Always Trust in Jehovah!

Transcription

1 Paragraph 2 (2 Timothy 4:16, 17) In my first defense no one came to my side, but they all forsook me may they not be held accountable. 17 But the Lord stood near me and infused power into me, so that through me the preaching might be fully accomplished and all the nations might hear it; and I was rescued from the lion s mouth. Paragraph 3 (2 Timothy 4:18) The Lord will rescue me from every wicked work and will save me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Paragraph 4 (Proverbs 3:5, 6) Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight. Paragraph 6 (Psalm 62:8) Trust in him at all times, O people. Pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us. (Selah) (1 Peter 5:7) while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (Psalm 13:1, 2) How long, O Jehovah, will you forget me? Forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long will I have anxious concern, With grief in my heart each day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? (Psalm 74:10) How long, O God, will the adversary keep taunting? Will the enemy treat your name with disrespect forever? (Psalm 89:46) How long, O Jehovah, will you hide yourself? Will it be forever? Will your rage continue to burn like a fire? (Psalm 90:13) Return, O Jehovah! How long will this last? Have pity on your servants. (Habakkuk 1:2) How long, O Jehovah, must I cry for help, but you do not hear? How long must I ask for help from violence, but you do not intervene? Paragraph 7 (Psalm 103:13) As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him. (Isaiah 29:16) How you twist things! Should the potter be regarded the same as the clay? Should what is made say about its maker: He did not make me? And does what is formed say about its former: He shows no understanding? (Isaiah 45:9) Woe to the one who contends with his Maker, For he is just an earthenware fragment Among the other earthenware fragments lying on the ground! Should the clay say to the Potter: What are you making? Or should your work say: He has no hands? Paragraph 8 (Psalm 103:14) For he well knows how we are formed, Remembering that we are dust. (1 Corinthians 10:13) No temptation has come upon you except what is common to men. But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out so that you may be able to endure it. Paragraph 9 (Isaiah 30:18) But Jehovah is waiting patiently to show you favor, And he will rise up to show you mercy. For Jehovah is a God of justice. Happy are all those keeping in expectation of him. Paragraph 10 (Psalm 32:8) I will give you insight and instruct you in the way you should go. I will give you advice with my eye upon you. Paragraph 11 (1 Samuel 30:3) When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been carried off captive. (1 Samuel 30:6) David was very distressed, because the men were talking of stoning him, for all the men had become very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself by Jehovah his God. Paragraph 11 [Footnote] *** g94 2/8 The Challenge of Caring for Aged Parents pages 3-10 More and more people have to take care of aging parents. How can this be done successfully? *** g97 2/8 Caregiving Meeting the Challenge pages 3-13 With the senior-citizen population growing and the fact that catastrophic illness can strike at any age, families today face serious decisions about the care of relatives. What help can be given to caregivers? *** g00 5/22 pp. 1-2 Table of Contents *** Chronic Illness Coping as a Family Learn how some families have coped with the challenges of having a chronically ill loved one in the home. 3 When Chronic Illness Strikes a Family 4 Chronic Illness A Family Affair 8 How Families Cope With Chronic Illness Page 1 of 6

2 *** g01 1/22 pp. 1-2 Table of Contents *** Comfort for the Sick Having a chronic and disabling illness can be distressing indeed. How can a person cope with such an illness? 3 When a Health Crisis Engulfs You Paragraph 14 (1 Corinthians 5:11) But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. (2 John 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. Paragraph 15 (1 Timothy 2:14) Also, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly deceived and became a transgressor. (Genesis 3:6) Consequently, the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes, yes, the tree was pleasing to look at. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it. (Genesis 3:17) And to Adam he said: Because you listened to your wife s voice and ate from the tree concerning which I gave you this command, You must not eat from it, cursed is the ground on your account. In pain you will eat its produce all the days of your life. Paragraph 16 (Matthew 22:37, 38) He said to him: You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind. 