“Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good; his loyal love endures forever” (Ps. 136:1).
1, 2. How do many brothers feel about life's blows?
Many brothers and sisters feel emotionally unstable, like a ship in a storm. Life's hardships cause their emotions to fluctuate: sometimes they are convinced that Jehovah loves and helps them, but at other times they feel that Jehovah is distant or indifferent to what they are going through.
Even if they receive words of encouragement that comfort them for a while, doubts may return, and they may even think that Jehovah no longer cares about them.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
They feel like a ship in the middle of a storm: the sea batters it and it seems to go up and down at times; it is not known what will happen to the ship, and that can make our emotions go up and down too and make us not know if Jehovah is really helping us.
As Proverbs 17:17 says, a true friend loves at all times and is a brother in times of trouble. It's true that we have many brothers and sisters who often help us in our problems, but sometimes those doubts return.
Life's blows are sometimes so hard that we even begin to think that Jehovah doesn't care about us, but the opposite is true. Jehovah loves us, helps us, and cares for each one of us individually.
The aim of this article is not only to have security at a specific moment, but to not lose the certainty that Jehovah loves us.
It's interesting to note that sometimes life's hardships make our emotions fluctuate. How important it is to maintain control and not allow our feelings toward Jehovah to diminish, but rather to keep them strong, because life itself tests us and makes us doubt. That's why we need to trust that Jehovah will be there, and if we ever feel weak, we should turn to him, because he will lift us up.
What can give stability to a ship in a storm is the anchor, and for us the anchor would be depending completely on Jehovah.
3. a) What is loyal love? (Psalm 31:7; 136:1).
Loyal love is a deep, firm, and lasting attachment that doesn't depend on circumstances or fleeting feelings. It is a constant, committed, and faithful love that remains even in difficult times.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Loyal love is the combination of love and loyalty; it is an expression of the affection and deep commitment that Jehovah feels for each of his servants. Furthermore, it is a guarantee that he will never abandon us or stop loving us.
The paragraph uses the idea of a deep attachment. Interestingly, scientists analyze the word “attachment” by relating it to a deep and lasting emotional bond formed in infancy, especially between a baby and its caregivers. It also mentions that this sense of security allows a person to have a secure and stable psycho-emotional development throughout their life. This means that if we also have this attachment or emotional bond with Jehovah, it will give us the assurance of his loyal love, that he will never fail us, and that he will always be by our side.
Psalm 31:7 mentions that when we go through difficulties and feel distressed, Jehovah sees our suffering. Jehovah is aware of our distress, and thanks to his goodness and loyal love, we can be sure that he has not turned away from us; he will help us and continue to show us his love.
The paragraph concludes by saying that remembering this can help us maintain stability. Psalm 23:4 also conveys this idea, and it is very encouraging.
3. b) Why do we say that no one displays this quality better than Jehovah? (See also the picture.)
We say that no one exemplifies this quality better than Jehovah because the Bible says that he is “full of loyal love” and that his love for his servants is immense. Jehovah never abandons those who are faithful to him; he always cares for them, supports them, and accompanies them. Remembering his loyal love gives us stability and helps us to remain steadfast in the face of life’s storms.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Exodus 34:6 says that Jehovah is full of loyal love, and Psalm 86:5 mentions that Jehovah’s loyal love is immense. Therefore, we can say that there is no greater love, no greater loyal love, than the love Jehovah has for us. We can be certain that he will never abandon us. So, when we face any kind of problem, remembering this will help us to overcome it.
In the illustration, we see an unusual anchor. We are normally accustomed to seeing a different type of anchor, but this one is called a sea anchor, and it is used in stormy weather. Its function is to point the bow into the waves so that they break. This is the same idea that the paragraph illustrates: we know that Jehovah demonstrates his loyal love for us, and that same loyal love gives us stability. Like the sea anchor, it helps us to face trials in such a way that we trust that Jehovah will help us in one way or another.
