Watchtower Study, How to Overcome Negative Feelings, Week of March 9-15, 2026, Comments and Responses.

Watchtower Study, How to Overcome Negative Feelings, March 9-15, 2026, Comments and Responses.

“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).

The apostle Paul sometimes felt bad when he looked back on his past and was frustrated because he had a problem that wasn't getting better. Although he was a faithful Christian, he had an internal struggle between his desire to do God's will and his inclination to do wrong because of his imperfection.

We may identify with Paul because we, too, struggle with negative feelings. Like him, we may be striving to do God's will, yet we fight against the inclination to do wrong. We may also feel frustrated by past failures or by a problem that is slow to resolve.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

As we read in Romans 7:21-24, Paul sometimes had to struggle with negative feelings. Despite being a courageous missionary, a skilled teacher, and the author of several books of the Bible, these feelings occasionally overwhelmed him.

The apostle Paul felt “unhappy” because he was struggling internally. On the one hand, he wanted to do Jehovah’s will, for he was a very faithful Christian. But on the other hand, his imperfection led him to do bad things.

Pablo also had to grapple with his past actions. He felt bad and, because of his imperfections, it seemed to him that he wasn't making any progress.

We find a great example for ourselves in the words of the apostle Paul. We always speak of him as someone very faithful, but he too had desires that were not right. This shows us that the same can happen to us. He himself said that he wanted to do Jehovah's will, but that his body sometimes wouldn't allow it. So he is a very good example for us that it is possible to win the battle against negative feelings.

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

In this article, we'll explore some of the reasons why Paul experienced negative feelings that sometimes made him feel "unhappy," and what helped him cope with those feelings. We'll also see what can help us win our own battle against negative feelings, such as sadness, frustration, or discouragement, that we may experience from time to time.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We will see why the apostle Paul sometimes felt unhappy, what helped him deal with negative feelings, and what we can do to win the battle too.

The note clarifies that the advice and suggestions in this article apply to occasional feelings of sadness, discouragement, or frustration, and not to an illness. In that case, seeking professional help is recommended.

REASONS WHY PABLO HAD NEGATIVE FEELINGS

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

One of the reasons Paul had negative feelings was that, before becoming a Christian, he had done things he later regretted, such as condoning the murder of Stephen and fiercely persecuting many Christians. This sometimes made him feel guilty when he looked back on his past.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The things Paul had done in the past made him feel bad. A clear example is what happened when Stephen was killed. He was there, and those who were stoning him laid their cloaks at his feet. Then, the Bible says that a great persecution began that day, and a few verses later, it mentions that Saul began to fiercely attack the congregation. Paul was very proactive during that persecution, and of course, that must have made him feel bad when he later became a Christian.

We can say that Paul was at the forefront of this persecution against Christians. In Acts 8:3, it says that he attacked them fiercely and invaded house after house, dragging out men and women. So his determination as a relentless persecutor of Christians was very strong.

In Acts 26:9, Paul says he was determined to use every means possible to fight against the name of Jesus. So he was clear about it and carried it out. Those actions from his past may have caused Paul to have negative feelings after becoming a Christian.

Paul was one of the leading members of the Sanhedrin and had the support of the chief priests. Therefore, as mentioned in Acts 26:10, he had the authority to act. So he felt supported and that's why he persecuted Christians. But in reality, he did it because he believed he was doing the right thing, even though he was wrong.

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

Looking back on his past, Paul felt guilty, and those feelings may have intensified over the years. His feelings were so strong that they led him to write: “I am not worthy to be called an apostle, for I persecuted the congregation of God,” and he also said that he considered himself “lower than the least of all the saints.”

Furthermore, he acknowledged that before knowing Christ he had been blasphemous, a persecutor, and insolent. It is possible that, upon visiting congregations and encountering Christians he had persecuted or their families, these feelings of guilt and remorse intensified even further.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The apostle Paul sometimes felt guilty when he looked back on his past. After becoming a Christian, he himself said that he did not deserve to be called an apostle, because he had persecuted God's congregation.

Paul still had those feelings of guilt, so five years later he also said in Ephesians 3:8 that he felt inferior to the least of all the saints.