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. (Romans 12:12) Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer. (Philippians 4:6, 7) Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus. Paragraph 16 [Footnote] *** w06 9/1 pp When a Loved One Leaves Jehovah *** When a Loved One Leaves Jehovah MARK and Louise are Jehovah s Witnesses. With love and care, they taught the Scriptures to their children, as the Bible exhorts Christian parents to do. (Proverbs 22:6; 2 Timothy 3:15) Sadly, not all of their children continued to serve Jehovah upon becoming young adults. My heart aches for the children who strayed, says Louise. How can I pretend that it doesn t hurt desperately from day to day? When others speak of their sons, my throat tightens up and I have to hold back tears. Yes, when a person chooses to leave Jehovah and the way of life set out in the Scriptures, faithful family members typically experience deep anguish. I love my sister very much, says Irene. I would do anything to see her come back to Jehovah! Maria, whose brother turned his back on Jehovah to pursue a course of immoral conduct, says: This has been hard for me to bear because in every other respect, he has been a wonderful brother to me. I especially miss him at large family gatherings. Why Is It So Hard? Why does the spiritual loss of a child or other loved one cause such deep distress to Christian relatives? Because they know that the Scriptures promise eternal life on a paradise earth for those who remain loyal to Jehovah. (Psalm 37:29; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:3-5) They look forward to sharing these blessings with their mates, children, parents, siblings, and grandchildren. How it pains them to think that their loved ones who have stopped serving Jehovah may miss out! Even with regard to their present life, Christians appreciate that Jehovah s laws and principles are for their benefit. Christians are therefore heartbroken to see their loved ones sow in such a way as to ensure a bitter harvest. Isaiah 48:17, 18; Galatians 6:7, 8. It may be difficult for some who have never experienced such a loss to appreciate just how devastating it can be. Virtually every aspect of life is affected. It has become harder and harder to sit at Christian meetings and see parents laughing and talking with their children, says Louise. Any happy event is overshadowed by emptiness because of the ones missing. One Christian elder recalls the four years during which his wife s daughter cut off association with them. He says: Often, even the good times were difficult. If I gave my wife a gift or took her somewhere nice for a weekend, she would break down crying, remembering that her daughter did not share our happiness. Are such Christians overreacting? Not necessarily. In fact, they may to some extent be reflecting the qualities of Jehovah, in whose image man was made. (Genesis 1:26, 27) What does this mean? Well, how did Jehovah feel when his people Israel rebelled against him? From Psalm 78:38-41, we learn that Jehovah was hurt and pained. Yet, he patiently warned and disciplined them, Page 2 of 6

3 forgiving them time and again upon their demonstrating repentance. Obviously, Jehovah feels a personal attachment to his creatures, the work of his hands, and does not easily give up on them. (Job 14:15; Jonah 4:10, 11) He implanted in humans the capacity for having similar loyal attachments, and the bond between family members can be especially strong. So it is not surprising that humans would grieve over the spiritual loss of a beloved relative. Indeed, the spiritual loss of a loved one is among the most difficult of trials that come upon true worshippers. (Acts 14:22) Jesus said that accepting his message would cause division in some families. (Matthew 10:34-38) This is not because the Bible message of itself causes family division. Rather, unbelieving or unfaithful family members cause a rift by rejecting, abandoning, or even opposing the way of Christianity. We can be thankful, however, that Jehovah does not leave his faithful ones without a means of coping with the trials that beset them. If you are presently sorrowing over the spiritual loss of a loved one, what Bible principles can help you endure the grief and find a measure of joy and contentment? Coping By building up yourselves..., keep yourselves in God s love. (Jude 20, 21) Depending on your particular circumstances, it may be that there is nothing you can do at this time to help a family member who has stopped serving Jehovah. Nevertheless, you can and should build up yourself as well as any remaining faithful family members. Veronica, who saw two of her three sons leave the truth, says: My husband and I were reminded that if we remain in a strong spiritual state, we will be in the best condition to welcome back our sons when they come to their senses. Where would the prodigal son have been if his father had not been in a condition to receive him back? To keep yourself in a strong condition, be absorbed in spiritual activities. This would include maintaining a schedule for deep Bible study and attending Christian meetings. Make yourself available to help others in the congregation to the extent that your circumstances allow. True, initially you may find such activities difficult. Veronica recalls: My first instinct was to isolate myself like a wounded animal. But my husband insisted on our keeping a good spiritual routine. He made sure that we went to the meetings. When it was time to attend a convention, I needed a lot of courage to go and face people. Yet, the program drew us closer to Jehovah. Our son who had remained faithful was particularly built up by that convention. Maria, mentioned earlier, finds it especially helpful to stay busy in the field ministry and is presently helping four persons to learn about the Bible. Similarly, Laura