We do the same thing. What do we admire? External things. What are we busy with? External things. So why are we surprised that we feel fear and anxiety? When we think bad things are about to happen to us, what's the result? We can't help being afraid. We can't help being anxious. Then we say, "God, how can I not be anxious?" You fool! Don't you have hands? Didn't God give them to you? Are you going to sit there and pray that your nose stops running? Just wipe it yourself and stop blaming God. So has God given you nothing to help with your situation? Hasn't he given you endurance? Hasn't he given you courage? Hasn't he given you strength? When you have hands like that, are you still looking for someone else to wipe your nose?
This is the case also with ourselves. What do we admire? Externals. About what things are we busy? Externals. And have we any doubt then why we fear or why we are anxious? What then happens when we think the things, which are coming on us, to be evils? It is not in our power not to be afraid, it is not in our power not to be anxious. Then we say, Lord God, how shall I not be anxious? Fool, have you not hands, did not God make them for you? Sit down now and pray that your nose may not run. Wipe yourself rather and do not blame him. Well then, has he given to you nothing in the present case? Has he not given to you endurance? Has he not given to you magnanimity? Has he not given to you manliness? When you have such hands do you still look for one who shall wipe your nose?