According to 1 Timothy 1:13, Paul could have excused himself by claiming ignorance and lack of faith. However, the fact that Jesus himself had shown him mercy was not enough to completely dispel those feelings that troubled him.

Unlike other wounds, this was not something that healed with time. On the contrary, it seemed that with the passing years Paul felt even more guilty. Perhaps, as noted at the end of the paragraph, his conscience troubled him more when he encountered some of the Christians he had persecuted or their families when he visited the congregations.

Pablo's struggle with negative feelings can be compared to something we might have experienced ourselves. Perhaps last summer we went to the beach and have fond memories, and every time we smell the sea air, we recall those happy moments we shared there. But in Pablo's case, the opposite was true. Every time he saw the brothers, or perhaps heard their voices, or remembered certain places, it could bring back memories of his past. Therefore, his struggle could become even more difficult.

In fact, the more knowledge we have of the truth, the more we realize all the mistakes we have made in the past; therefore, they weigh more heavily on us and the battle against negative feelings becomes harder.

It seems that Pablo was experiencing a kind of torture, because it was a real suffering that he had and that became more intense over time.

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

Another thing that caused Paul suffering was something he likened to “a thorn in the flesh,” which caused him great pain. It may have been a physical, emotional, or other kind of problem, but his words made it clear that it caused him profound suffering.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It was something he likened to “a thorn in the flesh.” It's not known exactly what it was; it could have been an emotional, physical, or some other kind of problem. But, as the note at the end rightly points out, whatever it was, it tormented him greatly.

The apostle Paul, as mentioned in the footnote, may have had vision problems, which would have made it difficult for him to write and carry out his ministry. It is also possible that he was referring to the anxiety caused by some false teachers.

At 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul also calls this cause of suffering “an angel of Satan.” In this way, he implies that Satan uses any suffering, both physical and emotional, to discourage Jehovah’s servants.

In Galatians 4:15, we see that Paul uses a common figure of speech to emphasize how much the Galatians loved him. He mentions that they would have even been willing to pluck out their own eyes and give them to him, which might suggest that he had some physical disability.

Galatians 6:11 mentions that Jesus had to write with such large letters using his own hand, suggesting he may have had a vision problem. Those with presbyopia can understand this, as they need to see larger letters to read them better.

In 2 Corinthians 10:10, it speaks of the false teachers who made him feel bad, because they said of him: “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his presence is weak and his speech is contemptible.” In other words, it was a very harsh criticism against him, and that surely didn't make him feel good.

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

Pablo's imperfections made him very frustrated because he himself recognized that, although he wanted to do the right thing, his imperfect nature pulled him in another direction. Even though he put all his effort into improving, he acknowledged that it was a constant battle and became frustrated when his flaws resurfaced.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

They made him feel frustrated. Many of us can relate, because perhaps when we work on some aspect of our personality and see ourselves falling back again and again, we feel that way. That's what happened to the apostle Paul. He said that he tried hard, but his imperfection led him to do the very thing he wanted to eliminate.

What's important about Paul is that he acknowledged his struggle with his imperfections. If we read 1 Corinthians 9:27, we see that he understood it was a constant battle. And, as we saw earlier in paragraph 3, he didn't give up. Therein lies his example and his struggle, which in some way we all experience.

Paul perfectly reflects this frustration in the words found in Romans 7:18-19, when he states that he is unable to do what he desires. Because of our imperfection, we today also lack the ability to completely resolve this. Therefore, it can generate the same frustration that Paul felt.

Pablo felt very frustrated by the mistakes he had made in the past, by a thorn in his side, and by his own imperfections.

WHAT HELPED PABLO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE FEELINGS

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

To combat his own imperfections, Paul surely meditated on them, sought guidance in the Scriptures, and took concrete steps to make the necessary changes. Furthermore, we can be certain that he applied to his own life the counsel he gave to others, such as that related to desires and practices that Christians must avoid in order to please Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Paul reflected on how the Spirit of God could help him and other Christians fight against evil tendencies.

The text of Galatians 5:16 makes this very clear when it says, "So I say to you: Walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Here, Paul was recommending following the Spirit of God, and in that way we can deal with negative feelings.