says: Although I still cry daily, I thank Jehovah that even if I Page 3 of 6 have not had the success that some parents have had in raising children, I do have the Bible s perfect message, which is able to help families in these last days. Ken and Eleanor, whose adult children left the congregation, arranged their circumstances to move to an area where there is a greater need for Kingdom publishers and to pursue the full-time ministry. This has helped them keep matters in perspective and avoid being swallowed up by sorrow. Do not give up hope. Love hopes all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7) Ken, mentioned above, says: When our children left the way of the truth, I thought that it was like their death. But after my sister died, my view changed. I am grateful that my children are not literally dead and that Jehovah continues to leave the way open for them to return to him. Indeed, experience has shown that many who have left the truth eventually do return. Luke 15: Resist self-blame. Parents especially may tend to look back and regret that they did not handle certain situations differently. However, the main thought conveyed at Ezekiel 18:20 is that Jehovah holds the sinner, not his parents, responsible for his wrong choice. Interestingly, while the book of Proverbs makes many comments about the parents obligation to bring up their children in the right way, it contains over four times as much counsel for young ones to listen to and obey their parents. Yes, children have the responsibility to respond to the Bible-based training of their imperfect parents. You likely handled matters as well as you could at the time. Still, even if you feel that you made certain mistakes and that these were indeed your fault, that does not necessarily mean that your mistakes caused your loved one to leave the truth. At any rate, there is nothing to be gained by indulging in if onlys. Learn from your mistakes, determine not to repeat them, and pray to Jehovah for forgiveness. (Psalm 103:8-14; Isaiah 55:7) Then look to the future, not the past. Be patient with others. It may be hard for some to know just how to encourage or comfort you, especially if they have never had a similar experience. Besides, people differ as to what they consider encouraging and comforting. So if some say things that upset you, apply the apostle Paul s counsel found at Colossians 3:13: Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Respect Jehovah s arrangement for discipline. If your relative has received discipline from the congregation, remember that this is part of Jehovah s arrangement and is in the best interests of all, including the wrongdoer. (Hebrews 12:11) Therefore, resist any inclination to find fault with the elders who were involved or the decisions they made. Remember, the best results come from doing things Jehovah s way, whereas opposing Jehovah s arrangements can only result in added distress.

4 After Israel s deliverance from Egypt, Moses regularly served as judge. (Exodus 18:13-16) Since a judgment in favor of one individual would probably have been against another, it is not hard to imagine that some were disappointed by Moses decisions. Finding fault with Moses judgments perhaps contributed to some instances of rebellion against his leadership. However, Jehovah was using Moses to lead His people, and He punished, not Moses, but the rebels and their families who supported them. (Numbers 16:31-35) We can learn from this by striving to respect and cooperate with decisions made by those with theocratic authority today. In this regard, Delores recalls how difficult it was for her to maintain a balanced view when her daughter was disciplined by the congregation. What helped me, she says, was to read over and over again articles dealing with the reasonableness of Jehovah s arrangements. I made a special notebook of points from talks and articles that would help me to bear up and carry on. This leads to another important means of coping. Express your feelings. You may find it helpful to confide in one or two understanding friends who have your trust. In doing so, select friends who will help you to maintain a positive attitude. It will certainly be most effective to pour out your heart in prayer to Jehovah. (Psalm 62:7, 8) Why? Because he fully understands the depth of what you are feeling. For example, you may feel that it is unfair that you should have to experience such emotional anguish. After all, you did not leave Jehovah. Commit your feelings to Jehovah, and ask him to help you view the situation in a less painful way. Psalm 37:5. With the passing of time, you will likely be better able to manage your feelings. Meanwhile, do not give up in your efforts to be pleasing to your heavenly Father, and never feel that these are in vain. (Galatians 6:9) Remember, if we were to leave Jehovah, we would still have problems. On the other hand, by remaining loyal to him, we have his help with the trials we face. Be assured, then, that Jehovah appreciates the magnitude of your situation and will continue to give you needed strength at the right time. 2 Corinthians 4:7; Philippians 4:13; Hebrews 4:16. *** w07 1/15 pp Remaining Steadfast When a Child Rebels *** Remaining Steadfast When a Child Rebels A CHRISTIAN woman whom we will call Joy tried to raise her son to love