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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

1. What was the prophet Isaiah’s message to his fellow Israelites?

THE prophet Isaiah described Jehovah as “the God of truth.” The word translated “truth” literally means “amen.” (Isa. 65:16, ftn.) “Amen” means “so be it,” or “surely.” When the word “amen” is used in the Bible with regard to Jehovah or Jesus, it is a guarantee that something is true. Thus, Isaiah’s message to his fellow Israelites was clear: What Jehovah foretells is always trustworthy. Jehovah has proved that fact by fulfilling every one of his promises.

2. Why can we trust in Jehovah’s promises regarding our future, and what questions will we consider?

² Can we put the same trust in Jehovah’s promises regarding our future? Nearly 800 years after Isaiah’s time, the apostle Paul explained why God’s promises are always trustworthy. Paul stated: “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Heb. 6:18) Just as a spring cannot produce both fresh water and salt water, so Jehovah, the Source of truth, cannot speak lies. Thus, we can have complete trust in everything that Jehovah says, including all his promises for our future. In this article, we will consider these questions: What has Jehovah promised to give us in the future? And what guarantee has Jehovah provided that his promise will come true?

WHAT HAS JEHOVAH PROMISED?

3. (a) What promise is well-loved by God’s servants? (Revelation 21:3, 4) (b) How do some respond when we share that promise with them?

³ The promise that we will consider is well-loved by God’s servants worldwide. (Read Revelation 21:3, 4.) Jehovah promises a time when “death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.” Many of us use this heartwarming Bible passage about life in Paradise when preaching to others. How do some people respond when we share this promise with them? They may say, “This sounds too good to be true.”

4. (a) What did Jehovah know and foresee? (b) Besides making a promise, what else did Jehovah do?

⁴ Of course, when He inspired the apostle John to record this promise of life in Paradise, Jehovah knew that we today would share this hope with others when preaching the Kingdom message. Jehovah also foresaw that many would find this promise of “new things” hard to believe. (Isa. 42:9; 60:2; 2 Cor. 4:3, 4) So how can we assure others​—and ourselves—​that the blessings described at Revelation 21:3, 4 will come true? Jehovah not only made this heartwarming promise but also provided convincing reasons why we can put our trust in it. What reasons did he provide?

JEHOVAH GUARANTEES HIS PROMISE

5. What reasons do we have for trusting in God’s promise of Paradise, and where do we find them?

⁵ We find reasons to trust in Jehovah’s promise of Paradise in the verses that follow. There we read: “The One seated on the throne said: ‘Look! I am making all things new.’ Also he says: ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ And he said to me: ‘They have come to pass! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.’”​—Rev. 21:5, 6a.

6. Why do the assurances recorded at Revelation 21:5, 6 strengthen our trust in God’s promise?

⁶ Why does this Bible passage strengthen our trust in God’s promise? The Revelation Climax book states the following about these verses: “It is as though Jehovah himself were signing for faithful mankind a guarantee, or title deed, to these future blessings.”b God’s promise is recorded at Revelation 21:3, 4. But then, in verses 5 and 6, we find Jehovah’s signature, so to speak, that guarantees the truthfulness of his promise. Let us take a closer look at the wording Jehovah uses in his guarantee.

7. What is special about the introduction of God’s guarantee, and why is that fact significant?

⁷ God’s guarantee begins with the introduction: “The One seated on the throne said.” (Rev. 21:5a) These words introduce one of only three instances in the book of Revelation when Jehovah speaks in the visions. So this guarantee is provided, not by a powerful angel, not even by the resurrected Jesus, but by Jehovah himself! This fact highlights the trustworthiness of the words that follow. Why is that so? Because Jehovah “cannot lie.” (Titus 1:2) That statement makes the words that we read at Revelation 21:5, 6 completely reliable.

“LOOK! I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW”

8. How does Jehovah emphasize the certainty of his promise? (Isaiah 46:10)

⁸ Next, let us consider the word “Look!” (Rev. 21:5) The Greek term translated “look!” is used repeatedly in the book of Revelation. A reference work states that the exclamation is used as “a way of calling the attention of the reader to what follows.” What follows the exclamation? God’s statement: “I am making all things new.” True, Jehovah is speaking about future changes, but for him this promise is so certain to come true that he speaks of these changes as if they were already taking place.​—Read Isaiah 46:10.