Paul surely reflected on his own imperfections, sought guidance in the Scriptures, and considered concrete steps to make the necessary changes. But always, as Galatians 5:16 says, he was to walk in accordance with the Spirit of God.

Paul trusted in the help of the Holy Spirit, but he also put into practice the advice he received. It's like when we're sick: if we're prescribed medicine and don't take it, it won't have any effect. That's why Paul sought help, but he also worked on the advice he was given and applied it to his life.

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

Paul was helped to combat negative feelings by hearing the good news from his fellow travelers about the congregations. He was happy to have such good friends, and above all, he was pleased to know that he had Jehovah’s approval, which enabled him to serve him “with a clean conscience.”

This joy led him to tell the Christians when he was imprisoned in Rome: “Rejoice always because of the Lord,” which shows that he was not consumed by negative feelings, but focused his mind on positive ideas.

Furthermore, meditating on the ransom helped Paul to fight against negative feelings, viewing it as a gift from Jehovah. In this way, he recognized that Jehovah had forgiven his sins and would continue to do so. Thanks to this, Paul was able to serve God despite his imperfections and past mistakes.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

For example, he felt happy when he heard the good things his fellow travelers told him about the congregations.

Paul also felt happy because he knew that Jehovah had forgiven him and that he had very good friends who held him in high esteem. Just thinking that Jehovah remembered him filled him with joy.

How beautiful are the words at 2 Timothy 1:3, when Paul says: “I thank God—whom I serve sacredly, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience—and I always remember you in my prayers day and night.” There we see how Paul truly exerted himself and had great confidence in Jehovah, certain that He would understand, and at the same time he was doing things very well. He himself affirmed that he was serving Him with a clear conscience.

Something that helped Paul was meditating on what is mentioned in Ephesians 1:7 about the sacrifice of Jesus, which allowed us to obtain liberation and forgiveness of sins through God's undeserved kindness. In this way, we can have a clear conscience despite what we have done and the sins we have committed in the past.

Galatians 2:20 says in part: "The life I now live in this body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Thus, Paul meditated on how Jesus' sacrifice helped him obtain forgiveness for his sins; he saw it in a personal way, and that motivated him greatly.

Paul's example shows us that we can't avoid negative feelings or thoughts, just as he did, but we can prevent them from consuming us. As mentioned at the end of the paragraph, we can "change our mindset" and focus on positive ideas. That way, even if they arise, they won't control us.

Philippians 4:4 says: “Always rejoice.” This teaches us that when we are struggling with our imperfections, we can rejoice knowing that Jehovah forgives us. And above all, it is not because we deserve it, as Ephesians 2:8-9 says, but because he loves us. This reassures us and encourages us to continue our struggle, to keep improving as Christians, and above all, to please Jehovah.

Something that also helped Paul a lot were the positive feelings that arose when he meditated on the gift that Jehovah had given him through the ransom.

In the illustration, we see a young Paul, a true Pharisee, with his phylacteries, the forehead box, and also the biceps ring. He was a person who did everything with great zeal, although at that moment he was wrong and didn't know it.

Paul was often haunted by memories of when he fiercely persecuted the brothers, dragging them from their homes and handing them over to prison. This caused him anguish, especially when he visited congregations, saw his family, or even those same people. But he quickly shifted his thoughts and meditated on the sacrifice of Jesus, which freed him from all the sins he had committed.

Paul viewed the gift of the ransom as something personal. He reflected that it had been paid for him, and when comparing the value, Jesus' life was worth far more than any mistakes or debts he might have committed.

There is a difference between remembering and meditating. Paul could not prevent those thoughts or memories from coming to him, but meditating required time and effort on his part, reflecting on how Jehovah had forgiven his sins and would continue to do so. In the same way, we should do the same: even if negative thoughts come to us, we should not dwell on them too much, but rather meditate on how the ransom is personal for us as well.

