Confidence in times of trial

Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid.​—Heb. 13:6.

“The person who knows God best will trust him the most in time of test.”

How true! To face persecution successfully, we must love Jehovah and trust in him completely.

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”+37 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. 39 (Matt. 22:36-38)

11 Look! We consider happy* those who have endured.+ You have heard of the endurance of Job+ and have seen the outcome Jehovah* gave,+ that Jehovah* is very tender in affection* and merciful.+ (Jas. 5:11)

Read the Bible daily with the goal of drawing closer to Jehovah.

8 Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.+ Cleanse your hands, you sinners,+ and purify your hearts,+ you indecisive ones. 9  (Jas. 4:8)

As you read, focus on Jehovah’s tender qualities. Feel his love and affection expressed in the things he says and does.

  6 Jehovah was passing before him and declaring: “Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful+ and compassionate,*+ slow to anger+ and abundant in loyal love*+ and truth,*+ (Ex. 34:6)

Some may struggle to believe that God loves them because they have never been shown love. If you face that challenge, try making a list each day of ways that Jehovah has shown mercy and kindness to you.

38 But he was merciful;+ He would forgive* their error and not bring them to ruin.+ He often held back his anger+ Instead of stirring up all his wrath.39 For he remembered that they were flesh,+ A wind that blows past and does not return.* (Ps. 78:38, 39)

32 Since he did not even spare his own Son but handed him over for us all,+ will he not also, along with him, kindly give us all other things? (Rom. 8:32)

As you consider your own experiences and meditate on what you have read in God’s Word, you will likely be able to list many things that Jehovah has done for you. The more you appreciate what Jehovah does, the stronger your bond with him will be.​

116 I love Jehovah Because he hears* my voice, my pleas for help.+  2 For he inclines his ear* to me,+ And I will call on him as long as I live.* — Ps. 116:1, 2.

w19.07 2-3 ¶4-5

Imperfect ones to learn from the One Who wants to be our Father

We are created by the Elohim Hashem Jehovah Jireh, the God above all gods, Who loves His creation. But not all creatures love Him or want to know about Him.

Jehovah looks at the world and sees all those human beings with their own difficulties. As a loving Father, He looks at what they try to do and how they try to do it.  He is also concerned when they encounter difficulties and like a loving father, He too wants to help there where He can.

Our heavenly Father is willing to help those who want to know about Him. He is prepared to sustain them through their trials. He is willing to give His Holy Spirit to strengthen us. That Holy Spirit can protect us from spiritual harm.

“So, if you though being wicked realize how to give good gifts to your own children, how much more will the heavenly Father give holy Pneuma to those asking him!”” (Lu 11:13 mhm)

“So, you, though wicked know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more your heavenly Father gives good to those asking?” (Mt 7:11 mhm)

We should know that the heavenly Father is so much more than an earthly father. Though we should know that Jehovah shall not avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night. Those who are willing to come to Him as His child He shall receive as His child. He, too, shall do like we have to do and when we do it, putting on a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, long-suffering.

“I tell you this truth: Anybody who does not accept God’s Realm like a child will never enter into it.”” (Lu 18:17 mhm)

As a real Father Jehovah shall Jehovah protect us also emotionally. For example, He gives us a marvellous hope. And it is that hope for the future that helps us to endure difficulties.
He also has wonderful blessings in store for us. It warms our heart to know that our Father loves and cares for us!
Consider this: No matter what bad things happen to us, our loving Father will undo any injury we suffer. Whatever trials we are facing, these are only temporary, but the blessings Jehovah gives are everlasting.​

“16 As a result we never lose heart and give up–even if our exterior person is wasting away–because the inner person is being renewed day after day. 17 For though our oppression is momentary and trivial, it works out on us – in a manner more and more excelling–an ageless glory of greater significance –  18 so long as we do not fix our attention on the visible things, but rather on the invisible things. For the visible things are temporary, but the invisible things are ageless.” (2Co 4:16-18 mhm)

Jehovah shall never abandon those who are willing to be with Him. We should come to try to be as close with Him as we can. Therefore, we also should get Him to know as best we can.

Jehovah expects children to obey their parents. In the same way, He wants us to accept Him as our heavenly Father. He expects us to obey him.

“Children, continue to obey your parents in relation to the Lord for this is the right thing to do –” (Eph 6:1 mhm)

He deserves our obedience because he is our Creator, the Sustainer of our life, and the wisest of all parents. However, the primary reason why we obey Jehovah is that we love Him.

“For this is the love of The God, that we observe His commandments, and his commandments are not a burden,” (1Jo 5:3 mhm)

To know what He wants and what His commandments are we are best to read the Words He has given to mankind, the Book of books, the Bible. In there we can find all answers to our questions and shall be able to find out how we can please our God most. We have to know that all Scripture is inspired by Jehovah God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. Therefore, it is that Bestseller of all times that we should carry with us to read every day. By studying the Word of God we shall be able to be a good child of God, adequate, equipped for every good work.