9. (a) The phrase “making all things new” refers to what two activities of Jehovah? (b) What will happen to the existing “heaven” and “earth”?

⁹ Let us examine the next phrase found at Revelation 21:5: “Making all things new.” In this Bible chapter, that phrase refers to two activities of Jehovah​—replacing and restoring. First, what would Jehovah replace? At Revelation 21:1, we read: “The former heaven and the former earth had passed away.” “The former heaven” refers to political governments influenced by Satan and his demons. (Matt. 4:8, 9; 1 John 5:19) As used in the Bible, “earth” can refer to the earth’s inhabitants. (Gen. 11:1; Ps. 96:1) Thus, “the former earth” refers to today’s wicked human society. Jehovah will not merely remodel, or fix up, the existing “heaven” and “earth”; rather, he will make a clean sweep by replacing them. He will replace the present heaven and the present earth with “a new heaven and a new earth”​—that is, a new government and a new human society.

10. What will Jehovah make new?

¹⁰ At Revelation 21:5, we next read what Jehovah says about the things he will make new. Note that Jehovah did not state: “I am making all new things.” Instead, he stated: “I am making all things new.” Jehovah will make the earth and humans like new by bringing them to a state of perfection. As Isaiah foretold, the entire earth will be made into a gardenlike park​—a global Eden. We will also be made new, or experience restoration, on a personal level. The lame, the blind, and the deaf will be healed, and even the dead will be restored to life.​—Isa. 25:8; 35:1-7.

“THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE. . . . THEY HAVE COME TO PASS!”

11. What command and what reason did Jehovah give to John?

¹¹ What else is part of God’s guarantee? Jehovah told John: “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Rev. 21:5) Jehovah gave more than just the command to “write.” He also gave a reason. He said: “For these words are faithful and true”​—that is, God’s words are reliable and accurate. We are grateful that John obeyed the command to “write.” As a result, we can read about God’s promise of Paradise and meditate on the wonderful blessings that await us.

12. Why could Jehovah rightly say: “They have come to pass!”

¹² What does God say next? “They have come to pass!” (Rev. 21:6) Now Jehovah speaks as if all things mentioned about the promised Paradise have already taken place. And he can rightly speak that way because nothing can stop him from fulfilling his purpose. Jehovah gives us another powerful assurance about his promise in the next part of his guarantee. What is it?

“I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA”

13. Why did Jehovah make the statement: “I am the Alpha and the Omega”?

¹³ As mentioned earlier, Jehovah himself spoke three times in the visions to John. (Rev. 1:8; 21:5, 6; 22:13) On each of these occasions, Jehovah made the same statement: “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” The letter alpha begins the Greek alphabet, and the letter omega concludes it. By using the description “the Alpha and the Omega,” Jehovah indicates that when he starts something, he brings it to its successful conclusion.

14. (a) Give an example of when Jehovah, in effect, said “Alpha” and when he will, in a sense, say “Omega.” (b) What guarantee is found at Genesis 2:1-3?

¹⁴ After Jehovah created Adam and Eve, He expressed his original purpose for mankind and for the earth. The Bible record states: “God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it.’” (Gen. 1:28) At that moment, Jehovah, in effect, said “Alpha.” He clearly stated his purpose: The time would come when perfect, obedient descendants of Adam and Eve would fill the earth and transform it into a paradise. At that future time, Jehovah will, in a sense, say “Omega.” After completing the creation of “the heavens and the earth and everything in them,” Jehovah gave a guarantee. It is found at Genesis 2:1-3. (Read.) Jehovah set aside the seventh day as sacred to him. What does that mean? Jehovah guaranteed that he would without fail carry out his purpose for mankind and for the earth. It would be fully accomplished at the end of that seventh day.

15. Why might it have seemed that Satan had thwarted God’s purpose for mankind?

¹⁵ After Adam and Eve rebelled, they became sinners and passed on sin and death to their offspring. (Rom. 5:12) As a result, it may have seemed that Satan had thwarted God’s purpose to fill the earth with perfect, obedient people. It appeared as if Satan had made it impossible for Jehovah ever to say “Omega.” Satan might have thought that Jehovah had very few options left. One option was to put Adam and Eve to death and create another perfect couple to fulfill His purpose for mankind. But if God had done that, the Devil would have accused Him of being a liar. Why? Because, as recorded at Genesis 1:28, Jehovah had told Adam and Eve that their offspring would fill the earth.