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 we may feel a constant struggle within ourselves to control our thoughts, actions, and words, and, like him, we may say: “How wretched I am!” Knowing that we are not alone in this feeling comforts us and reminds us that Jehovah is aware of the difficulties his servants face.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Paul teaches us that struggling with imperfection is normal for loyal servants. We may feel frustrated with ourselves, but we need not be discouraged. Paul also reminds us that Jehovah understands our inner conflicts and can help us combat these negative feelings.

Just like the example of the sister mentioned in the paragraph, it can comfort us to know that we are not alone, that Jehovah knows us very well, knows what our problems are, and cares a lot about us.

Something that helped Paul a lot was meditating on Jesus' redemption; that was a great help to him. He also benefited from having good brothers who supported him.

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 combat negative feelings because it allows us to focus on the positive. Just as in our physical health, when we maintain a healthy lifestyle we generally feel better, something similar happens in our spiritual lives. When we read the Bible daily, attend meetings, prepare for them, and discuss them, we feel very good. Staying spiritually active will allow us to keep negative feelings at bay.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

When we are active in our spiritual routine—reading the Bible daily, preaching, studying, and attending meetings—we feel great.

It is true that maintaining a spiritual routine helps us feel very good, because we are focused on positive thoughts, and that helps us keep negative ones at bay.

Romans 12:11 encourages us to be slaves of Jehovah, that is, to keep ourselves occupied with spiritual matters. And verse 12 says: “Endure when you have difficulties. Persevere in prayer.” Thus, we know that we can always rely on this means to ask Jehovah for the strength we need.

Paul also explains the work of the Holy Spirit in Romans 12:11, when he says that the Spirit should fill them with fervor. The footnote clarifies that when the Spirit fills a person, it influences the motivation that arises from their symbolic heart and fills them with enthusiasm, making them feel good.

If we take a physical example: when we eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough rest, we feel better. The same is true in a spiritual sense: if we maintain a good routine and a good program of spiritual activities, we will also be spiritually active.

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

Maintaining a good program of spiritual activities has helped some brothers to fight against negative feelings.

Juan, who was battling a rare cancer, explained that despite his exhaustion, he made sure to faithfully follow his schedule of spiritual activities, attending meetings, preaching, and having family worship. This enabled him to avoid being overcome by negative thoughts, and he felt that the strength Jehovah gave him and his love calmed those thoughts.

Eliza says that attending the meetings and doing her personal study convinces her more and more that Jehovah listens to her and loves her very much, which makes her happy.

Nolan and his wife Diane maintain their schedule of spiritual activities even when they feel discouraged. They have found that Jehovah helps them to have the right attitude and assures them that he will help and bless them, even though they do not know how.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Juan was diagnosed with a rare cancer at the age of 39, while he had a young son. Of course, at the time it seemed unfair to be sick, but he made sure to faithfully maintain his schedule of spiritual activities. As he himself mentions, once the initial shock of the news passed, the strength Jehovah gave him and the love He showed him calmed his negative thoughts.

Although he said it was unfair after receiving the news because he was so young, Juan continued his spiritual activities and personal studies. This helped him greatly, as he did not let the illness defeat him.

Eliza said that whenever she went to the meetings and did her personal study, she became more and more convinced that Jehovah heard her and loved her very much. Therefore, having a spiritual routine helped her to be happy.

Nolan says that he and his wife strive to maintain their schedule of spiritual activities, even when they are discouraged, always with full confidence that Jehovah will help them.

All these brothers try to remember and keep in mind that Jehovah will help and bless them. They don't know how it will happen, but they are certain that He will.

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

To overcome negative feelings, we may need to look for information in the Bible and our publications, and, if necessary, consult a mature brother. For example, if we have back pain, walking every day may help a little, but if we want the pain to disappear, we should research the issue and even consult a doctor.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The paragraph gives us a very practical example: something very common, like back pain. It mentions that walking a little every day can help, but for the pain to disappear completely, something more might be needed, such as researching the topic or consulting a doctor or other professional.

If we want to overcome negative feelings, it may not be enough to do only what we have seen so far in this article. It will be necessary to seek information from the Bible, from publications, and sometimes even to ask for help from a mature brother in the congregation.

Just as when we doubt something, we must work on constantly recovering. If we want to deal with these negative feelings, it's necessary to take continuous action and not give up, because if we do, we could regress and fall back into those negative thoughts.