“16 All Scripture is God-breathed and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for readjusting everything, for disciplining in righteousness. 17 Thus, the man of God may be completely prepared for every good work.” (2Ti 3:16-17 mhm)

Although there are many reasons why we should obey Jehovah, He does not force us to do so. Jehovah gave us the gift of free will, so He is happy when we choose to obey Him out of love for Him.

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Nederlandse versie / Dutch version: Onvolmaakte mensen die kunnen leren van Degene die onze Vader wil zijn

Preceding

Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people

Praise Jehovah, ​You people

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Find also to read

1. The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods
2. Creation gift of God
3. Bible
4. Word of God
5. Main verses in the Bible telling us Who God is #5 The Great Infinite, Truthful, Gracious, Merciful and Compassionate God
6. Main verses in the Bible telling us Who God is #6 The Unique One abundant in Loving-kindness
7. Al-Fatiha [The Opening/De Opening] Süra 1:1-3 In the name of Allah the Merciful Lord Of The Creation
8. Al-Fatiha [The Opening] Süra 1:1-7 Help from God our Maker
9. Al-Fatiha [The Opening] Süra 1: 4-7 Merciful Lord of the Creation to show us the right path
10. Wishing to do the will of God
11. Improving the one who loves Him
12. Today’s thought “My help comes from the LORD” (March 13)
13. Today’s thought “The help that comes from God” (May 11)
14. Memorizing wonderfully 17 Psalm 121 Help from Jehovah God
15. Main verses in the Bible telling us Who God is #7 The Stronghold and Rock God a Refuge and strong Shield and Tower
16. God my fence, my hope for the future
17. Those willing to tarnish
18. A little ray of sunshine.
19. 3 Keys to Reading the Bible with a Fresh Perspective
20. Obeying the King

Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people

Overcoming feelings of anxiety

Knowing that we have a heavenly Father who loves and cares for us is a vital step in overcoming feelings of anxiety. True, it may take time to build this trust, but many have found that doing so really helps.

“When Jehovah became my Father, I finally had someone to whom I could express my inner feelings,”

says Caroline.

“This brought me so much relief!”

“Jehovah is the one who helped me to feel secure when I was left all alone without my parents,”

recalls Rachel.

“I could talk to him and ask him to help me with my problems. And he did help me.”

Those who are taken by fear by what is going on in this world should listen to Jesus. Jesus urged us to get to know his Father,

“the only true God.” (John 17:3)

“He is not far off from each one of us,”

the apostle Paul assures us. (Acts 17:27)

“Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you,”

wrote James. (James 4:8.)

Not too much giving attention to differences and worrying about the future

Jesus warned his followers to stop being anxious about their lives. (Matthew 6:25.) And wanted them to go out into the world without hesitation to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The disciples of Christ did not have to keep moaning about the bad situation there was under the Romans. They also did not have to go on about those who did not want to believe in God or preferred to believe other things than they. But they had to show others what was written in the Word of God.

Many hoped that rabbi Jeshua was the promised Messiah who was going to liberate them from the Roman oppression. Some even thought this would have to be done by fighting. To their surprise this Jew taught them about peace and about not taking up the weapons against those who were against them.

Jesus asked them also not to worry so much about their future on this earth. Though it can be called normal and proper to be concerned about our material needs and the welfare of our loved ones. (Philippians 2:20) But when Jesus said,

“never be anxious,”

he was advising his followers to avoid undue worry — an excessive fear of tomorrow that can take the joy out of living today.(Matthew 6:31, 34.) Jesus also gave a compelling reason for avoiding undue anxiety: It is pointless.

“Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span?”

asked Jesus. (Matthew 6:27) Focusing on our worries will not extend our life by even a fraction of a second, let alone improve it. Besides, things often do not turn out as we feared. One scholar put it this way:

“Worry about the future is wasted effort, and the future of reality is seldom as bad as the future of our fears.”

Avoiding anxiety

Jesus gave several life lessons in his parables. We should listen to them and take into account about what they are. They talk about a hidden future, which is not of this system of times. In this present times we shall come to see signs, which should warn us about a much more important future coming than the future that keeps people busy.

When we have to live in this world we should always remember who made all things around us and should trust in that Divine Maker God. We can not escape living in this world but that does not mean we do have to be off this world. We should recognise that it is the God of gods Who provides food for birds and clothes flowers with beauty and that it is Him Who also will provide the necessities of life for humans who make His worship a priority in their life. (Matthew 6:25, 26, 28-30)

Today lots of people are anxious about the amount of refugees coming into their country. Lots of Christians but also non-believers are afraid those refugees will bring an Islamisation into Europe or our Western nations. But why are they so afraid? In case enough people would really believe in the One True God, they should not have to worry. The opposite, in case they have such a strong feeling about their true religion and about their true God they should trust in that God Who will make them strong enough to use them for the calling of the others. In case the Christians would really follow the teachings of Christ then they would believe in the Only One True God, the God of Abraham, Who is Allah and the same God of Jews and Muslims. When they would follow the teachings of Christ Jesus, as real Christians should do, they would be preachers of the Word of God, bringing the Gospel all over the world. Then they could call those refugees why Jesus is so important in our lives and why we should get to know him more and better. Because Jesus is the Way. Jesus is the Way to God and the Way to life.

