1, 2. What have circuit overseers noticed in many congregations?

THE circuit overseer was about to end his meeting with the elders. He looked at the brothers and felt deep love for these hardworking men, some of whom were old enough to be his father. Still, there was an important issue that worried him. He asked them, “Brothers, what have you done to train others to take on more responsibility in the congregation?” The brothers knew that the circuit overseer during his last visit had encouraged them to spend more time training others. Finally, one elder admitted, “We have done very little.” All the other elders agreed.

² If you are an elder, perhaps you would give a similar answer. Circuit overseers have noticed that many elders need to spend more time training younger and older brothers to help care for the congregation. However, this may be very difficult. Why is that?

3. (a) How does the Bible show that it is important to train others, and why should all of us be interested in this training? (See footnote.) (b) Why may it be difficult for some elders to train others?

³ As an elder, you know that it is important to spend time training brothers.a (See footnote.) You know that more brothers are needed to help keep congregations strong now and to support new congregations in the future. (Read Isaiah 60:22.) The Bible says that you should “teach others.” (Read 2 Timothy 2:2.) Still, it may be difficult to take the time to do so. You must care for the needs of your family and work at your job. You also have to care for the needs of the congregation and for other urgent matters. Since there is so much to do, let us discuss why it is vital for you to take the time to train others.

TRAINING IS URGENT

4. At times, why do elders delay training brothers?

⁴ Why might it be difficult to spend time training brothers in the congregation? Some may think: ‘Other congregation matters are more urgent and must be cared for immediately. If I do not train others right away, the congregation will not be affected.’ Is that true? Other matters may need your attention immediately. However, if you delay training brothers, you may actually harm the congregation.

5, 6. What can we learn from the example of a driver and how he maintains his car? How can we compare this to training in the congregation?

⁵ Think of an example. To maintain a car, a driver knows that he needs to change the oil regularly. Still, he may feel that it is more urgent to put fuel in the tank because without it, the car will stop. He may also think that if he is too busy, he can change the oil later. After all, the car will continue to run for some time. But this can be dangerous. If the driver does not change the oil when necessary, sooner or later the car will be damaged. In the end, he will need to spend a lot of time and money to repair the car. What is the lesson?

⁶ Elders must care for important matters quickly. If they do not, the congregation will suffer. Like the driver who must regularly put fuel in the tank, elders must “make sure of the more important things.” (Philippians 1:10) But some elders may become so busy with important matters that they do not have the time to train others. This would be like neglecting to put oil in a car. If elders delay training brothers, sooner or later the congregation will not have enough trained brothers to care for all that needs to be done.

7. How should we view elders who make time for training?

⁷ So never think that training is not a priority. Elders who are interested in the future of the congregation and who take the time to train others are wise servants and valuable to their brothers and sisters. (Read 1 Peter 4:10.) How does the congregation benefit?

A GOOD USE OF TIME

8. (a) What reasons do elders have to train others? (b) Elders who serve where the need is great have what urgent responsibility? (See the box “An Urgent Mission.”)

⁸ Even the most experienced elders must be modest and understand that as they get older, they will not be able to do as much as they do now. (Micah 6:8) Also, elders should know that “time and unexpected events” could suddenly make it difficult for them to care for their responsibilities. (Ecclesiastes 9:11, 12; James 4:13, 14) So because they love and care about Jehovah’s people, elders work hard to teach younger brothers what they have learned over the years.​—Read Psalm 71:17, 18.

9. What future event makes training vital?

⁹ Elders who train others are also valuable because their efforts will help to strengthen the congregation. That training allows more brothers to be ready to help the congregation remain united and faithful to God. This is important now during the last days, and it will be vital during the coming great tribulation. (Ezekiel 38:10-12; Micah 5:5, 6) So, dear elders, regularly take the time to train others starting today.

10. To have the time to train others, what may an elder need to do?

¹⁰ We understand that your schedule is already full because you are caring for important congregation matters. Therefore, you may need to take some of the time you spend caring for those responsibilities and use it for training. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Doing that will be a very good use of your time and will benefit the congregation in the future.

CREATE THE RIGHT CONDITIONS

11. (a) What is interesting about the suggestions on training given by elders from different lands? (b) According to Proverbs 15:22, why is it important to discuss the suggestions of other elders?

¹¹ Recently, some elders who are successful in training brothers to do more in the congregation were asked how they do it.b (See footnote.) All the elders gave similar advice even though they have very different circumstances. What does this prove? That training based on the Bible is useful to learners “everywhere in every congregation.” (1 Corinthians 4:17) So in this article and the next, we will discuss some of the suggestions these elders made. (Proverbs 15:22) Those who give training will be called teachers, and those who receive training will be called learners.

12. What does a teacher need to create, and why?

¹² First, a teacher needs to create the right conditions. Why is this important? Just as a gardener needs to prepare the soil before he plants seeds, a teacher needs to prepare a learner’s heart before he can teach him new skills. So how can a teacher create the right conditions for training? He can follow the example of a skillful teacher of the past, the prophet Samuel.

13-15. (a) What did Jehovah tell Samuel to do? (b) How did Samuel prepare Saul for his new assignment? (See opening picture.) (c) Why is this Bible account about Samuel valuable to elders today?

¹³ One day, more than 3,000 years ago, Jehovah told the elderly prophet Samuel: “Tomorrow about this time, I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must anoint him as leader over my people Israel.” (1 Samuel 9:15, 16) Samuel understood that he would not lead the nation of Israel anymore and that Jehovah wanted him to anoint a new leader. So to prepare that man for the new assignment, Samuel got an idea and created a plan.