16. Why might Satan have thought that he could accuse Jehovah of being a failure?

¹⁶ What other option might Satan have thought that God could have chosen? Perhaps Satan thought that Jehovah would allow Adam and Eve to produce imperfect offspring who would never be able to reach perfection. (Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:23) In that case, the Devil would no doubt have accused Jehovah of being a failure. Why? Because this option would not accomplish God’s purpose, that is, to fill the Paradise earth with perfect, obedient descendants of Adam and Eve.

17. How did Jehovah resolve the rebellion of Satan and the first humans, and what will be the end result? (See also picture.)

¹⁷ Jehovah resolved the rebellion of Satan and the first humans in a way that must have dumbfounded Satan. (Ps. 92:5) Instead of proving to be a liar, Jehovah proved to be truthful by allowing Adam and Eve to have children. And instead of proving to be a failure, Jehovah proved to be victorious. He kept his purpose moving forward by providing an “offspring” who would save obedient descendants of Adam and Eve. (Gen. 3:15; 22:18) Satan must have been stunned by Jehovah’s ransom arrangement! Why? Because it is an arrangement based on unselfish love. (Matt. 20:28; John 3:16) That quality is not present in Satan’s selfish character. So, what will take place because of the ransom arrangement? By the end of the Millennium, perfect, obedient descendants of Adam and Eve will inhabit a paradise earth​—just as Jehovah originally purposed. At that time, Jehovah will say, as it were, “Omega.”

HOW WE DEEPEN OUR TRUST IN JEHOVAH’S PROMISE OF PARADISE

18. What three assurances does God give us? (See also the box “Three Reasons to Trust in Jehovah’s Promise.”)

¹⁸ In view of what we have considered, what assurances can we share with those who doubt that God’s promise of Paradise will come true? First, Jehovah himself makes the promise. The book of Revelation states: “The One seated on the throne said: ‘Look! I am making all things new.’” He has the wisdom, the power, and the desire to make his promise come true. Second, the fulfillment of his promise is so certain that from Jehovah’s viewpoint, it has already happened. He rightly says: “These words are faithful and true. . . . They have come to pass!” Third, when Jehovah starts something, he brings it to its successful conclusion, as confirmed by the expression: “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” Jehovah will prove that Satan is a liar and a failure.

19. When people doubt God’s promise of Paradise, what could you do?

¹⁹ Remember, each time you share God’s guarantee with those you meet in the ministry, you deepen your own trust in Jehovah’s promises. So the next time you read the heartwarming promise about the coming Paradise as described at Revelation 21:4 and someone says, “This sounds too good to be true,” what could you do? Why not read and explain verses 5 and 6? Show how Jehovah has guaranteed his promise by signing it, as it were, with his own signature.​—Isa. 65:16.

1-2. (a) Why could the apostle Paul say that love is “the greatest” quality? (b) What questions will we consider?

WHEN the apostle Paul was discussing faith, hope, and love, he concluded by saying that “the greatest of these [qualities] is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13) Why could Paul say this? In the future, we will no longer need to have faith in God’s promises about his new world or hope that those promises will be fulfilled because they will already be realized. But we will always need to have love for Jehovah and for people. In fact, our love for them will keep growing forever.

² Since we will always need to have love, we will consider three questions. First, why should we love one another? Second, how do we show love for one another? Third, how can we keep our love for one another strong?

WHY SHOULD WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER?

3. What reasons do we have for loving one another?

³ Why is it important for us to love one another? Among other reasons, love identifies us as true Christians. Jesus told his apostles: “By this all will know that you are my disciples​—if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35) Further, having love for one another keeps us united. Paul called love “a perfect bond of union.” (Col. 3:14) There is, however, still another important reason why we should love one another. The apostle John wrote to fellow believers: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:21) When we show love for one another, we show our love for God.

4-5. Illustrate how our love for God is connected to our love for one another.

⁴ In what way is our love for God closely connected to the love we show for our brothers and sisters? To illustrate, consider the connection that exists between our heart and other parts of our body. When a physician checks our pulse on our wrist to see if it is weak or strong, he may be able to get some information about the condition of our heart. How could we apply this principle to the topic of love?

