Watchtower Study, “Article 2”, Week of March 9-15, 2026, How to Overcome Negative Feelings, Answers.

Watchtower Study, “Article 2”, March 9-15, 2026, How to overcome negative feelings, Answers.

“How wretched I am!” (ROM. 7:24).

1, 2. How did the apostle Paul sometimes feel, and why might we be able to identify with him? (Romans 7:21-24).

At times the apostle Paul felt very frustrated with himself. Although he deeply loved Jehovah and wanted to do what was right, he recognized that there was a constant struggle within him. In Romans 7:21-24 he explains that he desired to do good, but his imperfection pulled him in another direction.

This makes us realize that we are not alone when we feel something similar. Many of us want to serve Jehovah wholeheartedly, but we become discouraged when we fail.

In the congregation and in daily life, this struggle can make us feel guilty or inadequate. But knowing that Paul went through the same thing comforts us and reminds us that Jehovah understands our struggles and continues to value our sincere efforts.

3. What will we see in this article? (See also the “Main Idea”).

In this article we will consider three main ideas. First, why the apostle Paul sometimes felt “unhappy” despite being a faithful servant of Jehovah. Second, what helped him to deal with those negative feelings without being overcome by them. And third, what we can do today to win that same battle.

This helps us understand that Jehovah does not expect us to ignore our feelings, but rather to learn to manage them with his help. In daily life and in the congregation, we can all experience sadness, frustration, or discouragement. This study provides us with practical and spiritual tools to maintain joy and a good relationship with Jehovah.

REASONS WHY PABLO HAD NEGATIVE FEELINGS

4. What is one of the reasons why Pablo had negative feelings?

One of the main reasons was his past. Before becoming a Christian, Paul harshly persecuted the followers of Jesus and approved of very serious actions, such as the death of Stephen.

Although Jehovah forgave him, those memories did not disappear from his mind. This makes us think about how our own past can affect us emotionally, even after we have changed.

Within the congregation, there are also members who carry painful memories or regretful decisions. Daily life can unexpectedly remind us of past mistakes.

Paul's example teaches us that feeling regret does not make us bad Christians, but it does remind us of the importance of accepting Jehovah's forgiveness and moving forward with humility and gratitude.

5. How did Pablo feel when he remembered his past?

Looking back on his past, Paul sometimes felt guilty and saw himself as unworthy. As the years passed, those feelings didn't disappear. He even considered himself "lower than the least of all the saints" and openly acknowledged his mistakes.

This suggests that some negative feelings don't automatically disappear over time. In daily life, it can be difficult to face people or situations that remind us of past mistakes.

In the congregation, we may find it difficult to accept responsibilities because we feel stigmatized by our past actions. Paul’s example teaches us that Jehovah does not measure our worth by our past, but by our sincere repentance and our constant desire to serve him faithfully.

6. What else caused Paul suffering? (See also the footnote.)

Another thing that caused Paul a great deal of suffering was what he called “a thorn in the flesh.” He didn’t explain exactly what it was, but he made it clear that it was something very painful and persistent. It could have been a physical problem, an emotional issue, or even a great deal of mental pressure.

This leads us to believe that not all problems are solved quickly or in the same way for everyone. In daily life and within the congregation, there are brothers and sisters who carry limitations that others don't see.

Paul's example reminds us that Jehovah does not minimize our pain. Although he does not always eliminate the trial, he does give us strength to endure it and continue serving him with dignity and faith.

7. How did Paul's imperfections make him feel? (Romans 7:18, 19).

Paul's imperfections caused him great frustration. He acknowledged that he wanted to do what was right, but sometimes he ended up doing what he didn't want to do. In Romans 7:18, 19, he expresses this struggle with great sincerity.

This makes us think about our own internal battles. In daily life, we may struggle with bad habits, negative thoughts, or reactions we don't like. In the congregation, we may feel bad when we repeatedly fail in the same area.

Paul's example is comforting because it shows that Jehovah does not expect perfection. Rather, he values ​​consistent effort and a sincere desire to improve, even when progress seems slow.

WHAT HELPED PABLO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE FEELINGS

8. What did Paul most likely do to fight against his imperfections?

Paul often reflected on how Jehovah’s spirit could help him overcome his wrong tendencies. According to Romans 8:13 and Galatians 5:16, 17, he relied on the guidance of the holy spirit and meditated on practical counsel from the Scriptures. This suggests that Paul not only gave good advice but also applied it in his own life.

In our daily lives and in the congregation, this encourages us to honestly examine our weaknesses and seek guidance in God’s Word. Trusting in the holy spirit gives us real strength to change. Knowing that Jehovah supports us in this process gives us peace and hope.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT

Paul fought against his imperfections by relying on Jehovah’s spirit. He meditated on the Scriptures, analyzed his weaknesses, and applied the advice he gave to others. This helped him not to give up and to keep striving to improve.

9, 10. What helped Paul to fight against negative feelings? (Ephesians 1:7; see also the picture.)

Many things helped Paul to avoid being overcome by negative feelings. He was greatly encouraged by the good news about the congregations, the sincere friendship of other brothers, and the knowledge that he was serving Jehovah with a clean conscience. Even in prison, he encouraged others to rejoice, but above all, he was strengthened by meditating on the ransom.

According to Ephesians 1:7, he knew that Jehovah had forgiven him because of Jesus’ sacrifice. This makes us reflect on how important it is to wholeheartedly accept that forgiveness. In our daily lives and in the congregation, remembering the ransom helps us to avoid being trapped by guilt, restores our joy, and draws us closer to Jehovah.

