Anxiety asks, “What if?” God’s Word says, “Your Father is in control.” It was one of those times when reading or hearing something based on the truth of God’s Word that I paused for a moment and realized that this was echoing a question I have asked on numerous occasions over the past several years. What if? It was no coincidence or random chance that I came across this book, as those two words loomed over me at every sickness, every trial and difficulty that came our way over the last four years. I wish I could tell you that I was a pillar of faith when the breakers and waves seemed to roll over my family and me, but those moments revealed my dependency upon the Lord and His power alone to sustain and to grant peace when I did not “feel” peaceful. I had a bad case of the “What if’s?”, and truth be told, it had crossed over into sinful meditations because I was exalting my worry and anxiety over what the future may or may not hold rather than God the Father who has numbered our days, who has told us to cast our care onto Him, and who has provided for the sparrows and clothed the lilies of the field.

Jonny Ardavanis’ book, Consider the Lilies is a beautifully encouraging and convicting book that provides a course correction from a Biblical standpoint for those who deal with fear and anxiety. Matthew 6:25-34 is a passage of focus in this book, as we remember that Jesus instructed those listening not to worry and to remember how God takes care of His creation in providing food for the birds and care for the lilies. Another key passage that is central in this book is found in Isaiah 26:3-4,

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord god is an everlasting rock.”

The definition for anxiety provided in this book is “the inevitable worry, fear, and unrest that rises in our minds when we direct our gaze to the problems, pressures, and uncertainties of life rather than to God Himself.” There were numerous times in reading this book that I sat and contemplated what he had said, tears streaming down my face and realizing that I was one of those needing to hear these words and to reset my gaze upon my Lord and Savior.

A significant portion of this book centered upon the attributes of God, such as His self-sufficiency, His omniscience, His name (Yahweh), and His love. I appreciated how he made it clear that God is not a portion of His attributes, as we would envision a pie chart, but He is “all of His attributes, all the time, in full measure.” One of the key attributes of God that we must remember in the midst of suffering and difficulty is His sovereignty. When we give a concern or worry our undivided attention and focus, we can seemingly forget that our God is sovereign over every area of our lives, and to remember that truth brings comfort and peace to those breakers and waves. R.C. Sproul said, “If there is one maverick molecule in all the universe, then God is not sovereign. And if God is not sovereign, He is not God.” To meditate upon God’s sovereignty in the darkest of valleys brings rays of hope to our weary souls.

Ardavanis discusses Job in this book and God’s sovereignty on display throughout the account. He never gives Job a reason as to why he suffered loss. Rather, He points Job back to His attributes and to Himself. Ardavanis shows us throughout Scripture that God is sovereign over kings and kingdoms, nature, time, and Satan. He is also sovereign over our suffering, and when we find ourselves questioning the goodness and kindness of God, we are to remember that God in His sovereignty sent His only Son to die for us so that we would be made righteous and be adopted as sons and daughters. We are no longer at enmity with God because of Jesus Christ, and we can rest in knowing, as Ardavanis beautifully states, “The cross of Calvary preaches the strongest sermon ever on the sovereignty of God. There, the most unjust suffering was endured by the most innocent person.” Our trust is in our God and Father who is sovereign over all.

Prayer was another encouraging chapter in this book, as he discusses prayer being a privilege that we have as our spiritual birthright. I hope that you find this as edifying as I do when he says, “Jesus had to die so that you could approach God and call Him, “Father.” And this is surely the greatest weapon we possess as we face the anxieties and worries of life.” He gives helpful detailed summaries of the ACTS acrostic for prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, resting in the knowledge that God hears us when we pray and that our confidence is in Him.

Near the end of the book, Ardavanis encourages us to serve others and obey the Scriptures in how we are to conduct ourselves as believers in Christ. We are not meant to be alone or to isolate ourselves, and we can find great contentment in serving the Lord and in serving others. We are also to find contentment in that this world is not our home. We can easily forget that at times, but we have a greater country that we long to see where our God reigns and where we get to be with Him and to enjoy Him forever. We have tremendous joy and hope because of Jesus Christ. Ardavanis closes this book by pointing back to Isaiah 26:3-4 and ending with a great summary of what we are to do when faced with worry, fear, and anxiety, “Supernatural peace is only received by those who come to God’s supernatural Word and meditate deeply upon His loving and changeless character.”

If you are looking for a book outside of Scripture that will help you and encourage you in your walk with the Lord during trials, or if you are dealing with worry and anxiety, I encourage you to read this book. Consider those trying times that you face as an opportunity to draw closer to God. I think that this book is a great supplemental tool that will encourage, convict, and edify you to return to the Word of God and to God Himself for strength, peace, and rest.

Listen to this episode where I discuss key points and do an overview of this book: Consider the Lilies: A Book fo – The Lovesick Scribe Podcast – Apple Podcasts