Jehovah God. When he reached his late teens, though, the son rebelled and left home. It was the deepest hurt I had ever experienced, Joy says. I felt betrayed, brokenhearted, and frustrated. I was overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Perhaps you too have tried to raise your children to love and serve God only to see one or more of them turn Page 4 of 6 their back on him. How can you cope with such bitter disappointment? What will help you to remain steadfast in your service to Jehovah? When Jehovah s Sons Rebelled A first step is to appreciate that Jehovah knows exactly how you feel. At Isaiah 49:15, we read: Can a wife forget her suckling so that she should not pity the son of her belly? Even these women can forget, yet I myself shall not forget you. Yes, Jehovah experiences feelings common to fathers and mothers. Imagine, then, the pleasure he must have felt when all his angelic sons were praising and serving him. While answering the patriarch Job out of the windstorm, Jehovah recalled happy times with his united spirit family, saying: Where did you happen to be when I founded the earth?... When the morning stars joyfully cried out together, and all the sons of God began shouting in applause? Job 38:1, 4, 7. In time, the true God saw a perfect angelic son rebel against him and become Satan, meaning Resister. Jehovah also watched his first human son, Adam, and his perfect wife, Eve, join in the rebellion. (Genesis 3:1-6; Revelation 12:9) Later, other angelic sons forsook their own proper dwelling place and rebelled against God. Jude 6. The Scriptures do not tell us how Jehovah felt when some of his perfect sons followed the course of rebellion. However, the Bible explicitly states: Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time. And Jehovah felt regrets that he had made men in the earth, and he felt hurt at his heart. (Genesis 6:5, 6) The rebellion of Jehovah s chosen people, Israel, also made him feel hurt and pained. Psalm 78:40, 41. There can be no doubt that Jehovah has empathy for parents who suffer pain and hurt resulting from the behavior of rebellious children. In his Word, the Bible, he has given sound advice and encouragement to help such parents cope with their situation. God exhorts them to throw their anxiety upon him, to humble themselves, and to take their stand against Satan the Devil. Let us see how following this counsel can help you to remain steadfast when your child rebels. Throw Your Anxiety Upon Jehovah Jehovah knows that few things cause parents more anxiety than feeling that their children are in danger of harming themselves or of being harmed by others. The apostle Peter identifies one way to cope with this and other concerns. He writes: Throw all your anxiety upon [Jehovah], because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Why is this invitation and reassurance particularly relevant to the parents of a rebellious child? While your child was young, you were vigilant in protecting him from dangers, and he likely responded to

5 your loving direction. As he grew older, however, your influence over him may have diminished, but your keen desire to protect him from harm did not decrease. In fact, it probably increased. As a result, when your child rebels and suffers spiritual, emotional, or physical harm, you may feel that you are to blame. Joy, mentioned earlier, felt this way. She says: Each day, tormented by a sense of failure, I kept replaying past events in my mind. Especially at such times does Jehovah want you to throw all your anxiety upon him. If you do so, he will help you. Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself, said the psalmist, and he himself will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to totter. (Psalm 55:22) Joy experienced such comfort. She explains: I spoke to Jehovah intimately about everything going on inside of me. My feelings just spilled out, and it was the greatest relief. As an imperfect parent, you may have made mistakes while raising your child. But why should you focus on these? Jehovah evidently does not, for the inspired psalmist sang: If errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand? (Psalm 130:3) Even if you had been a flawless parent, your child might still have rebelled. So share your feelings with Jehovah in prayer, and he will help you to cope. However, if you yourself are to remain steadfast in serving Jehovah and are to avoid becoming a victim of Satan, you must do more. Humble Yourself Humble yourselves... under the mighty hand of God, wrote Peter, that he may exalt you in due time. (1 Peter 5:6) Why is humility needed when your child rebels? In addition to causing you feelings of guilt and pain, having a rebellious child may cause you some embarrassment. You may be concerned that your child s actions have ruined your family s reputation, especially if he had to be disfellowshipped from the Christian congregation. Feelings of self-reproach and humiliation may combine to discourage you from attending Christian meetings. In dealing with such a situation, you need to exercise practical wisdom. Proverbs 18:1 warns: One isolating himself will seek his own selfish longing; against all practical wisdom he will break forth. By attending Christian meetings regularly despite your grief, you will be able to tap into a vital