ILLUSTRATION
A sailboat's anchor is submerged in the sea and thus prevents the sailboat from drifting during a storm.
Just as an anchor prevents a ship from drifting during a storm, trust in Jehovah’s love keeps us steady when we go through difficulties. (See paragraph 3.)
LET US VIEW JEHOVAH'S LOVE AS A BASIC TEACHING OF THE BIBLE
4. What are some basic teachings of the Bible? Why don't we let anything make us believe otherwise?
Some basic teachings of the Bible are fundamental truths such as that God's name is Jehovah, that Jesus is his only begotten Son, that the dead are unconscious, that the Earth will be a paradise, and that human beings will be able to live on it forever.
We do not allow anything to make us believe otherwise because these teachings are based on biblical facts and evidence, and once we are fully convinced of their truth, we accept them firmly. In the same way, when we see Jehovah's love as a fundamental teaching, we reject any thought that suggests he does not notice us or care about what happens to us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Another way to anchor ourselves would be to view this loyal love of Jehovah as a basic teaching of the Bible.
Some basic teachings of the Bible are that God's name is Jehovah, that Jesus is his only begotten Son, that the dead are unconscious, and that the Earth will become a paradise.
Our core teachings form the foundation of our beliefs, and we've dedicated considerable time to researching them, seeking the reasons and grounds for believing in them. Once we reach that conclusion, we're convinced, and no one can tell us otherwise, because we simply won't believe it. The same applies here: if we believe that loyal love is a core teaching and are convinced of it, we will never doubt it.
5. How does a person come to reject false beliefs?
A person comes to reject false beliefs by comparing what they teach with what the Bible actually says. First, they question whether those beliefs are true, then they analyze the Scriptures and accept what the Bible teaches, even if it means dismantling deeply ingrained ideas.
Although this process is not always easy, once a person understands and accepts the truth, they leave behind false beliefs and do not allow anything to make them return to them, because they are convinced that biblical teaching is correct.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Comparing what their religion teaches with what they are learning from the Bible. For example, many people think that Jesus is God; however, as they study the Bible, it becomes clear that Jesus is the firstborn and only Son of Jehovah, and they change their minds. The problem is that sometimes these false beliefs are deeply ingrained or "entrenched," and it is difficult for them to get rid of them.
Once we are convinced of what the Bible teaches, nothing will change our minds. We manage to let go of those ideas and realize that it is the truth, and we don't allow anyone to distract us. If someone tells us that Jesus is just a prophet, we know that's not true.
We must analyze the Bible and then accept what biblical truth teaches and reject false beliefs.
We have compared, questioned, and analyzed, and when we have become convinced of the truth, we leave behind false ideas and, as Philippians 3:13 says, we forget them. That is the way to move forward, learning more and more about the truth.
6. Why is the phrase “his faithful love endures forever” repeated so many times in Psalm 136?
Psalm 136 repeatedly uses the phrase “his loyal love endures forever” to emphasize that this is a fundamental Bible truth, not something secondary. Jehovah wants us to have absolute assurance that his love is constant, faithful, and enduring.
Repetition helps to impress upon our minds that his loyal love never ends and is not dependent on circumstances. In this way, when doubts or thoughts arise that Jehovah is not interested in us, we can reject them with the same firmness with which we reject any false belief, convinced that Jehovah always loves and cares for his people.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Psalm 136 begins by saying: “Give thanks to Jehovah.” Why? Because he performed mighty acts and provided us with everything we need. This truth destroys the lie that Jehovah considers us unworthy of his love. Every blessing we receive demonstrates that his loyal love lasts forever.
When something appears several times in the Bible, it's for emphasis, especially when it occurs in very small spaces, as in this case, where the same phrase is repeated in every verse. In this way, Jehovah shows us that he loves us in a special way, with a loyal and profound love, and that he will not abandon us. Just as he demonstrates this, he wants us to be convinced that this is also true.