¹⁴ The next day Samuel met Saul, and Jehovah told the prophet: “Here is the man.” Right away, Samuel did exactly what he had planned to do. He created a good opportunity so that he could talk to Saul. Samuel invited Saul and his servant to a meal and gave them the best seats and the best pieces of meat. Samuel said: “Eat, because they have reserved it for you for this occasion.” After the meal, Samuel invited Saul to his house. On the way there, the two men enjoyed a pleasant conversation. When they arrived at Samuel’s house, they went up to the roof, and Samuel “continued to speak with Saul on the housetop” until they went to sleep. The next day, Samuel anointed Saul, kissed him, and gave him more instructions. After that, Saul left, ready for what would happen next.​—1 Samuel 9:17-27; 10:1.

¹⁵ Samuel anointed Saul to be the leader of a nation. Of course, this is very different from training a brother to be an elder or a ministerial servant in the congregation. Still, elders can learn many important lessons from the way Samuel prepared Saul’s heart. Let us discuss two of them.

WILLING TEACHERS AND GOOD FRIENDS

16. (a) How did Samuel feel when Israel asked for a king? (b) How did Samuel react when Jehovah told him to anoint Saul?

¹⁶ Be willing, do not hesitate. When Samuel first heard that the Israelites wanted a human king, he felt disappointed and rejected. (1 Samuel 8:4-8) Three times Jehovah had to tell him to listen to the people, because Samuel did not want to give them a king. (1 Samuel 8:7, 9, 22) Even though Samuel had these feelings, he did not become jealous or angry with the man who would take his place as leader. When Jehovah told him to anoint Saul, Samuel did not hesitate. He willingly obeyed, not just because he had to, but because he loved Jehovah.

17. How do elders today imitate Samuel, and what joy does that give them?

¹⁷ There are many experienced elders today who have imitated Samuel and trained others in a loving way. (1 Peter 5:2) These kind elders are willing to teach others and are not afraid of sharing some of their privileges in the congregation with the learners. Instead, they feel that these brothers are precious “fellow workers” who will help them care for the needs of the congregation. (2 Corinthians 1:24; Hebrews 13:16) And these unselfish elders enjoy seeing the learners use their abilities to help Jehovah’s people.​—Acts 20:35.

18, 19. How can an elder prepare the heart of a learner for training, and why is that important?

¹⁸ Be a friend, not just a teacher. When Samuel met Saul, the prophet could have immediately anointed him as king by taking the oil and pouring it on his head. The new king would then be anointed, but he would be unprepared to lead God’s people. Instead, Samuel took the time to prepare Saul’s heart for his new assignment. Before he anointed Saul, they ate together, went for a pleasant walk, talked for a long time, and even got some rest. Samuel waited for the right time to anoint the new king.

¹⁹ The same is true today. Before an elder begins to train a brother, he should make an effort to become friends with the learner. What an elder does to make a learner feel comfortable will be different depending on their circumstances and culture. Still, no matter where you live, if you take time out of your busy schedule to be with the learner, he will know that he is important to you. (Read Romans 12:10.) Surely, learners will be deeply grateful for the loving care and attention that you give them.

20, 21. (a) How would you describe a successful teacher? (b) What will we discuss in the next article?

²⁰ It is true that a successful teacher loves to train others. But a successful teacher must also love the person he is training. (Compare John 5:20.) Why is this important? Because if a learner feels that you truly care about him, he will be willing to learn from you. So elders, make an effort not only to teach but also to be a good friend.​—Proverbs 17:17; John 15:15.

²¹ After preparing a learner’s heart, an elder can begin to train him. What methods could the elder use? That will be discussed in the next article.

1. (a) What have God’s servants always known about training, and how does this apply today? (b) What will we discuss in this article?

GOD’S people have always known that training brings success. For example, Abram organized “his trained men,” who successfully fought to rescue Lot. (Genesis 14:14-16) Singers in King David’s day “were trained” to sing songs that praised Jehovah. (1 Chronicles 25:7) Today, we must fight against Satan and his world. (Ephesians 6:11-13) We also work hard to praise Jehovah by speaking to others about his name. (Hebrews 13:15, 16) Like God’s servants in the past, to be successful, we must be trained. In the congregation, Jehovah has given elders the responsibility to train others. (2 Timothy 2:2) What methods have some elders used to train brothers to care for Jehovah’s people?

STRENGTHEN THE LEARNER’S LOVE FOR JEHOVAH

2. Before teaching a learner new skills, what may an elder want to do, and why?

² An elder can be compared to a gardener. Before planting seeds, a gardener may need to add nutrients to the soil so that the plants will grow and become strong. In a similar way, before an elder teaches a learner new skills, he may want to share some Bible principles that will help the learner to be ready to apply what he learns.​—1 Timothy 4:6.

3. (a) How might Jesus’ words found at Mark 12:29, 30 be used in a conversation with a learner? (b) How may an elder’s prayer affect a learner?

³ It is important to understand how the truth affects the learner’s thoughts and feelings. To do that, you may ask him how his dedication to Jehovah has affected his decisions in life. That question could lead to a conversation about how we can serve Jehovah with our whole heart. (Read Mark 12:29, 30.) You may even want to pray with the brother and ask Jehovah to give him the holy spirit he needs for his training. When the brother hears you pray for him, it will likely encourage him to do more!

4. (a) Give examples of Bible accounts that can help a learner to make progress. (b) What goal should elders have when training others?