⁵ Just as a doctor is able to get some information about the health of our heart when checking our pulse, we can get some information about the strength of our love for God by checking our love for others. If we notice that our love for fellow believers has weakened somewhat, this may indicate that our love for God is also growing weak. But when we regularly show love for fellow believers, this signals that our love for God is strong.

6. Why should we be concerned if our love for our brothers and sisters is weakening? (1 John 4:7-9, 11)

⁶ We should be concerned if our love for our brothers and sisters is growing weak. Why? Because it would mean that we are in spiritual danger. The apostle John makes that clear when he reminds us: “The one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20) What is the lesson for us? Jehovah is pleased with us only if we “love one another.”​—Read 1 John 4:7-9, 11.

HOW DO WE SHOW LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER?

7-8. What are some ways in which we can show our love for one another?

⁷ Again and again in God’s Word, we find the command to “love one another.” (John 15:12, 17; Rom. 13:8; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 4:11) However, love is a quality of the heart, or the inner person, and no human can see into our heart. So, then, how can we make our love for one another visible? By our words and actions.

⁸ There are various ways in which we can show our brothers and sisters that we love them. Here are some examples: “Speak the truth with one another.” (Zech. 8:16) “Keep peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50) Take the lead “in showing honor to one another.” (Rom. 12:10) “Welcome one another.” (Rom. 15:7) “Continue . . . forgiving one another.” (Col. 3:13) “Go on carrying the burdens of one another.” (Gal. 6:2) “Keep comforting one another.” (1 Thess. 4:18) “Keep . . . building one another up.” (1 Thess. 5:11) “Pray for one another.”​—Jas. 5:16.

9. Why is giving comfort to others an important expression of our love? (See also picture.)

⁹ Let us consider one of the expressions of our love mentioned in the preceding paragraph. We will examine Paul’s admonition: “Keep comforting one another.” Why is giving comfort to others an important expression of our love? According to a Bible reference work, the word that Paul used for “comfort” means “standing beside a person to encourage him when he is undergoing severe testing.” Thus, by giving comfort, we help a fellow believer who is in distress to get up and to continue walking on the road to life. Each time we offer a brother or a sister a shoulder to cry on, we express our love for our fellow believer.​—2 Cor. 7:6, 7, 13.

10. What is the connection between compassion and comfort?

¹⁰ Feeling compassion and giving comfort are closely related. In what way? A compassionate person is moved to comfort others and to try to relieve their suffering. So first we feel compassion; then we give comfort. Note how Paul connects Jehovah’s compassion to the comfort He gives. Paul describes Jehovah as “the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3) As a study note on this verse explains, Paul uses the expression “tender mercies” to describe a feeling of compassion for others. Thus, “God is called the Father, or the Source, of tender mercies because compassion emanates from him.” And that compassion moves him to comfort “us in all our trials.” (2 Cor. 1:4) Just as pure water flowing from a spring brings refreshment to those who are thirsty, Jehovah brings refreshment and comfort to those who are distressed. How can we imitate Jehovah in feeling compassion and in providing comfort to others? One way we can do so is by cultivating qualities in our heart that are related to giving comfort. What are some of these qualities?

11. According to Colossians 3:12 and 1 Peter 3:8, what other qualities must we cultivate to maintain the love that moves us to comfort others?

¹¹ What will help us to maintain the love that we need in order to “keep comforting one another” from day to day? We need to cultivate such tender qualities as fellow feeling, brotherly affection, and kindness. (Read Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 3:8.) How will these qualities help us? When feelings of compassion and related qualities become part of our personality, we cannot help but give comfort to those in distress. As Jesus stated, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure sends out good things.” (Matt. 12:34, 35) Giving comfort to our brothers and sisters in need is truly an important way in which we express our love to them.

HOW CAN WE KEEP OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER STRONG?

12. (a) Why do we need to remain alert? (b) What question will we now consider?

¹² We all want to “continue loving one another.” (1 John 4:7) However, it is important for us to remember that Jesus warned that “the love of the greater number [would] grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12) Jesus was not saying that this would occur on a large scale among his disciples. Nonetheless, we should remain alert so that we are not influenced by the lack of love in the world around us. With that thought in mind, let us consider this important question: Is there a way to test whether our love for our brothers is strong?

