“Though distress and trouble have come upon me, I still delight in your commandments” (Ps. 119:143).
1, 2. What should we do to endure difficulties? (See also the image).
To endure difficulties, we must view them from the right perspective. For example, a driver needs clean windows to clearly see any obstacles on the road and make sound decisions. Similarly, to endure problems, we must view them correctly, as Jehovah does.
ILLUSTRATION
A man driving with a very dirty windshield is surprised to unexpectedly encounter a huge sign right in front of him, blocking his path.
To cope with problems and know what to do, we must see them correctly. (See paragraph 2).
THE RIGHT POINT OF VIEW
3. Why are we going to have problems with this system?
We are going to have problems in this system because, as long as Satan rules this world and we remain imperfect, difficulties are inevitable. Moreover, as the end draws near, life will become much more complicated, whether due to natural causes or the wickedness of people. On the other hand, if Jehovah were to fix all these problems now, it would give the impression that he is helping Satan to rule.
4. What is another reason why we suffer?
Another reason we suffer is because we are followers of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples many times that they would be persecuted for their faith. Remembering this will help our faith not waver when we face persecution. Furthermore, one of the Devil's lies is that humans only worship Jehovah out of selfishness, and to try to prove him right, he relentlessly attacks God's servants.
5. What can we learn from Ecclesiastes 7:13, 14? (See also the pictures.)
From Ecclesiastes 7:13, 14 we learn that when King Solomon said that the “day of trouble” is one of “the works of the true God,” he was not referring to Jehovah causing bad things to happen, but simply allowing them to occur.
We learn that we must be realistic and recognize that, as long as we live in Satan's world, we will have good days and bad days. Therefore, when we enjoy a good day, let us see it as a gift from God and show our gratitude.
We learn that neither the righteous nor the unrighteous are spared unexpected problems, and that we don't know whether we will have a good day or one full of difficulties. Solomon reminds us that human beings cannot "be certain of what will happen to them."
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: A man tending his garden, experiencing both good and bad days. 1. Joyfully, he harvests tomatoes from his vibrant garden. 2. Another day, he sadly observes a rotten, withering tomato in his garden.
We must be realistic and recognize that, as long as we live in Satan's world, we will have good days and bad days. (See paragraph 5.)
6. What are some reasons why Jehovah allows us to go through trials? (Hebrews 12:7, 11)
Some of the reasons Jehovah allows us to go through trials are to teach us to rely more on him and less on our own strength. He also helps us to identify our weaknesses and recognize areas where we need to improve. In this way, we can shape our personality and strengthen our Christian qualities.
Furthermore, it allows us to learn valuable lessons that contribute to our spiritual growth, just as happened with Job, who learned to be more humble.
Although Jehovah does not cause our trials, he can allow them and use them for our spiritual benefit, always guiding us, showing us his love and giving us the strength to endure.
7. Why can we be happy when we are being chased?
We can be happy when we are persecuted because such opposition shows that we have Jehovah’s approval and that we are suffering for doing what is right. Furthermore, if we maintain the right viewpoint about persecution, we can preserve our joy and self-esteem, just as the apostles did.
Our faithfulness can also help others to know the truth and to give glory to God. Furthermore, we can be sure that Jehovah will bless and support us during times of difficulty, as he did with Joseph.
8. What other reason do we have to endure the trials?
Another reason to endure trials is that our troubles are temporary. Job’s life teaches us that Jehovah can abundantly bless those who remain faithful. Just as Jehovah blessed the end of Job’s life more than its beginning, he also promises us that the part of our life that will last forever will be far better than this brief, difficult period. This hope gives us a powerful reason to endure to the end.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT POINT OF VIEW
9. How could we make things worse if we don't have the right point of view?
We could make things worse if we don't have the right viewpoint and start thinking that Jehovah is the cause of our problems. We might even question his actions, as Job did for a time, or as Naomi did, who initially blamed Jehovah for her misfortunes. If we maintain that wrong viewpoint, we could damage our friendship with God.
10. What might we ask ourselves when going through a difficulty?
When we go through a difficult time, we may wonder if Jehovah has forgotten us or if he is listening to our prayers. These negative thoughts can discourage us and rob us of our strength. However, the example of David and Habakkuk teaches us that even though they sometimes had such anxieties, they continued to pray to Jehovah and trust in him. Jehovah assured them that he was by their side, and he will do the same for us.