⁴ When you first start training, it is good to discuss Bible accounts that help the learner to see the importance of being helpful, reliable, and humble. (1 Kings 19:19-21; Nehemiah 7:2; 13:13; Acts 18:24-26) These qualities are as important to the learner as nutrients are to soil. They will help the learner to grow, that is, to make progress faster. Jean-Claude, an elder from France, says that his goal when training is to help a learner to make wise decisions based on Bible principles. He says: “I look for occasions when we can read a scripture together to ‘open the eyes’ of the learner to ‘the wonderful things’ found in God’s Word.” (Psalm 119:18) What are some other ways to strengthen a learner?

SUGGEST GOALS AND GIVE REASONS

5. (a) How important is it to speak with a learner about goals in Jehovah’s service? (b) Why should elders train those who are still young? (See footnote.)

⁵ Ask a learner what his goals are in Jehovah’s service. If he does not have any goals, help him to set one that he can reach. Be enthusiastic while telling him about a goal that you had and how good you felt when you reached it. This method is simple but effective. Victor, an elder and pioneer in Africa, says: “When I was young, an elder asked me a few questions about my goals. Those questions helped me to start thinking seriously about my ministry.” Experienced elders say that it is important to train brothers while they are still young, perhaps when they are in their early teens. You can give them some work in the congregation according to their age. If brothers are trained while they are still young, it can help them to stay focused on their goals even as they get older and have many distractions.​—Read Psalm 71:5, 17.a (See footnote.)

6. What important method did Jesus use to train others?

⁶ To motivate the learner to serve, you must do more than tell him what to do. You must also explain why it is important to do it. The Great Teacher, Jesus, told his apostles to preach. But first he gave them a reason why they should obey. He said: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations.” (Matthew 28:18, 19) How can you imitate Jesus’ method of training?

7, 8. (a) How can elders today imitate Jesus’ way of training? (b) How important is it to commend a learner? (c) What suggestions can help elders to train others? (See the box “How to Train Others.”)

⁷ When you ask a brother to do some work, explain to him from the Bible why this work is important. By doing that, you teach him to do things because of Bible principles and not just because of rules. For example, if you ask a brother to keep the entrance of the Kingdom Hall clean and safe for walking, you might show him Titus 2:10. Explain how his work will make the Kingdom message more attractive. Also, ask the learner to think about the older ones in the congregation and how doing this work will help them. A conversation such as this provides training that will help him to think more about people rather than rules. When he sees how the brothers and sisters benefit from his work, he will feel good because he is serving others.

⁸ Also, be sure to commend the learner for applying your suggestions. How important is it to do that? Just as water helps a plant to grow and to be healthy, commending a learner helps him to make progress in his service to Jehovah.​—Compare Matthew 3:17.

ANOTHER DIFFICULTY

9. (a) Why may it be difficult for elders in some wealthy lands to train others? (b) Why is service to God not a priority in the life of some younger brothers?

⁹ Elders in wealthy lands may find it difficult to encourage baptized brothers in their 20’s or 30’s to do more in the congregation. Experienced elders in about 20 lands told us why they believe that some young brothers do not do more in the congregation. Most of them said that when some brothers were young, their parents did not encourage them to set goals in Jehovah’s service. And when some young brothers wanted to do more, their parents encouraged them to set goals involving higher education or a career in the world! So service to God never came first in their lives.​—Matthew 10:24.

10, 11. (a) How may an elder slowly help a brother to change the way he thinks? (b) What scriptures could an elder use to motivate a brother, and why? (See footnote.)

¹⁰ If a brother does not seem interested in doing more in the congregation, it will take a lot of work and patience to change his way of thinking, but it can be done. A gardener can help a plant to grow straight by slowly guiding the stem. In a similar way, you can slowly help a brother to see that he needs to change his attitude about accepting more responsibilities in the congregation. But how?

¹¹ Take time to become friends with the brother. Let him know that the congregation needs him. Then, as time passes, sit down and reason with him on scriptures that can help him think about his dedication to Jehovah. (Ecclesiastes 5:4; Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 6:24, 33; Luke 9:57-62; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 13:5) Try to touch his heart by asking questions such as: ‘What did you promise Jehovah when you dedicated your life to him? How do you think Jehovah felt when you got baptized?’ (Proverbs 27:11) ‘How did Satan feel?’ (1 Peter 5:8) Such scriptures can be very powerful and can deeply affect a brother’s heart.​—Read Hebrews 4:12.b (See footnote.)

LEARNERS, PROVE FAITHFUL

12, 13. (a) What attitude did Elisha show as a learner? (b) How did Jehovah reward Elisha for being faithful?

¹² Young brothers, the congregation needs your help! What attitude will help you to have success in your service to Jehovah? To find the answer, let us discuss some events in the life of a learner in the past, Elisha.

¹³ About 3,000 years ago, the prophet Elijah invited young Elisha to become his helper. Elisha immediately agreed and faithfully did humble work for the prophet. (2 Kings 3:11) Elijah trained Elisha for about six years. Then, when Elijah’s work in Israel was about to end, the prophet told his helper that he could stop serving him. But three times Elisha said: “I will not leave you.” He was determined to stay with his teacher as long as he could. And Jehovah rewarded Elisha’s loyalty and faithfulness by allowing him to see Elijah’s being taken away in a windstorm.​—2 Kings 2:1-12.

14. (a) How can learners today imitate Elisha? (b) Why is it so important for a learner to be faithful?

¹⁴ As a learner, how can you imitate Elisha? Be quick to accept assignments, even humble tasks. Remember that your teacher is your friend. Tell him that you appreciate what he is doing for you, and show him that you want to continue learning from him. Most important, be faithful in caring for your assignment. Why? When you prove that you are faithful and reliable, the elders can be confident that Jehovah wants you to have more responsibilities in the congregation.​—Psalm 101:6; read 2 Timothy 2:2.