Jehovah God is the living God, the Fountain of life, Who has no beginning or end of existence (Jer 10:10; Da 6:20, 26; Joh 6:57; 2Co 3:3; 6:16; 1Th 1:9; 1Ti 1:17; Ps 36:9; Jer 17:13) who has sent His son to the world to show God’s creatures the Way to life. The apostle John quotes Jesus as saying:

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Those who believe in God and His sent one should not be full of fear for people coming to their nations or having Muslims teaching their faith.  They should know that God has given His promises to Abraham, David, Jesus and Jesus his followers that

“the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Romans 8:14-23)

The prophetic vision of Revelation 21:1-4 points to the time of “a new heaven” and “a new earth” and gives the promise that then

“death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.”

Since this promise is given, not to spirit creatures, but specifically to “mankind,” it gives assurance that a new earthly society of humankind living under the “new heaven” will experience restoration of mind and body to fullness of health and everlasting life as earthly “children of God.”

Therefore we do have something positive to look for. But as long as we live in this system of things, we do have to take one day at a time.

“Never be anxious about the next day,”

said Jesus,

“for the next day will have its own anxieties.”

Would you not agree that

“each day has enough of its own troubles”? (Matthew 6:34.)

By heeding Jesus’ wise advice, we can spare ourselves physical harm. More than that, we will find an inner calm—what the Bible calls “the peace of God.” (Philippians 4:6, 7.)

Way of life

Many have become afraid that Muslims would take away their life chances. But man should not fear other men, but fear God and remember what God’s Words tells us.

Jehovah, the Fountain of life, has revealed the way of life through his Word of truth. The Lord Jesus Christ

“shed light upon life and incorruption through the good news.” (2 Timothy 1:10)

He told his disciples:

“It is the spirit that is life-giving; the flesh is of no use at all. The sayings that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

A little later Jesus asked his apostles whether they were going to leave him, as others had. Peter replied:

“Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life.” (John 6:63, 66-68)

The apostle John called Jesus “the word of life,” and said:

“By means of him was life.” (1 John 1:1, 2; John 1:4.)

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Preceding: Back from gone #1 Aim of ungodly people

Continues with: Back from gone #3 Giving worries to God and believing in His promises

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Additional reading

1. Fear knocked at the door
2. Securing risks
3. Dealing with worries in our lives
4. Bad things no punishment from God
5. Some one or something to fear #1 Many sorts of fear
6. Some one or something to fear #3 Cases, folks and outing
7. When discouraged facing opposition
8. In Defense of the truth
9. Why is it that Christians don’t understand Muslims and Muslims do not understand Christians?
10. Patriarch Abraham, Muslims, Christians and the son of God
11. The truth is very plain to see and God can be clearly seen
12. Creator and Blogger God 9 A Blog of a Book 3 Blog about Prophecy
13. A concrete picture of what is to come in the future
14. Aligned
15. A small trouble is like a pebble
16. Fearing the right person
17. Time for global change
18. Come ye yourselves apart … and rest awhile (Mark 6:31)
19. You God hold the future
20. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God
21. Jesus begotten Son of God #7 A matter of the Future
22. Faith, hope and love abide
23. Bible a guide – Bijbel als gids
24. The Bible is a today book
25. Coming to the end of the year
26. Finish each day and be done with it
27. Look for today
28. Rejoicing in the day
29. God Feeds The Birds
30. Give your worries to God
31. Happy is the person who knows what to remember of the past
32. A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
33. So it will be on the day when …
34. Miracles of revelation and of providence 1 Golden Thread and Revelation
35. End Times
36. Man’s plans prevailed by God’s purpose

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Further reading

1. The “Mass Shootings Map” Propaganda Should Convince You to Carry At All Times
2. San Bernardino latest in series of U.S. mass shootings since 2012
3. Tragedy, politicians and the media
4. Turkey pokes the Russian Bear The grand coalition against ISIS is growing to include Germany along with France, while Turkey pokes the Russian Bear
5. Could God Be Against Us?
6. Thoughts about saints and suffering in the Last Days (Letter to Lighthouse Trails)
7. 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes remote region of Peruvian jungle
8. Cooking Was Not Fun Because It Was Survival | Ileana Johnson – Freedom Outpost
9. It’s too late now
10. Gasping For Air
11. Anxiety and Drafts
12. Anxiety Looms Above The Mind Making A Fuss Out Of Nothing, by Drem (blog post)
13. When You Feel Like Giving Up
14. Exit Strategy End Times: ” Awake to the twilight of God’s seeking.”
15. Holy Hell…This Sh*& Is Real
16. Gray Areas
17. Mind Full v Mindful: some thoughts on mindfulness
18. Day 115- Could Cognitive Dissonance play a part in my procrastination?
19. What a joy it is
20. Joy in the morning
21. Which spiritual teachings/religions lead to enlightenment or God

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