13. What can put our love to the test?

¹³ One way to determine the strength of our love is to examine how we handle certain situations in life. (2 Cor. 8:8) One such situation is mentioned by the apostle Peter: “Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet. 4:8) So the weaknesses and imperfections of others can put our love to the test.

14. According to 1 Peter 4:8, what type of love do we need? Illustrate.

¹⁴ Let us take a closer look at Peter’s words. The first part of verse 8 describes the type of love we need to have​—“intense love.” The word Peter used for “intense” literally means “stretched out.” The second part of the verse describes the effect that intense love can have. It covers the sins of our brothers. We could picture it this way: We grasp our love with both hands, as if it were an extendable piece of fabric, and stretch it out more and more until it covers, not one, not two, but “a multitude of sins.” To cover is a descriptive way of saying to forgive. Just as a piece of fabric can cover a stain, love can cover the weaknesses and imperfections of others.

15. If our love for our brothers and sisters is strong enough, what will we be able to do? (Colossians 3:13)

¹⁵ Our love for others should be strong enough that we can forgive the imperfections of our fellow believers​—even if that requires considerable effort at times. (Read Colossians 3:13.) When we succeed in forgiving others, we show that our love is strong and that we want to please Jehovah. What can further help us to overlook the irritating traits and mistakes of others?

16-17. What will further help us to overlook the minor sins of others? Illustrate. (See also picture.)

¹⁶ Focus on the positive traits of your brothers and sisters, not on the negative. Consider this comparison. Imagine that you are at a gathering with a group of brothers and sisters. You are having a pleasant time and at the end of the gathering, you take a group picture. In fact, you take two more pictures in case the first picture does not turn out well. Now you have three pictures. But in one of them, you notice that a brother is frowning. What do you do with that picture? You delete it because you have two other pictures in which everyone in the group, including that brother, is smiling.

¹⁷ Let us compare the pictures we save to the memories we keep. We usually have good memories of times spent with our brothers and sisters. But suppose that on one of those occasions, a brother or a sister says or does something that is unkind. What should we do with that memory? Why not try to delete it just as you would delete one of those pictures? (Prov. 19:11; Eph. 4:32) We can afford to delete that memory of our fellow believer’s minor sin because we have many good memories of pleasant association with that individual. Those are the kinds of memories we want to keep and treasure.

WHY LOVE IS ESPECIALLY NEEDED TODAY

18. What main points about love did we consider in this article?

¹⁸ Why do we want to keep our love for one another strong? As we have considered, when we show love for our brothers and sisters, we show love for Jehovah. How do we express our love for fellow believers? One way we do so is by giving them comfort. We will be able to “keep comforting one another” if we are moved by compassion. How can we keep our love for one another strong? By doing our utmost to forgive the mistakes of others.

19. Why is it especially important today to show love for one another?

¹⁹ Why is it especially important today to show our love for one another? Note the reason that Peter gives: “The end of all things has drawn close. Therefore, . . . have intense love for one another.” (1 Pet. 4:7, 8) As the end of this wicked world draws ever closer, what can we expect? Speaking about his followers, Jesus foretold: “You will be hated by all the nations on account of my name.” (Matt. 24:9) To withstand such hatred, we need to remain united. As we do that, Satan’s efforts to divide us will fail, for we are held close together by love​—the “perfect bond of union.”​—Col. 3:14; Phil. 2:1, 2.

1-2. (a) What similarities are there between our situation and that of the Jews who returned to Jerusalem? (b) Give an overview of the challenges the Jews faced. (See the box “The Days of Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra.”)

DO YOU at times worry about the future? Perhaps you have lost your job and you worry about providing for your family. You may be concerned about your family’s safety because of unstable political conditions, persecution, or opposition to the preaching work. Are you facing any of these issues? If so, you will benefit from considering how Jehovah helped the ancient Israelites when they were confronted with similar problems.