RESPECT EXPERIENCED ELDERS

15, 16. (a) In what ways did Elisha show respect for his teacher? (See opening picture.) (b) Why were other prophets confident in Elisha?

¹⁵ The account of Elisha also shows that it is important for brothers today to show respect for experienced elders. After Elijah and Elisha had visited a group of prophets in Jericho, the two men came to the Jordan River. Then “Elijah took his official garment and rolled it up and struck the waters, and they were divided.” The men crossed the Jordan on dry ground, and they kept “speaking as they walked.” Elisha listened very carefully to everything his teacher said and kept learning from him. Elisha never felt that he knew it all. Then Elijah was taken away in a windstorm, and Elisha went back to the Jordan River. There, he hit the waters with Elijah’s official garment and said: “Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah?” Again, the water in the river was divided.​—2 Kings 2:8-14.

¹⁶ Did you notice that Elisha’s first miracle was exactly the same as Elijah’s last miracle? What does this teach us? Elisha did not feel that because he was now in charge, he needed to do things differently from the way Elijah had done them. Instead, by copying Elijah’s methods, Elisha showed that he respected his teacher, which helped other prophets to have confidence in Elisha. (2 Kings 2:15) Elisha served as a prophet for 60 years, and Jehovah gave him the power to perform many more miracles than Elijah had. What is the lesson for learners today?

17. (a) How can learners today imitate Elisha’s attitude? (b) In time, how may Jehovah use faithful learners?

¹⁷ When you receive more responsibility in the congregation, do not feel that you need to do things in a way that is completely different from the way they were done before. Remember, the reason to make changes is because of a need in the congregation or because of direction from Jehovah’s organization. You should not make changes just because you want to. By continuing to use Elijah’s methods, Elisha helped other prophets to have confidence in him and he showed respect for his teacher. In a similar way, if you continue to use the Bible-based methods of your teachers, you show respect for experienced elders, and your brothers and sisters will have confidence in you. (Read 1 Corinthians 4:17.) As you gain more experience, you will apply changes that can help the congregation to follow Jehovah’s organization, which is always moving ahead. And Jehovah may in time help you to do greater works than those of your teachers, just as he helped Elisha to do.​—John 14:12.

18. Why is it urgent to train brothers in the congregations?

¹⁸ We hope that the suggestions in this article and the previous one will motivate more elders to take the time to train brothers. And we pray that more brothers are willing to be trained and to use what they learn in order to care for Jehovah’s people. This will strengthen the congregations all over the world and will help each one of us to remain faithful during the thrilling times ahead.

1. Why do we need to keep our relationship with Jehovah strong?

IF YOU are a baptized Witness of Jehovah, you have something very valuable. You have a personal relationship with Jehovah. But that relationship is being attacked by Satan’s world and can also be weakened by our own imperfections. That is why we all must keep our relationship with Jehovah as strong as possible.

2. (a) What is a relationship? (See footnote.) (b) How can we make our relationship with Jehovah stronger?

² Is Jehovah real to you? Do you feel that he is your Friend? Would you like your relationship with him to be even stronger? James 4:8 tells you what you need to do: “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.” Your relationship with Jehovah involves both you and Jehovah.a (See footnote.) If you take steps to draw close to Jehovah, he will take steps to draw close to you. The more you do this, the more real he will become to you, and your relationship will be so close that you will feel the way Jesus did when he said: “The One who sent me is real” and, “I know him.” (John 7:28, 29) But what are some things you can do to draw closer to Jehovah?

3. How can we communicate with Jehovah?

³ If you want to draw close to Jehovah, it is very important that you and Jehovah communicate regularly. But how is this possible? Well, think about how you and a friend who lives far away might communicate. You could write to each other often and talk on the telephone. You talk to Jehovah when you regularly pray to him. (Read Psalm 142:2.) But how can you let Jehovah talk to you? You do this when you regularly read his word, the Bible, and meditate on it. (Read Isaiah 30:20, 21.) Let us see how this communication between you and Jehovah can strengthen your relationship with him and make him a real Friend to you.

LET JEHOVAH SPEAK TO YOU WHEN YOU STUDY THE BIBLE

4, 5. How does Jehovah speak to you when you study the Bible? Give an example.

⁴ We know that the Bible is God’s message for everyone. But can the Bible help you to draw closer to Jehovah? Yes! As you regularly read and study the Bible, pay attention to how you feel about what you are reading. And think about how you can apply what you learn. When you do this, you are letting Jehovah speak to you. He becomes a close Friend who is helping you, and you draw closer to him.​—Hebrews 4:12; James 1:23-25.

⁵ For example, how do you feel when you read Jesus’ words: “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth”? If you are doing your best to put Jehovah first in your life, you will feel that he is pleased with you. But you might read Jesus’ words and realize that you need to simplify your life and focus more on serving God. If so, then Jehovah is helping you to understand what you can do to draw closer to him.​—Matthew 6:19, 20.

6, 7. (a) When we study the Bible, what happens to our love for Jehovah and his love for us? (b) What should our main goal be when we study the Bible?

⁶ It is true that when we study the Bible, we learn about the changes we can make to serve Jehovah better. But we also learn about the loving things he does and his beautiful personality, which makes us love him more. And as our love for him grows, his love for us grows, and our relationship with him becomes even stronger.​—Read 1 Corinthians 8:3.

⁷ If we want to draw close to Jehovah, it is important that we study the Bible for the right reason. Jesus said: “This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) We can learn many new and interesting things when we read the Bible, but our main goal should be to come to know Jehovah better as a Person.​—Read Exodus 33:13; Psalm 25:4.

8. (a) What might some think about the way Jehovah treated King Azariah? (b) If you know Jehovah, how will you feel about what he does?