11. What could happen to us if we don't have the right perspective on the evidence?
If we don't have the right perspective on trials, we might be surprised when they come and even think they shouldn't happen to us. It's important to understand what the Bible teaches about trials and persecution.
Just as Jesus helped his disciples to understand correctly the suffering he would have to face, we too can prepare for difficulties by meditating on the Scriptures and viewing trials from Jehovah's perspective.
12. What might we think if we do not see things as Jehovah sees them?
If we don't see things as Jehovah sees them, we might think we are being treated unfairly or believe our situation is worse than it actually is. We might even feel discouraged or dissatisfied. Something similar happened to the workers in the vineyard in Jesus' parable, who thought they had been treated unfairly when, in reality, they had expected more than they should have.
WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY?
13. What can happen when we face a difficulty?
When we face a difficulty, it may be hard for us to see things as Jehovah sees them. Even if we know what the Bible teaches about suffering and have encouraged others with Bible texts, when we ourselves experience a trial, we might think that God is punishing us or that he is not listening to our prayers.
14. What can we include in our prayers when we are suffering? (Philippians 4:13).
When we are suffering, we can include in our prayers to Jehovah what we are going through and how we feel. We can confidently tell him our concerns and ask him for specific help, as well as strength and wisdom through his holy spirit. Furthermore, we should pay attention to how Jehovah responds, whether through angels or our brothers and sisters, and accept that help.
15. What should we continue to do when we go through trials? (See also the image).
When we go through trials, we need to maintain a good program of spiritual activities. Although we may not be able to do as much as before, we should do all that we can. It is important to continue reading and studying the Bible, meditating on what we learn, preaching as much as we can, attending meetings, and participating in them.
We should also avoid isolating ourselves and continue spending time with our brothers and sisters, as these activities help us to maintain a good relationship with Jehovah and to receive encouragement during difficulties.
ILLUSTRATION
A brother in a hospital bed connects via video call to the Watchtower Study. He follows along with his paper copies of The Watchtower and the Bible.
Do all you can to maintain a good program of spiritual activities. (See paragraph 15.)
16. What doubts might we have when we suffer a misfortune, and how can we resolve them? (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).
When we suffer misfortune, we may have doubts about ourselves or about Jehovah. We may think that we no longer have his approval, that he has not forgiven our past mistakes, or even that he will not keep his promise to protect his faithful servants.
To resolve these doubts, we must break down these “deeply entrenched” ideas by using “the knowledge of God” that we find in the Bible and in our publications. We can study Bible accounts, meditate on texts that demonstrate Jehovah’s love and forgiveness, and remember how he has helped his faithful servants.
17. What should we do when we receive a test?
When we face trials, we must strive to maintain the right viewpoint and continue to trust in Jehovah with all our heart. We must also remember that he promises to provide his faithful servants with “a way out so that they can endure it,” as 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What can help us have the right perspective on difficulties?
What can help us to have the right perspective on difficulties is to remember that we live in a world ruled by Satan and that, as long as we are imperfect, we will have to face problems.
Furthermore, remembering that Jesus warned his disciples would be persecuted prepares us for difficulties and strengthens our faith. We must keep in mind that Jehovah does not cause bad things, but allows them to happen temporarily.
What could happen to us if we don't have the right point of view?
If we don't have the right perspective, we could make things worse. We might start to think that Jehovah is the one who caused our problems, question his actions, or even feel that he has forgotten about us. These negative thoughts could weaken our faith and damage our friendship with God.
We might also be surprised when the evidence arrives and think that it shouldn't be happening to us, or feel that we are suffering an injustice and that our situation is worse than it really is.
What can we do in the face of adversity?
In the face of adversity, we can ask Jehovah for help and tell him in prayer what we are going through and how we feel. We should also maintain a good program of spiritual activities, doing all that is within our power.
Furthermore, we must resolve any doubts that may arise in our minds using "the knowledge of God" that we find in the Bible and in our publications.
When a trial comes, we must strive to maintain the right viewpoint and continue to trust in Jehovah with all our heart, remembering that he promises to give us “a way out so that we can endure it.”
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