² It took faith on the part of the Jews who had lived in Babylon all their lives to leave behind a comfortable lifestyle and travel to a country that most of them knew very little about. When they arrived, it was not long before they were affected by unstable economic and political conditions as well as opposition. Some therefore found it hard to focus on rebuilding Jehovah’s temple. Thus, about 520 B.C.E., Jehovah commissioned two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to rekindle the people’s zeal. (Hag. 1:1; Zech. 1:1) As we will see, the encouragement given by these prophets proved to be very effective. Nearly 50 years later, however, the returning Jews again reached a low point. Ezra, a skilled copyist of the Law, then came from Babylon to Jerusalem to encourage God’s people to give priority to true worship.​—Ezra 7:1, 6.

3. What questions will we consider? (Proverbs 22:19)

³ Just as the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah helped God’s people in the past to continue to trust in Jehovah during opposition, they can help us today to remain confident in Jehovah’s support despite life’s uncertainties. (Read Proverbs 22:19.) As we consider God’s message delivered by Haggai and Zechariah and examine the example of Ezra, we will answer these questions: How were the returning Jews affected by life’s uncertainties? Why should we keep our focus on doing God’s will during uncertain times? And how can we build our confidence in Jehovah in times of crisis?

HOW UNCERTAINTIES AFFECTED THE RETURNING JEWS

4-5. What may have caused the Jews’ enthusiasm for the temple work to wane?

⁴ When the returning Jews arrived in Jerusalem, they had much work to do. They quickly rebuilt Jehovah’s altar and laid the foundation of the temple. (Ezra 3:1-3, 10) But their initial enthusiasm soon waned. Why? In addition to the temple work, they had to build houses for themselves, plant fields, and feed their families. (Ezra 2:68, 70) Moreover, they faced opposition from their enemies, who plotted to stop the temple rebuilding work.​—Ezra 4:1-5.

⁵ The returning exiles were also affected by unstable economic and political conditions. Their land was now part of the Persian Empire. After Persian King Cyrus died in 530 B.C.E., his successor, Cambyses, embarked on a military campaign to conquer Egypt. While heading for Egypt, his soldiers likely demanded food, water, and shelter from the Israelites, which caused them further hardship. The early reign of Cambyses’ successor, Darius I, was marked by revolts and political instability. These conditions no doubt caused many of the returned exiles to worry about how they would provide for their family. Because of all the uncertainty they faced, some Jews felt that it was not the right time to rebuild Jehovah’s temple.​—Hag. 1:2.

6. According to Zechariah 4:6, 7, what other difficulties did the Jews face, and what assurance did Zechariah give them?

⁶ Read Zechariah 4:6, 7. In addition to facing economic hardship and political instability, the Jews had to deal with persecution. In 522 B.C.E., their enemies succeeded in having a ban placed on the rebuilding of Jehovah’s temple. But Zechariah assured the Jews that Jehovah would use His powerful spirit to remove any obstacles. In 520 B.C.E., King Darius lifted the ban on the temple work and even provided the Jews with funds and official support.​—Ezra 6:1, 6-10.

7. When the repatriated Jews gave priority to doing God’s will, what blessings did they receive?

⁷ By means of Haggai and Zechariah, Jehovah promised his people that they would have his backing if they gave priority to the rebuilding of the temple. (Hag. 1:8, 13, 14; Zech. 1:3, 16) Encouraged by the prophets, the repatriated Jews resumed the temple work in 520 B.C.E. and finished rebuilding it in less than five years. Because the Jews gave priority to doing God’s will despite uncertainties, they received Jehovah’s support not only materially but also spiritually. As a result, they worshipped Jehovah with joy.​—Ezra 6:14-16, 22.

KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON DOING GOD’S WILL

8. How can the words of Haggai 2:4 help us to keep our focus on doing God’s will? (See also footnote.)

⁸ As the great tribulation draws close, we realize more than ever how urgent it is to obey the command to share in the preaching work. (Mark 13:10) We may, however, find it difficult to focus on our ministry if we have suffered a financial setback or if we are facing opposition to our preaching work. What can help us to put Kingdom interests first? Remaining confident that “Jehovah of armies”b is on our side. He will support us if we continue to put Kingdom interests ahead of our own. So we have nothing to fear.​—Read Haggai 2:4.

9-10. How did one married couple experience the truthfulness of Jesus’ words recorded at Matthew 6:33?