Jehovah knows us very well and understands how we feel when we go through difficult times, and that we might even think he doesn't care about us. That's why it's a good idea to ask ourselves, "Is this true?" when we think like that, and to read Psalm 136 to convince ourselves that Jehovah truly loves us.
7. What are some texts that confirm that Jehovah does love us?
Some texts that clearly confirm that Jehovah does love us are Matthew 10:31, where Jesus says that we are worth more than many sparrows, and Isaiah 41:10, where Jehovah promises to give us strength, help us and uphold us with his right hand of justice.
These texts do not express doubts or possibilities, but certainties, which demonstrates how much Jehovah cares for us. Furthermore, 1 John 4:16 assures us that we can come to know and fully believe in God's love for us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
In Matthew 10:31, we see that Jesus was telling his disciples that not one sparrow falls to the ground without the Father knowing it, without Jehovah knowing it. Then he tells them: you are worth more than many sparrows.
In Isaiah 41:10, Jehovah tells us: “I will give you strength, I will help you, I will really sustain you.” It is beautiful how Jehovah repeats to us, even three times, in a powerful way how much he loves us, so that we have no doubt.
The footnote in the paragraph leads us to three other Bible references. The first is Deuteronomy 31:8, where the Bible says: “Jehovah is the one who goes before you, and he will remain with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or terrified.” This text assures us of Jehovah’s loyal love and gives us peace and tranquility.
The footnote mentions Isaiah 49:15, which says: “Can a woman forget her baby or have no compassion on the child in her womb? Even if a woman could forget, I will never forget you.” Here, the attachment a mother has for her child is highlighted, and how important that attachment is—a natural one, we know. Even so, Jehovah’s love for us is even stronger, and, as we have seen, he will never abandon us.
These texts contain statements or certainties; there is no room for doubt about what they say. Therefore, if we have doubts, what is the antidote? To read them again. If we meditate on them and sincerely speak to Jehovah about our doubts, our confidence will grow, and we will come to truly believe in his love for us, as we have seen in 1 John.
8. What can we do if we continue to doubt that Jehovah loves us?
If we continue to doubt that Jehovah loves us, we should compare our feelings with what we know from the Bible. Although our feelings may lead us to think otherwise, the Bible clearly teaches that Jehovah loves us and always tells the truth.
Therefore, we must not be guided by deceptive emotions, but remember that love is the essence of Jehovah’s personality. By trusting in what God’s Word says, we can reject doubts and strengthen our confidence in his love.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We should use reason. That is, “Jehovah loves us” is an absolute truth, as we have seen. Therefore, if we were to have such feelings, they would be unfounded.
If we continue to doubt that Jehovah loves us, we would be overlooking the fact that love is an essential part of his personality.
Just as when we smell smoke at home, even though we can't see it, we don't say, "I don't see it, it's nothing," but rather we look for its source to put our minds at ease, we can do the same with our faith. If we continue to doubt that Jehovah loves us, we must convince ourselves that this is not true: He does love us. Therefore, we must cling to that idea and strengthen our feelings.
Throughout the article, we are asked whether we have doubts about Jehovah's love, and then we are given reasons not to doubt. Even so, it asks us again if, despite these reasons, we still doubt. How beautiful it is that it provides us with the perfect phrase: compare what we feel with what we know. Because our heart can deceive us, but the Bible never will.
LET US REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT “THE FATHER HIMSELF” LOVES US
9, 10. What was Jesus talking about when he said, “You are loved by the Father”? (John 16:26, 27; see also the picture.)
When Jesus said, “The Father himself loves you,” he wasn’t primarily speaking about the disciples’ feelings, but about the subject of prayer. He was explaining that prayers should be directed to the Father in his name, and not to him directly.
