The Watchtower Study, "Article 49", Week of January 29 to February 4, 2024, Will Jehovah answer my prayers?, Answers

The Watchtower Study, "Article 49", January 29, February 4, 2024, Will Jehovah Answer My Prayers?, Answers.

“You will call to me, you will come to me in prayer, and I will listen to you” (JER. 29:12).

1, 2. Why might we feel that Jehovah does not answer our prayers?

 Jehovah's promise in Psalm 37:4 to grant us the desires of our hearts is beautiful, but it does not mean that we will receive everything we ask for right away. At times, it may seem that Jehovah does not answer our prayers, even if we have been specific in our requests. For example, a single sister wants to go to the school for kingdom evangelists and makes the request, but she never received the invitation. Still, we should not think that Jehovah does not answer our prayers or that he does not give us what we ask for because we have done something wrong or because we have failed him.

3. What will we analyze in this article?

In this article we will analyze the following ideas: The first idea is, what we can expect from Jehovah, the second, what Jehovah expects of us and the third, why it may be necessary to change some of our requests.

WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM JEHOVAH

4. According to Jeremiah 29:12, what has Jehovah promised us?

In Jeremiah 29:12, Jehovah has promised us that he will hear our prayers and in Psalm 10:17 and 37:28, it is mentioned that God loves his servants and never ignores their prayers. However, that does not mean that he will give us everything we ask for. We may have to wait until the new world for Jehovah to grant us some of our requests.

5. What does Jehovah take into account when he hears our prayers?

When Jehovah hears our prayers, he takes into account his purpose. Which consists of the earth being full of men and women who accept his rule and serve him happily in unity.

Hence, when Satan claimed that human beings would be better off if they governed themselves, Jehovah allowed it to prove over time that this was a lie. So, although Jehovah hears our prayers, he is not going to solve all those problems now, because if he did, some might think that human beings can govern themselves successfully.

6. Why is it important for us to be convinced that Jehovah always acts with love and justice?

It is very important to be convinced that Jehovah always acts with love and Justice, because our prayers will not always receive the answers we expect. And although we do not always understand his reasons or the results of our prayers, Jehovah always acts for our well-being and for the fulfillment of his purpose.

Furthermore, Jehovah can respond to similar requests in different ways. For example, when King Hezekiah became seriously ill, he begged Jehovah to heal him, and Jehovah did. However, when the apostle Paul pleaded with him to remove “a thorn in the flesh” that was possibly a health problem, Jehovah did not do so. But we must be convinced that in both cases, Jehovah acted with love, justice, and according to his purpose. And likewise, he must have happened in the case of Peter and James.

7. What do we avoid doing, and why?

We avoid comparing our situation with that of others. This is because each person and each circumstance is unique, and Jehovah’s answers to our prayers may vary. By avoiding comparing ourselves, we avoid falling into disappointment or confusion when we see that our requests are not fulfilled in the same way as those of others.

This exemplifies Sister Anna's experience very well. Her husband, Matthew, was sick with cancer, and she prayed for his recovery and did the same for two older sisters who also had cancer. The two sisters recovered, but Matthew died. Hence, we should not compare our situation to that of anyone else, to avoid feeling doubts about Jehovah's love and justice. On the other hand, Anna had to be convinced that Jehovah will remove once and for all everything that makes us suffer and that she also longs to resurrect her beloved servants.

8. a) According to Isaiah 43:2, what does Jehovah do to support us?

Jehovah supports us by helping us through any trial and does not allow anything to cause us permanent harm. Furthermore, he gives us his powerful spirit to help us endure. 

8. b) How does prayer help us when we go through difficult trials? (Watch the video Prayer Helps Us Move Forward.)

Prayer can be a source of comfort and strength when we go through difficult trials. Both Natacha and Matteo mention that by praying to Jehovah, they experienced tranquility and calm, which helped them cope with their circumstances. Additionally, Matteo notes that prayer has allowed him to accept his illness and find comfort in knowing that Jehovah loves him. He also mentions that Jehovah has answered his prayers in specific ways.

WHAT JEHOVAH EXPECTS FROM US

9. How does James 1:6, 7 highlight the importance of trusting Jehovah to help us?

James 1:6,7 highlights the importance of praying with a heart full of faith and confidence that Jehovah will answer your prayers. These verses also urge us not to doubt even though our trials are so terrible that they seem like walls impossible to climb. Jehovah expects us to trust in Him and in His power. And it will be this confidence in Jehovah's response that will keep us with a calm, positive and persevering attitude in the midst of trials.

10. Give an example that demonstrates how to do our part after praying.

We have the example of a brother who wishes to attend a Regional Assembly and asks Jehovah to help him obtain permission from his boss. This brother, after praying, takes his side, since he takes the initiative to talk to his boss and express his desire to attend the Assembly. He is also willing to show her his commitment and willingness to find solutions, such as proposing to swap his shift with a coworker or even being willing to not receive pay for the time off he needs to take. 

11. Why should we pray insistently?

We must pray persistently because Jehovah expects us to pray persistently about what concerns us. Jesus also taught that some of our requests may not receive an immediate response. So by praying repeatedly about an issue, we show Jehovah that our request is not just a whim and that we have faith that he will help us.

WHY IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO CHANGE SOME OF OUR REQUESTS

12. a) What could we ask ourselves, and why?

We could ask ourselves if what we are asking of Jehovah is the most appropriate. This is important because we must consider whether our requests are aligned with Jehovah's will, and whether what we are requesting is best for us in the long term.

