How can we endure difficulties (10 mins.)
Difficulties. Who doesn't have them? Who hasn't had them? And surely there are more to come in the future. And the thing is that trials can come in many forms: Illness, loss, challenges at work or in the family. And the thing is that, overnight, a tragedy can make our life change completely and forever.
It is possible that, right now, you are going through a situation that you did not expect, but we can only endure and face it. And that is what we are going to talk about in this section of Treasures of the Bible: How can we endure difficulties?
For some, they only have a momentary difficulty, which is over in a few minutes, hours or days, but there are others who have these difficulties all their lives, and all they can do is endure.
Let's look at three ways we can help you face these difficulties and remain firm in serving Jehovah, showing a good attitude as far as possible, and that attitude serves to benefit others. Let's look at the first help we have in Psalm 119 verse 61 says.
LET'S READ PSALM 119:61.
The cords of the wicked encircle me, but I do not forget your law.
Most of us know that ropes have a purpose or reason to hold something down and not let it move forward. If a brother has a rope tied to his arms or legs to something else, he may have a hard time getting out of that situation.
The psalmist had experienced many life-threatening situations, not only for himself, but also for some who were with him. These ropes of the wicked that he was referring to were the difficulties he had to face. Being innocent, he had to flee from one place to another to stay alive.
But even though He was immobile, tied up, He said, "I will not forget Your law." And even though He was in a situation where He was not moving, He was happy to have seen the benefits that Jehovah's law produced in Him.
He recognized that Jehovah had treated him very well, and that thanks to this law of Jehovah, he was very wise and patient, knowing that difficulties were not eternal. This makes us think that we should see the Bible as what it truly is, the manual of life, a manual of happiness.
For this, we need to study regularly, and in this way our faith will be strengthened and, even if we go through difficulties, we will find comfort in His promises, because we know that the situation we are going through, which at the moment, apparently, may be eternal from our point of view, has an end.
Jehovah will help us out of any difficulty within a very short time and indefinitely. The Bible is like an anchor that keeps us firm and secure, as if a ship is sailing in a stormy sea. This anchor will not let the ship be carried away and perhaps hit against rocks and be destroyed.
Our Creator has given us his Hope so that, even though the situation around us is very complicated, seemingly without end, he still does not hold us back. He has done so with all his servants in the past, and he will continue to do so with us now.
Therefore, let us not neglect reading the Bible and meditation, it is what will sustain us and help us endure these difficulties. Let us look at the second one. Let us allow the trials to refine us. Now in Psalm 119 verse 71 it says.
LET'S READ PSALM 119:71.
It is good that I was made to suffer, because that is how I learned your rules.
The psalmist's expression is curious: "It is good that I have been made to suffer." Why? It is not because Jehovah likes to see us go through very difficult situations, perhaps it seems that we cannot bear it, no, it is because when there are trials, we are stronger, we endure the difficulties more.
Trials can be like fire that purifies gold. Although painful, they make us stronger and bring us closer to Jehovah. There are some materials that become more valuable when they go through fire, like gold, for example. It has to go through fire to be refined.
When it is extracted from the Earth, it may not attract much attention, although it has a certain shine. But what a difference it is when there is already a good amount of gold, it is refined, and it becomes a beautiful and very valuable jewel.
Or perhaps you know that to make bricks that are used in building houses, although it is simply earth and water mixed together and other components to strengthen it, generally for it to be resistant, very strong, it has to go into the fire so that it burns and withstands any inclement weather.
Fire, for gold or for a brick, is our difficulties, our trials, and if we go through them, we are strong. Or is it not true that when we go through very complicated situations is when we pray to Jehovah the most? Is it when we say to Him the most, “Oh, my God, help me”? On the contrary, when we do not go through those problems, we might even forget about Jehovah, about praying to Him constantly.Religious articles
Therefore, let us not run away from difficulties, but endure them. They have the purpose of refining us, of molding us, just as Jehovah wants us to be strong people with our unshakable faith, giving Him honor and glory as He deserves. Let us look at the third. When we go through difficulties to be able to endure, let us ask Jehovah to comfort us. In Psalm 119 verse 76 it says.
LET'S READ PSALM 119:76.
Please let your faithful love comfort me according to the promise you made to your servant.
There is no one who understands us better than Jehovah. That is why he is the best comforter we can have. When we feel overwhelmed by difficulties, we can and should turn to him in prayer.
Like the photograph we have in our activity guide, this pair of brothers praying to Jehovah, the brother is sick and is thanking him and asking him for the strength to endure the situation he is going through.
Maybe the brothers have read some portion of the Bible, which comforts them, which helps them cope with the situation, yes he is sick but by thanking Jehovah, he feels that inner peace, the joy of still being a servant of Jehovah, of feeling the hand of Jehovah, of perhaps observing the love that his brothers have for him through a call, a Bible text, sent by text message, something that makes him feel that Jehovah is comforting him, that he is using some instrument to send him the message that he is watching over him and his family.
Therefore, if you are going through any kind of difficulty, ask yourself, In what specific ways has Jehovah helped me to endure difficulties? And we will find many. Therefore, if we want to endure them, let us continue reading and studying the word of God, let us continue facing the tests, because these make us stronger, refine us where we must correct some things, and let us ask Jehovah to comfort us by constantly communicating with him. All this will make us endure the tests of now, and very soon we will see the good results of having done so.
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