Jesus wanted to make it clear that Jehovah loves his servants so much that he personally hears their prayers, without needing anyone else to relay them. In this way, he assured his disciples that they could pray to God with complete confidence, knowing that the Father himself loves them and cares for them.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It seems that he was not speaking at that moment about the feelings of his disciples, but the context shows us that he was speaking about the subject of prayer.
What Jesus said conveys a powerful idea: Jehovah himself personally hears our prayers. He hasn't delegated them to his Son or other angels; the Father himself attends to them. In other words, he is the one who hears our prayers. Reflecting on this further strengthens the idea that he has loyal love for us.
The final part of the text says: “And they have believed that I came as God’s representative.” This means that Christ himself was sent by Jehovah as his representative, and in this way God’s love in sending him is demonstrated.
In Matthew 16:23-24, Jesus tells his disciples that they should pray to Jehovah, but in his name. They no longer had to ask Jesus for anything; he himself was telling them that, yes, they should pray in his name, but directly to Jehovah, because Jehovah loves us all.
Since the disciples had become very close friends with Jesus, they might have been tempted to pray to him. However, in John 16:26, Jesus makes it clear that they should ask the Father in his name.
In 1 John 5:14 we are also told that we can ask Him for anything that is in accordance with His will, and He hears us. So, if we pray to God with the confidence that He hears us, we are demonstrating that we truly have faith in Him, because He loves us.
The image shows a brother who is convinced that Jehovah loves him and, therefore, has complete confidence in asking Jehovah for help with his circumstances. The circles indicate that he is asking Jehovah to help him care for his sick wife, control his expenses, and help his daughter to also love Jehovah.
We may not have the same problems that the brother in the picture is facing now, but knowing that Jehovah listens to us, that when we need him we have a friend to talk to and that he will answer us or help us overcome the situation, is very comforting and helps us to keep going.
This image connects very well with the first image of the ship. In it, we saw how the sails were furled and all we had was the anchor; we were completely exposed to the storm. In our personal situations, we too are exposed to the problems and difficulties of daily life. But our anchor, the prayer we can direct to Jehovah, is the confidence that we will not struggle alone, but that we can rely on Jehovah to overcome those problems.
Each time we take the time to stop, meditate on what we want to say to our Father Jehovah, and then tell him, we strengthen our confidence that we are doing this because we are certain that Jehovah loves us, listens to us, and will take action. This, therefore, strengthens our love for Jehovah.
ILLUSTRATION
Images of a brother praying confidently about three important matters while sitting on an outdoor bench. 1. His wife is sick in bed, and he brings her a meal. 2. His young daughter enjoys studying the Bible with him. 3. The brother reviews a stack of bank papers.
You can pray to Jehovah with confidence, for you know that “the Father himself” loves you. (See paragraphs 9 and 10.)
LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT WHERE THE DOUBTS COME FROM
11. Why does Satan rejoice if we begin to doubt Jehovah’s love?
Satan rejoices when we begin to doubt Jehovah’s love because such doubts help him to weaken us spiritually. His goal is to make us think that Jehovah does not love us or that we do not deserve his love, which can lead us to give up when we face problems and to drift away from Jehovah.
Furthermore, Satan wants to minimize the value of the ransom, which is the greatest proof of God’s love. Since he no longer has Jehovah’s love and approval, he tries to convince us that we don’t either. Recognizing that this is one of Satan’s most cunning traps helps us to oppose him more resolutely.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Satan rejoices in all the bad things that happen to people. Furthermore, lacking God's love, he wants us to think that we are the ones who lack Jehovah's love and approval. Without a doubt, this is one of his most cunning traps.
When Jesus was on earth, Satan used one of those cunning traps mentioned in Ephesians 6:11. For example, he tried to use God’s own Word to make Jesus doubt Jehovah’s love. He can do the same to us: he can use a brother’s comments or some teaching that we don’t quite grasp or that we misinterpret to make us doubt Jehovah’s love. That is why it is so important that we always compare what we feel with what we know, and that we investigate and make sure of the meaning of Bible texts.