We have helpful resources in the Bible and in our publications. We also have Bible verses applicable to the Christian life and a wealth of information on our website, where we are sure to find something that fits our situation.

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

It will help to ask Jehovah to help us see why we have negative thoughts and how to get rid of them, just as King David did. He knew that Jehovah knew him very well and asked him to help him discover why he was having “distressing thoughts.” In addition, it would be good to ask ourselves the following questions: “What is really bothering me? Is there something that always triggers negative thoughts in me? Do I dwell on these thoughts instead of rejecting them?”

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

As we read at Psalm 139:1-2, we are shown that Jehovah knows us very well. Verse 2 says that he examines our innermost being and knows our most intimate thoughts. Therefore, we can trust that he can help us identify what is truly troubling us.

We can examine ourselves, and the questions presented here can help. For example: What is really bothering me? Is there something that triggers these negative feelings? Or do I dwell on these thoughts instead of rejecting them? If this happens, we can ask Jehovah to help us and give us his Holy Spirit, and he will surely do so, because he is our Father and he loves us.

As we've seen, the best thing to do is reject those negative thoughts and move on. But what we usually do is the opposite: we follow them in a loop, going over them again and again, and that ultimately makes us fall.

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

It is good for us to include in our personal study topics such as some facets of Jehovah's personality and to meditate on Jehovah's ransom and forgiveness.

We have tools in our language, such as the Study Guide for Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watch Tower Publications Index, in which we can research topics such as God's mercy, forgiveness, and loyal love.

We can make a list of articles that we find useful, keep it handy, and study them when a negative thought strikes, as well as look for a practical application for our daily lives.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The apostle Paul found it very helpful to meditate on Jehovah’s ransom and forgiveness. We too can do the same; for example, we can look in the study guide available to Jehovah’s Witnesses and research topics such as God’s mercy, forgiveness, and loyal love. Doing all of this will help us to continue serving Jehovah joyfully.

Sometimes, when we feel a little discouraged, the last thing we want to do is read. To help with this, Jehovah's Witnesses published a suggestion in their Diamond section, under Personal Study, to create a playlist, and it's truly an excellent idea. For example, we can create a playlist and include many morning worship songs and several videos that we like. Watching them reminds us that Jehovah knows the power of these feelings and that, in the end, he will not let them overcome us. So we have many resources at our disposal.

In the illustration, we see this brother consulting various works and references and taking notes both in print and digitally. He conducts research, which proves very useful. Making a list or keeping a written record of everything that can help us isn't something we should do only when we're depressed, sad, discouraged, or having negative thoughts, but rather beforehand, preparing an "emotional emergency kit" to help us overcome those negative thoughts.

It is helpful to include topics such as Jehovah's qualities, including mercy, forgiveness, and loyal love. By analyzing how Jehovah behaves because of these qualities, we will be able to forgive, love, and care for our brothers and sisters.

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 study projects have been helpful to certain brothers and sisters, such as Eliza, who decided to do a study project related to Job. In this way, she feels a strong connection to how Job suffered trial after trial, and although she didn't know why she was going through that suffering, she never stopped relying on Jehovah, even in her worst moments.

Another project involves Diane, who, along with her husband, is studying the book Draw Close to Jehovah. This helps them see Jehovah as a potter molding them like clay. When they feel discouraged by their mistakes, they imagine Jehovah teaching them, shaping them, and helping them to become better.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Some brothers and sisters have found it helpful to study Bible examples of faith, both from the past and present, who also went through difficult times in their lives. Reading about them, meditating on what they did and how they felt, and then on how Jehovah helped them, will be a source of encouragement for all of us. We can see ourselves reflected in them and learn from their actions to do the same as they did.

Sister Eliza felt a strong connection to Job, so she decided to do a study project on him. Meditating on how, even though Job suffered so much, he persevered by relying on Jehovah, surely helped her a great deal to stay close to Jehovah and to recognize that we don't always know what lies behind our trials, but that Jehovah is always watching over us.