⁸ When we know Jehovah as a close Friend, we will not be worried if the Bible does not always explain why he acted the way he did. For example, when Azariah was the king of Judah, the people worshipped false gods. Azariah did not join them. “He continued to do what was right in Jehovah’s eyes.” (2 Kings 15:1-5) But Jehovah punished Azariah with leprosy. Why? This part of the story does not tell us. So how do you feel about what Jehovah did? Does it worry you and make you feel that Jehovah was not fair, that he punished Azariah for no good reason? No. If you know Jehovah very well, you know that his discipline is always right. He always disciplines “to the proper degree.” (Jeremiah 30:11) So, even though you may not know why Jehovah punished Azariah, you can be sure that Jehovah did what was right.

9. What details help us to understand why Jehovah punished Azariah with leprosy?

⁹ The Bible does give us more details about the life of King Azariah, who was also known as King Uzziah. (2 Kings 15:7, 32) The rest of the story at 2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 16-21 says that he did “what was right in Jehovah’s eyes.” But it also says that later “his heart became haughty to his own ruin.” The king tried to do something that only priests were allowed to do. Eighty-one priests told him that he was wrong and tried to stop him. How did he react? He had become so proud that he got angry with them! These additional details help us to understand why Jehovah punished the king with leprosy.

10. Why do we not need to know the reasons for everything Jehovah does? How can we have more trust that Jehovah always does what is right?

¹⁰ What important lesson do we learn? In the story of King Azariah, we have enough details to help us understand why Jehovah punished him. But when the Bible does not give all the details, what will you do? Will you wonder if Jehovah really did what was right? Or will you feel that the Bible has enough information for you to trust that God always does what is right? (Deuteronomy 32:4) The more you get to know Jehovah as a Person, the more you will love and trust him. And then you will not need to know the reasons for everything he does. As you study the Bible, Jehovah will become more real to you and you will draw closer to him.​—Psalm 77:12, 13.

YOU SPEAK TO JEHOVAH WHEN YOU PRAY

11-13. How do you know that Jehovah listens to prayers? (See opening picture.)

¹¹ When we pray, we draw close to Jehovah. We praise him, thank him, and ask him for help. (Psalm 32:8) But if you want a close friendship with Jehovah, you must be convinced that he hears prayers.

¹² Some people say that God does not listen to prayers and that saying a prayer is just something that makes you feel better. They believe that prayer simply helps you to think carefully about your problems and to find your own answers. It is true that prayer might help you in these ways. But when you talk to Jehovah in prayer, he really is listening to you. How can you be sure?

¹³ Think about this: Before Jesus came to earth, he saw that Jehovah answered the prayers of His human servants. When on earth, Jesus prayed to his Father in heaven about his thoughts and feelings. One time, he even prayed all night. (Luke 6:12; 22:40-46) Would Jesus have done that if he thought that Jehovah was not really listening? Jesus also taught his followers how to pray to Jehovah. Would he have done that if he thought that Jehovah does not listen to prayers? Clearly, Jesus knew that Jehovah really does hear prayers. He even said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. True, I knew that you always hear me.” We too can be just as sure that Jehovah listens to our prayers.​—John 11:41, 42; Psalm 65:2.

14, 15. (a) How do we benefit when we ask for specific things in our prayers? (b) How did Kathy’s prayers help her to draw closer to Jehovah?

¹⁴ The answers to your prayers may not always be obvious. But when you ask for specific things in your prayers, you will be able to see Jehovah’s answers more clearly, and he will become more real to you. If you openly let Jehovah know about everything that worries you, he will draw closer to you.

¹⁵ For example, Kathy often went in the field ministry, but she did not enjoy it.b (See footnote.) She said: “I did not like field service. I mean, I really did not like it.” When she retired from her job, an elder encouraged her to become a regular pioneer. She said: “He even handed me an application form. I decided to pioneer, but I also began to pray daily that Jehovah would make me like field service.” Did Jehovah answer her prayers? After pioneering for three years, she now says: “As a result of spending more time in the ministry and learning from other sisters, I have gradually improved in my ability to witness. Today, I do not like field service​—I love it. What is more, my relationship with Jehovah is so much closer than it used to be.” Kathy’s prayers truly helped her to draw closer to Jehovah.

DO YOUR PART

16, 17. (a) What must we do to keep strengthening our relationship with Jehovah? (b) What will we discuss in the next article?

¹⁶ We can keep drawing closer to Jehovah forever. So let us keep listening to him by regularly studying the Bible, and let us keep speaking to him by praying. If we do this, our relationship with Jehovah will become stronger and stronger, and with his help we will be able to endure trials.

¹⁷ But sometimes we struggle with personal problems, even though we continually pray to Jehovah. At these times, we could start to lose our trust in Jehovah. We might feel that Jehovah does not hear our prayers and may wonder if we really are his friend. If you begin to feel this way, what can you do? The next article will help you.

1-3. Why was Paul convinced that he could trust in Jehovah? (See opening picture.)

IF YOU were a Christian in Rome in the first century, you would have been living at a dangerous time. The Christians were being cruelly persecuted by the Romans. The Romans blamed them for starting a large fire in Rome and accused them of hating people. Many of your Christian brothers and sisters were being arrested. Some were torn to pieces by animals. Others were nailed to poles and then burned alive to light up the night sky. Each day you knew that any one of these things might happen to you.

² During this very difficult time, the apostle Paul was put in prison. He may have wondered whether his Christian brothers would help him, because he remembered an earlier situation when nobody did. But Paul had received help from Jehovah through the Lord Jesus. He wrote: “The Lord stood near me and infused power into me.” Jesus gave Paul the power that he needed. Paul even wrote that he “was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”​—2 Timothy 4:16, 17.a (See footnote.)