In another article entitled “Convince Yourself That Jehovah Loves You,” it is mentioned that if we have doubts about Jehovah’s love, we can ask ourselves: “Whom should I believe, the Father of Lies or the God of truth?” Satan wants us to fall into his trap. Therefore, asking ourselves this question helps us see reality and draw closer to Jehovah.
12, 13. Why might inherited sin cause us to doubt Jehovah's love?
Inherited sin can cause us to doubt Jehovah’s love because it has distanced us from our Creator and affected our mind, heart, and emotions. Because of imperfection, we experience feelings such as guilt, anxiety, insecurity, and shame, which can lead us to think that we do not deserve God’s love.
Furthermore, being aware that we don't function as Jehovah originally designed us can make us feel limited or flawed, like a vehicle with a flat tire. Such feelings don't reflect how Jehovah sees us, but they can create doubts. Therefore, it's important to remember that Jehovah is a loyal God who continues to show love to those who love and obey him, despite human imperfection.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It is true that Satan is behind many bad things, but our own imperfection and inherited sin have also wreaked havoc on mankind and can sometimes cause us to doubt Jehovah’s love. Satan may take advantage of this, but it is not entirely his doing; it can also stem from our own imperfection.
Sometimes we feel guilt or insecurity simply because we are imperfect. It’s like trying to drive with a flat tire: we move forward, but not as we should. This can make us doubt Jehovah’s love. However, Nehemiah 1:5 reminds us that Jehovah shows loyal love to those who love him and obey his commandments, which gives us great peace of mind.
14. Why does thinking about the ransom help us to stop doubting Jehovah’s love? (Romans 5:8; see also the box “Beware of the ‘deceptive power of sin’”).
Thinking about the ransom helps us to stop doubting Jehovah’s love because it shows that even if we feel undeserving of his love, he loves us so much that he gave the ransom to forgive our sins. The ransom is not based on our perfection or on what we do to earn his love, but on the special love that Jehovah has for us.
Furthermore, Jesus did not come to save perfect people, but sinful ones, and Jehovah knows that we are not capable of doing things perfectly. Understanding that inherited sin can cause us to doubt his love motivates us to fight harder against such thoughts and to trust in the love that Jehovah has already demonstrated through the ransom.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It is understandable that we feel we do not deserve Jehovah’s forgiveness, but we must remember that he still gave his Son even though we did not deserve it. This shows that Jehovah’s loyal love truly lasts forever.
The apostle Paul, in Romans 7:24, 25, speaks of how his mind was a slave to God's law, but his flesh was a slave to sin. He had a struggle, perhaps the same one we face. By understanding that inherited sin makes us doubt God's love, we can fight against it by remembering Jesus' sacrifice, which demonstrates Jehovah's great love.
Perhaps at some point we think or feel that we do not deserve God's love because we are imperfect, we make mistakes, and we commit errors. Sometimes, we may even offend Jehovah with our actions. But when we see how 1 John 4:10 says that Jehovah does not love us because we have loved him, but that he loved us first and sacrificed his most precious gift, his Son Jesus Christ, to rescue us from sin and death, we cannot doubt Jehovah's loyal love.
The box shows us that sin refers to imperfection and teaches us that imperfection not only leads us to sin, but also generates certain feelings. One of these is thinking that Jehovah doesn't love us or constantly dwelling on our weaknesses and past mistakes. We must keep in mind that, as a result of imperfection, we can fall into this trap, and that is why we need to strive to avoid it.
Thinking about what Jehovah has already done for us, and in this case the ransom—the sending of his Son out of love for us—is how he began to show us his love. Therefore, we have no reason to doubt.
LET'S MAKE THE DECISION TO BE LOYAL
15, 16. If we are loyal to Jehovah, what can we be sure of, and why? (2 Samuel 22:26).