ILLUSTRATION

Series of images: 1. The apostle Paul meditating. 2. He recalls an occasion years earlier when he ordered a guard to forcibly remove a Christian from his home. 3. He meditates on how Jesus died on a torture stake.

Although Paul sometimes felt guilty when he remembered his past, meditating on the rescue was of great help to him. (See paragraphs 9 and 10.)

11. Why does Paul's example encourage us?

Paul’s example encourages us because it shows that even faithful servants can have inner struggles. He did not hide his feelings or give up when he felt “unhappy.” This makes us realize that Jehovah fully understands what we feel.

In daily life and in the congregation, we may believe that we are the only ones who struggle with negative thoughts, but that is not the case. Knowing that Paul went through the same thing comforts us and gives us peace.

Jehovah is aware of our difficulties and appreciates our efforts to keep going. That gives us strength to maintain our joy and continue serving him with confidence.

WHAT WILL HELP US IN OUR FIGHT

12. How does maintaining a good program of spiritual activities help us in our fight against negative feelings?

Maintaining a good program of spiritual activities helps us focus on the positive. Just as physical care influences how we feel, a spiritual routine strengthens our mind and heart.

This leads us to believe that reading the Bible, preaching, and attending meetings are not just duties, but a form of protection. In daily life, when we are spiritually active, negative thoughts have less room to take root.

In the congregation, participating and sharing encourages us and makes us feel useful. Jehovah gives us joy and strength when we maintain these habits, even when it is difficult at first.

13, 14. How has maintaining a good program of spiritual activities helped some brothers?

The examples of John, Eliza, and Nolan show that a good spiritual program can sustain us even in very difficult trials. John, despite a serious illness, continued attending meetings and preaching, and this calmed his negative thoughts.

This leads us to believe that spiritual steadfastness protects us emotionally. In daily life, we may feel tired or discouraged, but continuing with our activities keeps us close to Jehovah.

In the congregation, mutual support and family worship strengthen our faith. Jehovah always finds a way to give us strength when we continue to trust in him.

15. Explain with an example what else we might need to do to overcome negative feelings.

Sometimes doing the basics isn't enough; we need to take additional steps. The example of back pain illustrates this well: walking helps, but we may need to seek more information or ask for help. This makes us think that, to overcome negative feelings, we may need to study the Bible further or talk with a mature brother or sister.

In daily life and in the congregation, asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of humility. Jehovah can use others to guide us and give us clarity. Knowing that we do not have to face everything alone gives us great peace.

16. What will help us to see why we have negative thoughts? (Psalm 139:1-4, 23, 24).

Asking Jehovah to help us understand our thoughts is vital. Like David, we can plead with him to examine our hearts and help us identify what is troubling us. This makes us reflect on the importance of sincere prayer.

In daily life, reflecting on what truly worries us helps us to address the problem at its root. In the congregation, this allows us to improve our attitude and inner peace. Jehovah knows our thoughts and wants to help us understand and overcome them.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT

Jehovah can help us identify the source of our negative thoughts if we ask him in prayer. Analyzing what worries us and reflecting sincerely allows us to handle them better.

17. What topics should we include in our personal study? (See also the image).

It is good to adapt our personal study to our needs. Paul benefited greatly from meditating on Jehovah’s ransom and forgiveness, and we can do the same. This makes us think about the usefulness of studying topics such as mercy, loyal love, and forgiveness.

In daily life, having a list of encouraging items can be a great help when negative thoughts arise. In the congregation, applying Philippians 4:8 helps us to focus our minds on the positive. Jehovah gives us peace when we feed our minds with upbuilding thoughts.

ILLUSTRATION

A young brother is doing his personal Bible study with a tablet and a notebook, and he is writing something down in the Bible.

Let's study topics that will help us get rid of negative thoughts. (See paragraph 17).

18. What study projects have some brothers found helpful?

Some brothers and sisters have found much encouragement in specific study projects. Eliza identified with Job and learned to trust in Jehovah, even without understanding everything. Diane and her husband are studying Draw Close to Jehovah and feel molded by him as if they were clay.

This leads us to believe that in-depth study can draw us closer to Jehovah. In our daily lives and in the congregation, these projects strengthen our faith and our trust in his love. Feeling that Jehovah is patiently training us fills us with comfort and hope.

WE CAN WIN IN OUR FIGHT

19. How will we feel sometimes, but what can we be sure of?

There will be days when we feel discouraged or "unhappy," but that's part of our imperfection. This reminds us that these feelings don't define our spirituality.

In our daily lives and in the congregation, we can be sure that Jehovah will not allow such thoughts to dominate us. With his help, there will be far more good days than bad. Knowing that we have his friendship and approval gives us deep peace.

20. What do we want to continue doing?

We want to keep fighting against negative feelings without giving up. Jehovah will help us keep them at bay as we wait for the new world.

This makes us reflect on the wonderful hope we have. In daily life and in the congregation, thinking about the future without anxiety gives us strength to keep going. Jehovah promises us happy days ahead, free from inner struggles, serving him with complete joy.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

For what reasons did the apostle Paul sometimes feel "unhappy"?

Paul felt miserable because of his past, his imperfections, and a constant internal struggle, despite his sincere desire to please Jehovah.

What helped Paul maintain his joy despite his negative feelings?

Paul was helped by Christian friendship, Jehovah's approval, and above all, by meditating on the ransom and divine forgiveness.

What can we do to fight negative feelings?

We can maintain a good spiritual routine, ask Jehovah for help, and adapt our study to our needs.