Watchtower Study, Week of May 18-24, 2026, How to Fight Distractions, Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, May 18-24, 2026, How to Fight Distractions, Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response

Light Yellow: Additional Response

Celeste: Additional Points

“Understand what the will of Jehovah is” (EPHE. 5:17).

1, 2. How could something important become a distraction?

Imagine you're driving and someone calls you on the phone. It might be an important call, but you know you need to focus on the road and not get distracted. So you decide to give your full attention to what's most important at that moment. This example shows that sometimes we have to fight against distractions and decide what is most important.

2 Our lives are filled with important activities. And we know that our spiritual activities have the highest priority. (Matt. 6:33). Jehovah's servants are like good drivers: we strive to be clear about what things might distract our attention from the "road" ahead. (Prov. 4:25; Matt. 6:22).

3. How will this article help us?

3 Of course, no one plans to be distracted from spiritual activities. However, we all face situations that could easily steal our attention.  (Luc. 21:34-36). To help us focus on our service to Jehovah, we will analyze: 1) what things could distract us, 2) what Jesus did so that nothing would distract him, and 3) how we can follow his example.

WHAT COULD DISTRACT US?

4-6. What things could easily distract us?

4 There are many things in our lives that require our attention, such as medical, family, or personal matters. All these things are important and deserve our time. But could they become distractions? Yes, if they absorb us so much that they leave us with no time or energy for anything else.

5 Furthermore, in this system, many of us are suffering because of political instability, economic problems, epidemic outbreaks, and constant violence (2 Tim. 3:1). As a result, we may become consumed by worry and constantly dwell on our problems.

6 We may know people whose lives have been changed by these terrible situations. And it's understandable that they feel distressed, because human beings weren't created to live subjected to constant suffering. It's no surprise that some people feel they've been robbed of the chance to lead a normal life. So, to try to ease their pain and clear their minds, some fill their lives with entertainment. What can we do if we feel this way? Let's see what Jesus did so that nothing would distract him from serving Jehovah.

WHAT DID JESUS ​​DO TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING DISTRACTED HIM?

7. What possible distractions did Jesus face?

7 Jesus faced many situations that could have been a distraction, such as the social and political problems of the time. For example, poverty and disease were very common (Matt. 14:14; Mark 14:7). People suffered at the hands of the Romans and other Jews. Seeing that Jesus had the power to perform miracles, some wanted to make him king (John 6:14, 15). Furthermore, Satan tempted him by offering him a shortcut to rule the world (Matt. 4:8, 9). And the apostle Peter, who was one of Jesus' closest friends, once encouraged him to lead an easier life and said to him, "Lord, don't be so hard on yourself!" (Matt. 16:21, 22).

8. What did Jesus do to avoid getting distracted?

8 What did Jesus do to avoid getting distracted? First, he imitated Jehovah’s way of thinking (John 8:28; 14:9). Second, he kept busy with spiritual activities (Matt. 9:35). And third, he always had a clear understanding of what was most important (John 4:34). He firmly rejected Satan's temptations and was not swayed by Peter's well-intentioned but misguided advice. (Matt. 4:10; 16:23). Jesus did not allow what people thought, said, or did to distract him from fulfilling God's will. Although we may not face the same distractions as Jesus, his example can help us avoid our own.

HOW TO FIGHT DISTRACTIONS?

9. According to Ephesians 5:17, what should we do?

9 Let us learn to think like God. In that way we will be able to understand “what is the will of Jehovah.” (Read Ephesians 5:17). We can discover what pleases Him by reading His Word and meditating on it. So how can we know what Jehovah wants us to do in a situation about which the Bible says nothing? By becoming familiar with his way of thinking and letting ourselves be guided by it.

10. How can we better understand Jehovah’s way of thinking?

10 We will better understand Jehovah's way of thinking by meditating on Bible accounts that show how he deals with and guides people. (Jer. 45:5). When we read a Bible account, let us ask ourselves questions like these: “What does this teach me about Jehovah? What do I need to change so that my thinking is in harmony with his?” Of course, God is much wiser than we are (Isaiah 55:9). So we do well to turn to him to teach us how to do his will (Psalm 143:10). That is why we ask him to help us understand his way of thinking and to see things as he sees them. (1 Juan 5:14).

11. What does Jehovah want?

11 As we learn to think like Jehovah, we understand that he wants us to avoid distractions so that we will be prepared for the end of this system. (Matt. 24:44). He also wants us not to be overwhelmed by worries (Matt. 6:31, 32). That is why he gives us good advice on what to do if we start to worry too much about work, health, family, or other matters. Furthermore, it encourages us to ask for wisdom and strength to face problems (Sal. 55:22; Prov. 3:5-7).

12. What will help us to be happy despite the bad things that happen in this world? (Matthew 5:3).

12 Let us keep ourselves busy with spiritual activities. We are all concerned about the bad things that happen in this world, and we can do nothing to prevent them. So, to avoid being distracted by things beyond our control, it's best to focus on spiritual pursuits. Jehovah created us with certain spiritual needs, and we will feel happy if we satisfy them (read Matthew 5:3). We can do this by getting to know Jehovah better through his Word and by giving our best in every aspect of our worship that is within our reach. If we do this, we will please Jehovah and make good use of our time (Prov. 23:15).