If we are loyal to Jehovah, we can be sure that he will also be loyal to us and will not abandon us, no matter the circumstances. This is because Jehovah responds loyally to those who are loyal to him and because his loyal love lasts forever. Remembering this truth helps us to remain steadfast and secure even when we face life's storms.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We can be sure that he will also be loyal to us and will not abandon us.
When we go through difficult situations, the best thing we can do is drop anchor and remember that Jehovah loves us and will always be there to help us.
This paragraph mentions an interesting idea: what we feel is one thing, and what we know to be true is another. A helpful illustration is that the sun gives us light, whether we see it or not, perhaps because it's cloudy, but it's still there. In the same way, Jehovah's love is present, whether we feel it or not. We may not perceive it because of our imperfection or because we are going through a problem in our life and have the feeling that it isn't there, but his love is still present, just like the sunlight.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 tells us that we should love Jehovah by listening to his voice and clinging to him, because he is life. If we do this, we can be sure that he will act loyally toward us and will always be there to help us. Through all of this, he shows us that he loves us very much.
We must cling to Jehovah, and in that way we can be sure that he loves us and will help us, just as he helped Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
Why is it good to view Jehovah's love as a basic teaching of the Bible?
It is good to view Jehovah’s love as a basic Bible teaching because, like other fundamental truths, it is based on solid Bible facts and evidence. When we are fully convinced of these teachings, we do not allow anything to make us doubt them.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
If we consider Jehovah's love as a basic truth, it will be easier for us to reject the idea that he does not notice us or care about what happens to us, especially when we face problems.
Because in this way we remember that everything Jehovah does—his counsel, his commands, and also his great patience with us in trials—is a demonstration of his great love for us. This gives us confidence and, moreover, helps us to draw closer to him.
Basic teachings, when we are convinced of them and make them our own, lead us to not allow anything to stray from them. Therefore, if we view Jehovah's loyal love as a basic teaching, we will consider it a certainty and be aware that what we feel and what we know are two different things.
Why might inherited sin cause us to doubt Jehovah's love?
Inherited sin can cause us to doubt Jehovah’s love because it has distanced us from our Creator and damaged our mind, heart, and body. As a result, it negatively affects our emotions and makes us feel guilt, anxiety, insecurity, and shame, sometimes causing us to doubt Jehovah’s love.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Imperfection is the basis for doubt. However, we have the Bible, which assures us that, even though we are imperfect, Jehovah's loyal love for us gives us the assurance that this imperfection will not last long. It may last only a moment, but trusting in Jehovah will last a lifetime.
Let us remember that sin has a very negative effect on our emotions, and therefore we may feel insecure, anxious, and afraid when faced with life's problems. We usually don't face just one problem, but several at once. This affects our feelings and emotions, and if our faith is not strong, we may begin to doubt Jehovah's love.
What will help us to stop doubting Jehovah's love?
What will help us to stop doubting Jehovah’s love is to think about the ransom and remember that he loved us so much that he gave the ransom to forgive our sins. It also helps to remember that Jesus came to save sinful, imperfect people, and that Jehovah does not expect perfection from us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Understanding that inherited sin can generate such doubts motivates us to fight against that thought and to trust more in the love that Jehovah shows us through the ransom.
Something that will help us to stop doubting Jehovah's love is to make the decision to be loyal, knowing that if we are loyal, Jehovah will also be loyal to us.
Something that will help us stop doubting Jehovah's love are texts like Matthew 10:31, which teach us that we are valuable and precious to Jehovah. Remembering these texts will help convince us that Jehovah loves us.
Something that will help us to stop doubting Jehovah's love is remembering that he loves us so much that he gave his Son to forgive our sins.
He wants to hear our prayers personally, without delegating that task to someone else. That's because he loves us and cares about us.
One text that will help us is Psalm 136, which repeats up to 26 times that God's loyal love lasts forever. If it weren't true, it wouldn't be repeated so often.
Comments
Post a Comment