For example, the parents mentioned in paragraph 1 asked Jehovah to cause their son to continue in the truth. But Jehovah wants us all to worship him because that is our choice. Consequently, it would have been better to pray that Jehovah would help them reach the heart of his son so that he would come to love Jehovah and desire to be his friend.

12. b) What should we take into account so that our prayers are respectful? (See the box “Do my requests show that I respect Jehovah?”)

For our prayers to be respectful, 1 John 5:14 teaches us that we must make sure that the things we ask for are in accordance with Jehovah's will and that they also have the correct motivation. And on the other hand, James 4:3 warns us that we should not make selfish prayers or prayers focused only on our needs and desires, because then they will not be heard.

Another aspect that we must take into account is shown in Matthew 4:7, since for our prayers to be respectful, it is necessary not to make demands of Jehovah. Likewise, Ephesians 3:20 shows us that we should rather trust that Jehovah knows better than anyone how to answer our prayers, even if sometimes the answer is not what we expect. 

We must also keep in mind that we must thank Jehovah for the things he gives us each day, as he does not remember 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18. This is not only a sign of respect, it also makes Jehovah very happy.

 Do my requests show that I respect Jehovah?

Our Father, Jehovah, loves us very much and wants to grant us what we ask of him. But he is also our Creator and he deserves all our respect (Rev. 4:11). So, when it comes to making a request to our heavenly Father, how can we show him that we respect him?

Make sure the things you ask for are in accordance with God's will and that you ask for good reasons (1 John 5:14). We don't want our prayers to become selfish and only focus on our own needs and desires. James warned first-century Christians that their prayers would not be answered if they asked “with evil motives,” that is, for selfish reasons (James 4:3).

Don't be demanding (Matt. 4:7). Trust that Jehovah knows better than anyone how to answer his prayers. And sometimes the answer may not be what you expected (Eph. 3:20).

Remember to thank Him for the things He gives you every day. Think about how happy Jehovah is when he thanks you for what he does for you.​—Col. 3:15; 1 Thes. 5:17, 18.

13. According to Hebrews 4:16, when does Jehovah help us?

Jehovah helps us at the time he considers most appropriate. Although we sometimes want immediate answers to our prayers, Jehovah knows when the time is right to grant us what we ask for. Therefore, his answer may be “Not yet,” rather than a definitive “No.” 

We have an example of this in the brother who prayed to Jehovah to stop being sick. If Jehovah had miraculously healed him, Satan could have reproached him that this young man continued to serve him only because he had been cured. On the other hand, Jehovah has already set the time to end all diseases. So for now, this brother should rather pray that Jehovah will give him the strength and peace of mind he needs to continue serving faithfully despite his illness.

14. What does Janice's example teach you?

Janice's example teaches us the importance of trusting in Jehovah and being open to his answers, even if they do not fit our immediate expectations or desires. Through her experience, Janice learned to value the personal training and development process that Jehovah provided her before answering her prayer. Five years had to pass, and instead of serving at Bethel, the invitation went to her husband and her to serve in the circuit work. As she herself says, this was a precious response that also gave her the opportunity to feel the love and kindness of Jehovah.

Janice's example also teaches us that happiness does not depend on circumstances, but on our relationship with Jehovah. On the other hand, her story encourages us to be grateful for how Jehovah answers our prayers.

15. Why is it sometimes good for our prayers to be less specific? (See also images).

Sometimes it is good for our prayers to be less specific so that we can perceive what Jehovah's will for us is. In the example above, the single sister who was praying about attending the Kingdom Evangelizers school could open herself to the possibility of finding other ways to expand her ministry, such as asking the circuit overseer about the need for pioneers in a nearby congregation. She could also write to a branch office to find out where more help is needed in preaching.

According to the note, to know what we have to do to serve in the territory of another branch, we can see the book "Organized to Do the Will of Jehovah", in Chapter 10 and in paragraphs 6 to 9.

ILLUSTRATION

In the Illustration we see two sisters praying before filling out the application for the School for Kingdom Evangelizers. Later, one is invited, but the other is not. Instead of feeling discouraged or disappointed, the sister who did not receive the invitation now prays to Jehovah to help her find other ways to expand her ministry. She then decides to write a letter to the branch in which she offers to serve where more help is needed.

Series of images: 1. Two sisters separately fill out the application for the School for Kingdom Evangelizers. The two pray before sending it. 2. One of the sisters happily shows her letter of invitation to school to some sisters at the Kingdom Hall, including the other sister who also requested it. 3. The sister who was not invited to school prays to Jehovah and then writes a letter. Some time later she is preaching abroad and working on a theocratic construction project. If she thinks that Jehovah has not answered her prayer, why doesn't she consider asking for other things? (See paragraph 15).

16. What can we be convinced of?

We can be confident that Jehovah will answer our prayers with love and in a just manner. Although his response may not be what we expect, he will never overlook our prayers. We can also trust that he loves us and will never abandon us. We can also trust that he loves us and will never abandon us. Therefore, we are encouraged to continue trusting in Jehovah at all times and to pour out our hearts before him in our prayers.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

What can we expect from Jehovah?

That he will hear our prayers, but when he answers them it will be according to his will and purpose. And that he will answer in the same way even if they are requests similar to those that others have made. That's why let's avoid comparing our situation with that of others.

What does Jehovah expect from us?

May we demonstrate our trust in him when we make our requests. He also expects us to do our part with his support. And if we do not receive an immediate response we must continue with our request time after time.

Why might it be necessary to change some of our requests?

Some of them may not be best for us in the long term. We must be patient since Jehovah knows the best time to answer our prayer. And sometimes we should not be so specific in prayer. And we should show great respect to Jehovah when we request something.