³ Paul remembered how Jehovah had helped him in the past. So he was convinced that Jehovah would give him the strength he needed to endure the situation he was in now as well as any future trials. He was so sure of this that he wrote: “The Lord will rescue me from every wicked work.” (2 Timothy 4:18) Paul had learned that even in situations in which his brothers were not able to help him, he could always trust in Jehovah and Jesus for help. There was no doubt in his mind.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO TRUST IN JEHOVAH

4, 5. (a) Who can always give you the help you need? (b) How can you make your relationship with Jehovah stronger?

⁴ Have you ever had a difficult problem and felt alone, with no one to help you? Maybe you lost your job or had pressures at school. Maybe you were very sick or had some other difficult trial. You may have asked other people for help but were disappointed because they did not give you the help you needed. Of course, some problems are impossible for humans to solve. What will you do then? The Bible tells us to “trust in Jehovah.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6) But can you be sure that he will help you? Yes! We can read about many examples in the Bible that convince us that Jehovah really does help his people.

⁵ Do not feel bitter when people do not give you the help you need. Instead, like Paul, think of the trial as an opportunity to trust in Jehovah completely. It is also an opportunity to see in your own life how he cares for you. Your trust in Jehovah and your relationship with him will then become stronger.

WE NEED TO TRUST IN JEHOVAH

6. Why might it not be easy to trust in Jehovah when we have a difficult problem?

⁶ You may have a difficult problem that upsets you. You have done everything you can about the situation, and you have prayed to Jehovah for help. Can you now feel calm because you trust that he will help you? Yes, you can! (Read Psalm 62:8; 1 Peter 5:7.) If you want to have a good relationship with Jehovah, it is important for you to learn to trust in him. But doing this is not always easy. Why? One reason is that Jehovah may not answer your prayer right away.​—Psalm 13:1, 2; 74:10; 89:46; 90:13; Habakkuk 1:2.

7. Why does Jehovah not always answer our prayers right away?

⁷ Why does Jehovah not always answer our prayers right away? The Bible says that Jehovah is our Father and we are his children. (Psalm 103:13) A human father does not give his child everything he asks for or give it to him right away. A father knows that a child might suddenly want something and then not want it anymore. A father also knows what is best for his child, and he knows how it might affect others. He knows what the child needs and when he should get it. If the father gave the child everything he asked for right away, the father would become the child’s servant. Jehovah, our Father in heaven, loves us. As our wise Creator, he knows what we need and he decides when is the best time to give us what we ask for. It is good for us to wait and see how Jehovah answers our prayers.​—Compare Isaiah 29:16; 45:9.

8. What does Jehovah promise about what we are able to endure?

⁸ Remember, too, that Jehovah knows what each person can and cannot endure. (Psalm 103:14) So he gives us the strength we need. It is true that sometimes we may feel that we cannot go on anymore. But Jehovah promises that if the trial becomes too much for us to endure, he will “make the way out.” (Read 1 Corinthians 10:13.) It is comforting to know that we can trust that Jehovah knows just how much we are able to endure.

9. What should we do if we pray for help from Jehovah but he does not answer us right away?

⁹ If we pray for help from Jehovah but he does not answer us right away, let us be patient. Remember that Jehovah is eager to help us, but he waits patiently for the best time to give us what we need. The Bible tells us: “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.”​—Isaiah 30:18.

“THE LION’S MOUTH”

10-12. (a) What might make it difficult to care for a sick family member? (b) When you trust in Jehovah during difficult times, how will this affect your relationship with him? Give an example.

¹⁰ Your situation might be so difficult for you that you feel like Paul and need to be saved from “the lion’s mouth.” (2 Timothy 4:17) During times like these, it is extremely important that you trust in Jehovah. For example, you might be caring for a sick family member. You have prayed to Jehovah to help you make good decisions and to be strong.b (See footnote.) You can now feel some peace when you remember that Jehovah sees and understands you and your situation. He will help you to endure and be faithful to him.​—Psalm 32:8.

¹¹ Sometimes it may not seem that Jehovah is helping you. Perhaps the doctors do not agree on what should be done. Or you had hoped that your relatives would comfort you, but instead they seem to make things worse. Always rely on Jehovah to give you strength. Keep drawing close to him. (Read 1 Samuel 30:3, 6.) Later, when you realize how Jehovah has helped you, your relationship with him will be stronger.

¹² That is how Linda felt.c (See footnote.) She had been taking care of her sick parents for a long time before they died. She says: “While in the situation, my husband, brother, and I often found it hard to know what to do. We felt helpless at times. Looking back, however, we see more clearly how Jehovah proved to be with us. He strengthened us and provided just what we needed, even when it seemed that we had run out of options.”

13. How did trusting in Jehovah help Rhonda endure one tragedy after another?

¹³ Our complete trust in Jehovah will even help us to endure tragedies. This is what Rhonda experienced. Her husband, who is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was divorcing her. During this same time, her brother found out that he had a very serious illness called lupus. And then, a few months later, her brother’s wife died. When Rhonda started to recover from the shock of these events, she began regular pioneering. But then her mother died. How was Rhonda able to endure these tragedies? She says: “I communicated with Jehovah every day, even with regard to small decisions. Doing so made Jehovah real to me. It taught me to rely on him rather than on myself or even on other people. And the help he gave me was real​—all my needs were cared for. As a result, I have experienced working hand in hand with Jehovah.”