As in Diane's case, we must let Jehovah be our potter. We all know ourselves, we know our weaknesses, and therefore what we study should influence us to help us improve.

WE CAN WIN OUR FIGHT

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

At times we may feel discouraged or “unhappy,” even if we maintain a good schedule of spiritual activities and a personal study tailored to our needs. But we can be sure that, with Jehovah’s help, these negative thoughts and feelings will not overwhelm us. Moreover, there will be far more good days than bad, because we have Jehovah’s friendship and can serve him with a clear conscience.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It's like having a bank account where, each day we pray, study, and serve Jehovah with a good conscience, we make deposits. Sometimes unexpected expenses arise—moments of sadness or discouragement—but thanks to his friendship, the balance always remains positive. That's why those feelings don't overwhelm us.

Even if we have overcome a period of negative thoughts or deep sadness, these feelings can return at some point, because we are imperfect, we live in a wicked and cruel world, and Satan knows our weaknesses perfectly. That is why we must be prepared, and for this, Jehovah gives us his support, his love, and all the tools we need.

Even if we maintain a good program of spiritual activities and a personal study tailored to our needs, we may still feel bad. But Jehovah wants us to have a clean conscience. If we turn to Jehovah spiritually, we will have bad days, but also many good days, because we have his support.

20. What do we want to continue doing?

We want to continue doing our best not to let negative feelings arise because of our past, our problems, or our imperfections. With Jehovah’s help, we can keep those feelings in check, and we long for the day when this struggle will be a thing of the past, when in the new world we will wake up every day without anxious thoughts, happy to serve our loving God, Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We want to continue doing everything possible to not let ourselves be overcome by the negative feelings that arise due to our past, our problems, or our imperfections.

We want to continue doing Jehovah's will. That is why the encouragement of this Watchtower is that negative feelings should not paralyze us.

Meditating on the future Jehovah promises us—the new world—can help us avoid being overcome by negative feelings. Let us imagine what it will be like there, without any problems or distressing thoughts torturing us, completely focused on praising Jehovah.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

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

The apostle Paul sometimes felt “unhappy” because of the things he had done in the past, because of “a thorn in the flesh,” something that caused him much pain, and also because of his own imperfections, since, although he wanted to do what was right, he recognized that his imperfect nature pushed him in another direction.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Paul felt bad about the things he had done in the past. Acts 8:3 says that he fiercely persecuted Christians because he thought he was doing God’s will. But then he changed his mind when he realized he was acting wrongly, and he responded positively to Jehovah’s forgiveness, becoming a faithful servant to bring the good news to the nations.

Pablo also felt bad about a "thorn in the flesh," which was perhaps something that caused him a lot of suffering, and about his imperfections, negative aspects of his personality that pushed him in the opposite direction to what he wanted to do.

What helped Paul maintain his joy despite his negative feelings?

Paul was able to maintain his joy, despite his negative feelings, by meditating on the Scriptures and seeking the help of God's Spirit to fight his bad tendencies and improve himself. Furthermore, he applied to his own life the advice he gave to other Christians.

He was also encouraged by the good news he received about the congregations, the friendship of his fellow Christians, and knowing that he had Jehovah's approval and could serve him with a clean conscience.

Something that helped him a lot was meditating on the ransom and seeing it as a personal gift from Jehovah, which convinced him that his sins had been forgiven.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

He surely meditated on the available scriptures to find principles that would help him change and improve. He also had very good friends who encouraged him and brought him good news about how the other brothers were maturing spiritually, which made him very happy. Furthermore, he meditated a great deal on his redemption, which he knew was something personal that Jesus had done for him and that, thanks to this, allowed him to have a clear conscience.

What can we do to fight negative feelings?

To combat negative feelings, we can maintain a good program of spiritual activities. In addition, we can ask Jehovah to help us understand our needs and tailor our personal study accordingly.

To deal with negative feelings, we may need to look for information in the Bible and our publications, and even consult a mature brother.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jehovah gives us the perfect routine: prayer, study, preaching, and meetings. But it's useless if we only do it once. As we have seen at Romans 12:12, we must persevere and be consistent, and in this way we can maintain emotional balance when negative thoughts overwhelm us.