source of instruction and encouragement. Initially, I just did not want to face anybody, admits Joy. But I reminded myself of the importance of my spiritual routine. Besides, if I had stayed at home, I would have brooded over my problems. The meetings helped me to focus on upbuilding spiritual things. I am so grateful that I did not isolate myself and miss out on the loving support of my brothers and sisters. Hebrews 10:24, 25. Remember, too, that each individual in a family must carry his own load of Christian responsibility. (Galatians 6:5) Jehovah expects parents to love and discipline their children. He also expects children to obey and honor their parents. If parents do their best to bring up their children in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah, the parents themselves will have a good reputation with God. (Ephesians 6:1-4) If a child rebels against loving parental discipline, it is the child s reputation that will be damaged. Even by his practices a boy makes himself recognized as to whether his activity is pure and upright, says Proverbs 20:11. Satan s rebellion has certainly not damaged Jehovah s reputation among those who are acquainted with the facts. Take Your Stand Against the Devil Keep your senses, be watchful, Peter warns. Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. (1 Peter 5:8) Like a lion, the Devil often targets the young and inexperienced. In ancient times, lions roamed Israel and were a threat to domestic animals. If a young lamb strayed from the flock, it would become easy prey. A ewe might instinctively risk her own life to protect her lamb. However, even a fullgrown sheep would be no match for a lion. Therefore, courageous shepherds were needed to protect the flock. 1 Samuel 17:34, 35. To protect his figurative sheep from the roaring lion, Jehovah has arranged for spiritual shepherds to care for the flock under the chief shepherd, Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 5:4) Peter gives such appointed men this exhortation: Shepherd the flock of God in your care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly. (1 Peter 5:1, 2) With your cooperation as parents, these shepherds may be able to help a youth to correct his course spiritually. When Christian shepherds need to counsel your rebellious child, you may feel an urge to protect him from the discipline. However, pursuing such a course would be a serious error. Peter states: Take your stand against [the Devil] not against the spiritual shepherds. 1 Peter 5:9. When Discipline Is Severe If your child is unrepentant and is a baptized Christian, he may receive the strongest form of discipline being disfellowshipped from the congregation. The extent of contact that you will then have with him depends on his age and other circumstances. If the child is a minor and is living at home, you will naturally continue to take care of his physical needs. He also requires moral training and discipline, and you have the responsibility to provide these. (Proverbs 1:8-18; 6:20-22; 29:17) You may want to conduct a Bible study with him, involving his direct participation. You can draw his attention to various scriptures and to the publications Page 5 of 6

6 provided by the faithful and discreet slave. (Matthew 24:45) You can also take the child with you to Christian meetings and have him sit with you. All of this can be done in hopes that he will take Scriptural counsel to heart. The situation is different if the disfellowshipped one is not a minor and is living away from home. The apostle Paul admonished Christians in ancient Corinth: Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. (1 Corinthians 5:11) While caring for necessary family matters may require some contact with the disfellowshipped person, a Christian parent should strive to avoid needless association. When an erring child is disciplined by Christian shepherds, it would be unwise if you were to reject or minimize their Bible-based action. Siding with your rebellious child would not be providing any real protection from the Devil. Actually, you would be endangering your own spiritual health. On the other hand, by supporting the efforts of the shepherds, you will remain solid in the faith and will provide the best help for your child. 1 Peter 5:9. Jehovah Will Sustain You If your child should rebel, remember that you are not alone. Other Christian parents have had similar experiences. Regardless of the trials we undergo, Jehovah can sustain us. Psalm 68:19. Rely on Jehovah in prayer. Regularly associate with the Christian congregation. Support the discipline of appointed shepherds. By doing so, you will be able to remain steadfast. And your good example may help your child to respond to the loving invitation from Jehovah to return to him. Malachi 3:6, 7. Paragraph 17 (2 Timothy 4:17) But the Lord stood near me and infused power into me, so that through me the preaching might be fully accomplished and all the nations might hear it; and I was rescued from the lion s mouth. (Matthew 6:33) Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. (1 Thessalonians 2:4) but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak to please, not men, but God, who examines our hearts. (1 Corinthians 3:9) For we are God s fellow workers. You are God s field under cultivation, God s building. Page 6 of 6