14. How can Jehovah help you if a family member is disfellowshipped?

¹⁴ Think about another difficult situation. Perhaps someone in your family is disfellowshipped. You know what the Bible says about how to treat disfellowshipped ones. (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 John 10) But because you love that person, you may feel that it is very hard or even impossible to obey the Bible’s command. Will you trust that your heavenly Father will give you the strength to obey him faithfully? Will you think of this situation as an opportunity to draw closer to Jehovah?

15. Why did Adam disobey Jehovah?

¹⁵ How does this compare to the situation of the first man, Adam? Did he believe that he could disobey Jehovah and keep on living? No, Adam “was not deceived.” (1 Timothy 2:14) So why did he disobey Jehovah? Adam ate the fruit that his wife gave him because he loved his wife more than he loved Jehovah. He listened to his wife instead of listening to Jehovah’s command.​—Genesis 3:6, 17.

16. For whom should our love be the strongest, and why?

¹⁶ Adam’s decision teaches us that we should love Jehovah more than we love anyone else. (Read Matthew 22:37, 38.) And when our love for Jehovah is that strong, we can help our relatives in the best way, whether they are serving Jehovah or not. So keep strengthening your love for Jehovah and your trust in him. If you are worried about a disfellowshipped family member, pray to Jehovah and tell him everything that you are feeling.d (See footnote.) (Romans 12:12; Philippians 4:6, 7) Even though you are suffering so much, think of this situation as an opportunity to make your relationship with Jehovah even stronger. Then you will be able to trust in him and know that obeying him will bring the best possible result.

WHILE WE WAIT

17. If we keep busy in the preaching work, what can we trust that Jehovah will do?

¹⁷ Why did Jehovah rescue Paul from “the lion’s mouth”? Paul says: “So that through me the preaching might be fully accomplished.” (2 Timothy 4:17) Jehovah has also given us the work of preaching “the good news,” and he calls us his “fellow workers.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Corinthians 3:9) If we keep as busy as we can be in this work, we can trust that Jehovah will give us everything we need. (Matthew 6:33) And it will be easier for us to wait for Jehovah to answer our prayers.

18. How can you build trust in Jehovah and make your relationship with him stronger?

¹⁸ So use every day to make your relationship with Jehovah stronger. When a trial comes along and you become anxious, use this as an opportunity to draw closer to Jehovah. Read, study, and meditate on God’s Word, the Bible. Keep praying to Jehovah and keep busy serving him. If you do these things, you can trust that Jehovah will help you to endure all your trials now and any that may come in the future.

I WAS born in March 1930, in the village of Namkumba, Malawi, into a family who were faithful servants of God. In 1942, I dedicated my life to Jehovah and was baptized in one of our beautiful rivers. For the past 70 years, I have tried to do just as the apostle Paul encouraged Timothy, to “preach the word; be at it urgently in favorable times and difficult times.”​—2 Timothy 4:2.

In 1948, Nathan H. Knorr and Milton G. Henschel came to Malawi, and their visit encouraged me to serve Jehovah full-time. Later, I met Lidasi, a lovely sister who, like me, had the goal of serving Jehovah full-time. In 1950 we got married, and by 1953 we had two children. Even though we had many family responsibilities, we decided that I would begin regular pioneering. Two years later, I was invited to serve as a special pioneer.

Soon after that, I had the privilege of visiting congregations as a circuit overseer. Because Lidasi was very supportive, I was able to care for all the needs of our family and remain in the full-time service.a (See footnote.) Still, we both wanted to serve Jehovah full-time. So we planned carefully, and with our children’s cooperation, Lidasi was able to begin the full-time service in 1960.

In 1962 we enjoyed the “Courageous Ministers” District Assembly. And one year later, Brother Henschel visited Malawi for the special convention near the city of Blantyre. More than 10,000 attended that convention. When I think about those special programs, I realize how they prepared and strengthened all of us in Malawi for the difficult times that were soon to come.

DIFFICULT TIMES ARRIVE

In 1964 the Witnesses were persecuted because they refused to participate in political activities. As a result, more than 100 Kingdom Halls and over 1,000 homes of brothers were destroyed. Lidasi and I continued in the circuit work until the government banned the Witnesses in 1967. The government took control of the branch property, forced the missionaries to leave the country, and put many Witnesses in jail, including Lidasi and me. When we were released from prison, we discreetly continued in the circuit work.

One day in October 1972, members of an extreme political group called the Malawi Youth League headed for our house. But one of their members ran ahead and told me to hide because they were planning to kill me. I told my wife and children to hide among some banana trees nearby. Then I went and climbed a large mango tree. From there, I watched as they destroyed our house and everything we owned.

As the persecution increased, thousands of Witnesses left Malawi. We stayed in a refugee camp in Mozambique until June 1974. At that time, Lidasi and I were asked to serve as special pioneers in Dómue, Mozambique. We continued to pioneer until 1975 when we were forced to leave Mozambique and return to Malawi, where the Witnesses were still being persecuted.

After returning, I was assigned to visit congregations in the capital city, Lilongwe. Despite the persecution and all the difficulties, the number of congregations increased in the circuits where we served.

JEHOVAH’S LOVING SUPPORT

One day, we came to a village where there was a political meeting going on. Some of the people found out that we were Witnesses and made us sit with a political group called the Malawi Young Pioneers. We begged Jehovah for help and direction. When the meeting was over, they started to beat us. Suddenly, an older woman came running and yelled: “Leave them alone, please! This man is my brother’s son. Let him go on his journey!” The person in charge of the meeting said: “Let them go!” We do not know why the woman said what she did, because she was not our relative. We believe that Jehovah must have heard our prayer.