13. How do we make the best use of our time?

13 In Ephesians 5:15, 16 we are given advice that all Christians want to follow: to make the most of “the time” (See the study note “Making the Most of Our Time.”) This text does not just talk about organizing our daily schedule well. Rather, it encourages us to be careful about how we use the time we have before the end of this wicked system. So, how do we make the most of our time? Well, if we were to spend too much time keeping up with the constant barrage of bad news, we might end up becoming distracted, discouraged, and less enthusiastic in our service to Jehovah. It's much better to limit the amount of news we watch or read. This way, we won't feel overwhelmed and can keep ourselves occupied with spiritual activities. Furthermore, could we expand our ministry, for example by making more return visits? We know it is important to take advantage of every opportunity to help people to “be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4).

14. How does keeping busy with spiritual activities help us? (See also the picture.)

14 Keeping busy with spiritual activities helps us to see the times in which we live in a balanced way. We are not overly concerned when we see political instability, economic problems, and so many diseases, because all these things were foretold in the Bible. Instead of letting fear overwhelm and distract us, we trust that Jehovah will fulfill his purpose for the future. We remain calm because we have no doubt that Jehovah is on our side. (Ps. 16:8; 112:1, 6-8).

ILLUSTRATION

A married couple walks with their public preaching carts, looking confidently ahead. Image series: Various alarming events happening around the world. 1. An angry crowd at a demonstration. 2. The results of an opinion poll. 3. Soldiers at war. 4. Medication. 5. A graph showing a rapidly declining stock value for a company.

Despite the problems of this world, let us keep busy with spiritual activities. (See paragraph 14.)

15. How will “good judgment” help us? (1 Peter 4:7).

15 Let's always be clear about what is most important. For many people today, the main thing is to be entertained and have fun, and they don't realize that the end is very near. While entertainment has its place, we need "good judgment" to avoid being influenced by the world's way of thinking. (it’s 1 Peter 4:7). Good judgment will help us to have a balanced view of entertainment and to make good choices. These choices will show that we think like Jehovah and that we know what is most important. (2 Tim. 1:7).

16. What was Jesus focused on during the hours before his death?

16 Jesus always knew what was most important. Even in the hours before his death, he was completely focused on remaining faithful to Jehovah and doing his will. That is why he prayed so intensely. Unlike Jesus, who remained vigilant, his disciples fell asleep. They were “exhausted with sorrow.” (Luc. 22:39-46; Juan 19:30).

17. Why do many people use social media, and what could happen to them? (See also the image).

17 Like Jesus' disciples, we might feel exhausted by sadness when we see the bad things happening in this world. Many people turn to social media to forget their problems and to be entertained for hours on end. It's true that social media can be used to stay in touch with friends and family who live far away, and to share news, photos, and things like that with them. However, it's easy to get absorbed by it and end up spending a lot of time and energy trying to keep up with everything new. In order to have a balanced viewpoint on this subject, let us ask ourselves: “What effect do social media have on me? Do they make me feel better, or do they distract me from what is most important?”

ILLUSTRATION

A sister is at home trying to read the Bible, but she is distracted by notifications she receives on her phone from a social network, a multimedia content application, and a shopping application.

Good judgment helps us avoid being distracted by social media, entertainment, and amusements. (See paragraph 17.)

18. Why do we need to have good judgment when choosing our entertainment?

18 We also need to exercise good judgment if we use apps or online platforms to watch movies, series or short videos, and play video games. These activities can be fun and help us de-stress. However, good judgment will help us choose the type and amount of entertainment. For example, after watching a video, the app may suggest we watch others and expose us to violent or immoral images. Let's look at what happened to a brother in Asia. At first, he watched highlight reels of movies. Then he started watching the suggestions that popped up. And eventually, he ended up watching immoral scenes, and then pornography. But, thanks to the help of the elders and the support of his close friends, he took steps to stop. What did he do? He deleted certain apps he used to access media and limited the time he spent on his phone. This experience shows how important it is to have good judgment when choosing our entertainment.

19. What might happen if we focus too much on free time and holidays?

19 Good judgment is also important when making decisions about free time and holidays. We all need to relax and disconnect from time to time; it's good for us and helps us stay healthy. But if we focus too much on these activities, we risk losing our balance and stealing time from the most important things. (Phil. 1:10) We all have a personal responsibility to decide how we use our time. To help us make a good decision, let us ask ourselves: “Does the time I spend on leisure and vacations show good judgment? Am I making sure to put the most important things first? Am I preparing for ‘the end of all things’?”

20. How does fighting distractions benefit us?

20 As we have seen, we will benefit if we fight against the things that could distract us from what is most important, namely, our service to Jehovah. (Is. 48:17). With Jehovah's help, we will be able to cope with life's problems, we will not worry excessively about what happens in this world, and we will not focus too much on entertainment and amusements. So let us do our best to think like Jehovah, keep busy with spiritual activities, and always be clear about what is most important. In this way we will not only be able to fight against distractions, but also to cling to "the life that is truly life" (1 Tim. 6:19).

HOW DOES THE FOLLOWING HELP US FIGHT DISTRACTIONS?

Learn to think like Jehovah.

In this way we will come to understand “what Jehovah’s will is.” We can discover what pleases him by reading and meditating on his Word. And to know what Jehovah wants us to do in a situation about which the Bible says nothing, we must become familiar with his way of thinking and allow ourselves to be guided by it.

Keeping ourselves busy with spiritual activities.

It helps us to see the times we live in with balance. In this way, we don't worry excessively when we see political instability, economic problems, and so many diseases, because all these things were foretold in the Bible.

Always be clear about what is most important.

It will help us to have a balanced view of entertainment and to make good choices. These choices will show that we think like Jehovah and that we know what is most important.