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Ephesians 6:13 – Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (NASB)
It is sad to say, but many times, I have found myself questioning our Lord. Usually this occurs during times when I feel like I can no longer go on with a problem, or I don't understand the struggles or heavy burdens someone else is facing. At such times, I find myself using one or more of the four Ws in questioning God. But He always sends me to His owner's manual, the Bible, and reminds me of today's Scripture, which I need to practice daily.
"What are the four Ws?" you may ask. They are the Why, When, Where, or What questions that we sometimes throw at God when we don't understand things we face in our daily life.
"Why, Lord, is this happening? I just don't understand."
"When are You going to send the answer to these prayers, Lord?"
"Where are You, Lord? You said that You would be there. This is just too hard for anyone to go through. Are You even hearing my prayers?"
"What is really happening here, Lord? Is this a spiritual attack?"
At the times when I have come to the Lord with any of these questions, He has reminded me that I have not been doing all that I am supposed to be doing according to today's Scripture. We need to study and learn the steps in putting on the full armour of God. Then we are able to handle anything that comes along, because we know that He is with us, even until the end of time.
Sometimes our struggles last longer because we do not want to accept God's answer, or we don't let Him have full control. We try to tell Him how to handle things. We break down when we forget to go back to God's Word and practice what He tells us. Is this not what an owner's manual is for: to show us the right way? I cannot promise that I will never ask the four Ws again, but with God's help, it will happen less often. How about you?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come to You in Jesus' name on behalf of those whose prayers go up to Your throne daily through this ministry and in our private prayers. We want to do what You tell us, Lord, but at times when tragedy strikes or we face other struggles and problems in our lives, we question You. Forgive us, Lord, when we fall. We praise You for never leaving or forsaking us, as Your Word promises. Help us to become stronger and more faithful prayer warriors, in Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Tuesday, April 16, 2024 – In Peru — Please pray for this summer season at our beach-town home to be a blessing to the little Fellowship we have started and that the Lord would "add to our numbers those who are being saved".
Housing: "Update April 14, 2024; Please pray extra fervently for tomorrow when she and her son will be going..." 
Good advice Ruth.
Thank you, I needed to hear this today.
Dear Ruth: Thank you for today’s message.
Hello Ruth! I’m very glad you shared with us today. What you shared hit me right in the mind were I needed it today. I needed this reminder. Thank you again Ruth for sharing today and please continue.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for this important message encouraging us to stand firm in God’s Word.
Hope you will write again soon.
Dear Ruth,
I really enjoy your story “The Four Ws”.
Thank you.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for your devotional.
I think it is good to ask the W questions as long as we keep looking in the Bible for answers.
We need to study and learn the steps in putting on the full armour of God. Then we are able to handle anything that comes along, because we know that He is with us, even until the end of time.
I printed off the armor passage and have it hanging below my grandmother’s Lord’s Prayer in my bedroom!
Keep writing.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for your devotional this morning. Your sentence stating “Sometimes our struggles last longer because we do not want to accept God’s answer, or we don’t let Him have full control,” is the root of our problems. I like the verse in Proverbs 16:9 “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Praise Him! God bless you.
(California, USA)
Dear Ruth;
You are not the only one that questions God about stuff that is happening in our world today. I don’t think it is wrong to ask and talk to your Heavenly Father the four “w’s” because did we not ask our fathers on earth questions. Sometimes we get an answer like, “Trust me, because I told you so;” or “Wait” and so on. And sometimes we are left to do our own things and then find out in the end, that we had to find out ourselves the consequences that come when we make certain choices. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Ruth. Never quite thought of it this way before, four Ws, indeed! Just finished reading Job who spent most of the book protesting that his integrity was intact, but also questioned God. In the end, God challenged Job’s questioning as not accepting that God, the Father, knows best. It’s had me pondering over when questions are in order, or simply rebellious. Hm…. Blessings.
Thanks for putting the Reporter’s Friends into such an encouraging setting for Christians.
Blessings.