LIVING AS CHRISTIANS: Week of May 29 to June 4, 2023, "Jehovah is the father of orphans", Video: They fight successfully for the faith. Those who only have one of his parents. Analysis and Answers.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS: 29-May-4-June 2023, Video: They fight successfully for the faith. Those that only have one of their parents, Analysis and Answers.

“Jehovah is the father of orphans” (8 min.): Analysis with the audience and video.

What do the stories of Tammy, Charles and Jimmy teach you?

Tammy's story teaches me that if children are convinced that they want to serve Jehovah and are determined to achieve their spiritual goals, what their parents do will not be an obstacle that they can overcome with Jehovah's help. Tammy and her sisters decided to serve Jehovah, and that determination led them to reach their goal of baptism despite the expulsion of her mother.

From Jimmy's story, I learn that when parents decide to divorce or separate in a spiritually divided home, the children must focus on the positive side of the situation in order to move forward. Jimmy says that after his parents separated from him, he could go out to preach and go to meetings with no problem, and he no longer had to hide the Christian publications. Focusing on serving Jehovah, rather than on his parents' painful divorce, allowed him to move on.

Charles' story teaches me that even in the most distressing or discouraged moments, Jehovah does not abandon his servants. He knows what each one is going through and can use anything to help them reconsider, regain their strength and make good decisions. That's what happened to Charles's mom when she attended what she thought would be his last Christian meeting. 

Tammy's story also teaches me that even if a young person's parents are disfellowshipped, that does not have to become a reason for the young person to leave Jehovah. Both Tammy and her sisters were baptized and became full-time pioneers, then married in the Lord, and today they serve Jehovah alongside her husbands as special servants abroad. They did not allow her mother's expulsion from her when she was still a child to separate her from Jehovah.

Jimmy's story also teaches me that when only one parent serves Jehovah, his example is critical not only in raising children, but also in building them up spiritually. Jimmy was able to see through all the bad things his mother went through without abandoning Jehovah, and that helped him set spiritual goals and fight to achieve them. Hence, he currently has been serving for more than 20 years as a full-time servant at Bethel and Warwick.

Charles's story also teaches me that even when faced with obstacles and painful family situations at an early age, if young people cling to Jehovah, nothing can shake them off. Charles is a case in point, as he is currently serving in the circuit work with his wife.

Furthermore, Charles' story shows that when living in a spiritually divided place, the father who serves Jehovah must be a Pillar for his children. Charles says that his mother was very influential in his setting spiritual goals. As we saw in the video, that paid off. Charles and his wife attended the first school for evangelists and are currently serving in Circuit work.

One more thing Jimmy's story teaches me is that the bad things that happen to young people in life don't have to determine the rest of their lives. Jimmy quotes 1 Peter 5:10, to remind himself that it was Jehovah who finished his training. And although things were difficult at first, Jehovah kept in mind that he was an orphan and never abandoned him.

And something interesting that we can mention about Charles' story is that he quotes Psalm 27:10, to recognize that although his father abandoned him, Jehovah took care of him. That teaches me that Jehovah is the father of all orphans. A father who never abandons or stops caring for his children. Hence, being a spiritual orphan is not an excuse to abandon Jehovah.

And finally, Tammy's story also teaches me that Jehovah does not judge anyone for their past, for their upbringing, or for having expelled relatives. Rather, Jehovah looks at the potential of each person. so what a young person wants to be in the future will depend on the decisions he makes. But if he decides well, then Jehovah will not help and will never forsake him.

According to Psalm 27:10, what does Jehovah promise you if you only have one parent?

Jehovah promises to welcome and support orphans. Those who experience rejection or abandonment by one or both parents need not feel helpless. The text clearly shows that Jehovah promises to welcome them and support them when others abandon us.

Today, we see how Jehovah uses the congregation to fulfill his promise and shelter orphans, since there they find mothers, fathers, brothers, and a global spiritual family, as well as care for the elderly. This teaches us that whoever trusts in Jehovah will never be forsaken.

He promises us that if one of our parents abandons us or both, Jehovah will take care of us, and we have seen this promise fulfilled in many cases, and we say this because there are many servants of God who have had to suffer the total rejection of his family, but have found help and protection in the loving Christian Congregation.