In 1981 the Malawi Young Pioneers found us again. This time they took our bicycles, luggage, and books, as well as important papers about the brothers in the circuit. We escaped and ran to the home of an elder. However, we were concerned about the information that was in the papers. When the Malawi Young Pioneers looked at the papers, they found letters that brothers had sent to me from all over Malawi. This terrified them because they thought that I was an important government official. So they immediately returned all the papers to the local elders.

Another time, we were crossing the river in a boat. The owner of the boat was a political leader, and he wanted to see the political party cards of everyone on the boat. As he was getting close to us, he discovered a thief whom the police had been looking for. This distracted everyone, and the owner stopped checking for party cards. Again we felt Jehovah’s loving support.

ARRESTED AND PUT IN PRISON

In February 1984, I was on my way to Lilongwe to deliver reports for the branch office in Zambia. A policeman stopped me and searched my bag. He found some Bible literature, so he took me to the police station and started to beat me. Then he tied me with ropes and put me in a room with prisoners who were thieves.

The next day, the police chief took me to another room and wanted me to sign a paper that said: “I, Trophim R. Nsomba, have stopped being a Jehovah’s Witness so that I can be set free.” I refused to sign the paper and told him: “I am ready not only to be bound but also to die. I am still a Witness of Jehovah.” This made the chief angry, and he hit his desk so hard that a policeman in the next room ran over to see what had happened. The chief told him: “This man is refusing to sign that he has stopped witnessing. So let him sign that he is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and we shall send him to Lilongwe to be bound.” All this time, my wife did not know where I was. Four days later, some brothers were finally able to tell her what happened.

At the Lilongwe police station, the policemen treated me kindly. The chief of police said: “Here is a plate of rice because you have been bound on account of God’s Word. The other people here are thieves.” Then he sent me to Kachere Prison, where I stayed for five months.

The warden of that prison was happy that I came because he wanted me to be the “pastor” for the prison. He removed the current pastor, telling him: “I don’t want you to teach God’s Word here again, for you were put in prison because you stole from your church!” So each week I taught the Bible at meetings for the prisoners.

Later, things got worse for me. Prison officials questioned me because they wanted to know how many Witnesses there were in Malawi. I did not give them an answer they liked, so they beat me until I passed out. Another time, they wanted to know where our headquarters was. I said, “You have asked a simple question, and I will tell you.” I told them that our headquarters is described in the Bible. They were surprised and asked, “Where in the Bible?”

“At Isaiah 43:12,” I said. They looked it up and read it carefully: “‘You are my witnesses,’ declares Jehovah, ‘and I am God.’” They read that scripture three times. Then they asked: “How can the headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses be here in the Bible and not in America?” I told them: “Jehovah’s Witnesses in America also see this scripture as describing their headquarters.” Because I would not tell them what they wanted to hear, I was sent to Dzaleka Prison, north of Lilongwe.

BLESSINGS EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES

When I arrived at Dzaleka Prison in July 1984, 81 Witnesses were already there. The prison was so crowded that 300 prisoners had to sleep on the floor shoulder to shoulder. Eventually, all the Witnesses were able to meet in small groups to discuss a scripture each day, and that encouraged us very much.

In October 1984, all of us went to court and were sentenced to two years in prison. As before, we were put in a prison with non-Witnesses. But the prison warden told everyone: “Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t smoke cigarettes. So guards, don’t trouble them by asking them for a cigarette and don’t send them to collect a burning piece of charcoal to light your cigarette. They are God’s people! All of Jehovah’s Witnesses should be given food twice a day, since they are not here for crimes but because of their beliefs in the Bible.”

There were more benefits because of our good conduct. When it was dark or rainy, the guards did not allow prisoners to go outside. But they allowed us to leave the building because they trusted us and knew that we would not try to escape. For example, one time we were working outside in the fields and a guard got sick. So we carried him back to the prison. Because we continued to have good conduct, we were able to see Jehovah’s name praised by the men who guarded us.​—1 Peter 2:12.b (See footnote.)

A FAVORABLE TIME IS HERE AGAIN

On May 11, 1985, I was released from Dzaleka Prison and was happy to be back with my family! We thank Jehovah for helping us to keep our integrity to him during those difficult times. We feel as the apostle Paul did when he wrote: “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the tribulation we experienced . . . We were very uncertain even of our lives. In fact, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. This was so that we would trust, not in ourselves, but in the God who raises up the dead. From such a great risk of death he did rescue us.”​—2 Corinthians 1:8-10.

At times it seemed that we would not survive. But we always asked Jehovah to give us courage, wisdom, and humility so that we could continue to bring glory to his great name.

Jehovah has blessed our service to him during “favorable times and difficult times.” Today, we are thrilled to see a beautiful new branch office in Lilongwe and over 1,000 new Kingdom Halls in Malawi! These blessings from Jehovah are so amazing to Lidasi and me that they almost seem like a dream!c​—See footnote.

COMPARED to a beautiful cedar tree of Lebanon, a bent and twisted olive tree may not seem too impressive. But olive trees have the amazing ability to survive in difficult conditions. Some are about 1,000 years old. An olive tree’s roots stretch far beneath the ground, and the tree can be restored even if the trunk has been destroyed. As long as the roots remain alive, it will grow again.

The faithful man Job was confident that even if he died, he would live again. (Job 14:13-15) He used the example of a tree, possibly an olive tree, to show his confidence in God’s ability to resurrect him. Job said: “There is hope even for a tree. If it is cut down, it will sprout again.” When it rains after a drought, a dry olive stump can come back to life and produce “branches like a new plant.”​—Job 14:7-9.

Just as a farmer is eager to see an olive tree that was cut down come back to life, Jehovah God is eager to resurrect his servants and many others. (Matthew 22:31, 32; John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15) Imagine how joyful we will be as we welcome back the dead and see them alive once again!