power. Today, see each problem as an invitation to prayer.” ―John Ortberg
- “Pray, and let God worry.” ―Martin Luther
- "Worry is a starting place, but not a staying place. Worry invites me into prayer. As a staying place, worry can be self-indulgent, paralyzing, draining, and controlling. When I take worry into prayer, it doesn't disappear, but it becomes smaller.” ―Sybil MacBeth
- “Each moment of worry, anxiety or stress represents lack of faith in miracles, for they never cease.” ―T.F. Hodge
- “God has called His creation to find satisfaction in a personal relationship with Him, and stop trying to manage the world by conforming it to our expectations, and to allow Him to govern His creation. He continues to say through an ancient Hebrew worship song, "Be still and know that I am God!” ―Swindoll Charles R.
- “Worrying is not an act of God; it's failing to act in the faith of His plan.” ―Farshad Asl
- “Don't worry. You don't know enough to worry. That's God's truth. Who do you think you are that you should worry, for crying out loud? It's a total waste of time. It presupposes such a knowledge of the situation that it is in fact a form of hubris.” ―Terence McKenna
- “Nothing conquers the chaos around me like the calm assurance that I am at peace with God.” ―Ron Brackin
At Peace with God
More Sundown Devotionals
- Sundown Devotional: Serving God With Our Influence
We do not know her name. All we know is that she was a captured Israelite, serving as a maid. Yet, even as we wonder about her identity, we see her great influence over those with outstanding identity. - Sundown Devotional: God Provides According to His Riches
When our children ask for more help than we can afford, we may forget that our needs are met from God's supply which is available to us. The poem and promises remind us that God has more than enough. - Sundown Devotional: The Virus Resembling the Wind
COVID-19 reminds us of the wind in Peter's story. Trying to escape the threat of death on the sea of Galilee, he encountered heavy waves which made him panic, but the real danger was in the wind.
© 2013 Dora Weithers
Comments
Dora Weithers (author) from The Caribbean on March 28, 2020:
Phipps, thanks for the question. God, our Heavenly Father, extends His peace and solace (and other good gifts) to everyone. The children who benefit the most from His gifts are those who respond to His call to "Come and get it." Each child decides to cooperate or not; to enjoy or not enjoy the benefits; but we all can benefit.
Phipps on March 27, 2020:
In this article your argument seems to be that in this period of uncertainty helplessness and stress if one puts their trust in God through prayer. one will find peace and solace. You also stated that this knowledge could bring benefitsto both Christian and non-Christian.My question to you is, How are the sentiments expressed relevant to the latter group?
Kas from Bartlett, Tennessee on May 02, 2013:
Keep writing what you write, you're an inspiration to many I'm sure.
Dora Weithers (author) from The Caribbean on May 02, 2013:
Kasman, thanks for sharing your very personal testimony of your walk with God. You inspire me.
Kas from Bartlett, Tennessee on May 02, 2013:
I love this hub MsDora. It definitely reminds me of all the times the Lord asks me rhetorical questions to get me thinking about him instead of my navel. Whether I'm angry or frustrated, happy, or sad.....He's faithful to bring me back to what really matters! Voting this up, sharing big time!
Kas from Bartlett, Tennessee on May 02, 2013:
MsDora, I love this. One thing about it is the fact that I've heard very similar questions from the Lord in my own walk. Whenever I want to question the Lord or just converse........maybe I'm angry at times, maybe I'm needing strength, the Lord gently (most of the time) asks me a question to bring me back to keeping my eyes on him instead of looking at my navel. I'm voting this up and sharing! This made me contemplate.
Dora Weithers (author) from The Caribbean on February 12, 2013:
Kristeen, you put it very well. It's all about God's unconditional loves despite our doubts and fears. What an awesome God!
Christine from Michigan on February 11, 2013:
Great hub MsDora - very though provoking. We are all guilty of doubting God at times or thinking we know as much or more than He does. Thankfully he loves us unconditionaly and is a forgiving God.
Dora Weithers (author) from The Caribbean on January 31, 2013:
Josiejossy, we can have church anytime. Why not now? Thanks for your passionate comment.
Dora Weithers (author) from The Caribbean on January 31, 2013:
Lambservant, you got really involved. I like that! Yes, all the questions at the end of the Book of Job are meaningful, and Job's feeble responses are our thoughts exactly. Thanks!
josiejossy from Nairobi Kenya on January 30, 2013:
Waoh, saying great is understatement....mhh felt like am in a church listening to a preacher....Thanx for sharing, cldnt have imagined those were rhetoric questions.
Lori Colbo from United States on January 30, 2013:
What great choices you made. God the Father and Jesus asked many rhetorical questions, but these are very powerful. Although I voted with Moses as the one I am most likely to reflect on at this moment in time, I have reflected a lot on the Job one. Those last few chapters of Job are so amazing. I love it when God says to Job,
“Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much."
My translation would be, Okay smart guy, if you think you know it all, let me ask you a few questions. Then we'll see how smart you really are."
It's interesting to note God did this more than once. The last four chapters consists of God brining Job up short. In the end Job cries "Uncle,"
"I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
Dora Weithers (author) from The Caribbean on January 30, 2013:
DDE, I agree with you. The questions do challenge our belief. Thanks!
Shofarcall, you do understand the significance of these questions. Thanks for your kind comments.
Eric, just for me too. The questions popped into my mind several times since I've written the hub. Thanks for your comment.
Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on January 30, 2013:
Great Hub. I just love it when Jesus asks questions of the people. Of course He knows the answer, He knows the answer He will get and He knows how He will deal with it. But He still asks the question --- just for me.
shofarcall on January 30, 2013:
Hello MsDora,
This is a hub which should drive us all to our knees in repentance. How starkly and clearly you have managed to portray 'like' questions posed by God to these 3 different, Old Testament characters. These questions have no answers from us mere mortals and silences our tongues.
I loved the pictures too. So well chosen and a delight to behold. Thank you dear sister for a pertinent look at the the magnificence and greatness of our God!
Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on January 30, 2013:
Interesting and true the questions asked allows us to believe and learn more.
Dora Weithers (author) from The Caribbean on January 30, 2013:
Life you expressed my thoughts exactly. Thanks for your affirmation.
William Kovacic from Pleasant Gap, PA on January 30, 2013:
MsDora,
Thanks for making me think. God is past finding out, but His questions to those in the past help to know Him today. Great Hub!