⁹ Consider the example of Oleg and Irina,c a married couple who serve as pioneers. After moving to assist a congregation in another area, they lost their source of income because of the worsening economic conditions in their country. Although they were without steady work for about a year, they constantly felt Jehovah’s loving support and on occasion received help from their brothers and sisters. How did they cope with uncertainties? Oleg, who at first felt depressed, states, “Keeping busy in the ministry helped us to focus on what is most important in life.” While he and his wife continued to look for work, they remained busy in their ministry.

¹⁰ One day when they returned home from the ministry, they learned that a close friend had traveled about 160 kilometers (100 mi) to bring them two bags of groceries. Oleg says: “On that day, we once again experienced the depth of Jehovah’s care and that of the congregation. We are convinced that Jehovah never forgets his servants, no matter how hopeless their situation may seem.”​—Matt. 6:33.

11. What can we expect if we keep our focus on doing God’s will?

¹¹ Jehovah wants us to focus on the lifesaving work of making disciples. As mentioned in paragraph 7, Haggai urged Jehovah’s people to make a fresh start in their sacred service, as if they were laying the temple’s foundation again. If they did, Jehovah promised to “send a blessing.” (Hag. 2:18, 19) We too can be assured that Jehovah will bless our efforts if we give priority to the work he has assigned us to do.

HOW TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN JEHOVAH

12. Why did Ezra and his fellow exiles need strong faith?

¹² In 468 B.C.E., Ezra traveled with a second group of Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem. To undertake this trip, Ezra and the returnees needed strong faith. They would be traveling on hazardous roads, carrying a great amount of gold and silver that had been donated to the temple. That made them easy targets for robbers. (Ezra 7:12-16; 8:31) In addition, they soon realized that Jerusalem itself was not safe. The city was sparsely populated, and its walls and gates needed repair. What can we learn from Ezra about building our confidence in Jehovah?

13. How did Ezra build his confidence in Jehovah? (See also footnote.)

¹³ Ezra had seen how Jehovah supported His people in times of test. Years earlier, in 484 B.C.E., Ezra was likely living in Babylon when King Ahasuerus issued a decree to exterminate the Jews throughout the Persian Empire. (Esther 3:7, 13-15) Ezra’s life was in danger! In response to this threat, the Jews “in every province” fasted and mourned, no doubt turning to Jehovah in prayer for guidance. (Esther 4:3) Imagine how Ezra and his fellow Jews felt when the tables were turned on those who had plotted to destroy the Jews! (Esther 9:1, 2) What Ezra experienced during those challenging times may have prepared him for future tests and very likely strengthened his confidence in Jehovah’s ability to protect His people.d

14. What lesson did one sister learn when she received Jehovah’s care during uncertain times?

¹⁴ When we receive Jehovah’s care during uncertain times, our confidence in him grows stronger. Consider the example of Anastasia, who lives in Eastern Europe. She quit her job in order to maintain her neutrality. She says: “I had never been in a situation where I was without money.” Then she adds: “I left the matter with Jehovah and saw how he tenderly cared for me. Should I ever be without a job again, I will not be afraid. If my heavenly Father cares for me today, he will care for me tomorrow.”

15. What helped Ezra to maintain his confidence in Jehovah? (Ezra 7:27, 28)

¹⁵ Ezra recognized Jehovah’s hand in his own life. Reflecting on the times when Jehovah came to his aid no doubt helped Ezra to maintain his confidence in Him. Notice the expression “the hand of Jehovah my God was upon me.” (Read Ezra 7:27, 28.) Ezra used similar wording six times in the book that bears his name.​—Ezra 7:6, 9; 8:18, 22, 31.

16. In what situations may we see more clearly God’s hand in our life? (See also picture.)

¹⁶ Jehovah can help us when we are facing a challenge. For example, when asking our employer for time off so that we can attend a convention or when asking for an adjusted work schedule so that we can attend all our meetings, we create an opportunity to see Jehovah’s hand in our life. We may be surprised at how well things turn out. As a result, our confidence in Jehovah grows stronger.

17. How did Ezra show humility during challenging times? (See cover picture.)

¹⁷ Ezra humbly turned to Jehovah for help. Each time he felt overwhelmed by his responsibilities, Ezra humbly prayed to Jehovah. (Ezra 8:21-23; 9:3-5) Ezra’s attitude moved those around him to support him and to imitate his faith. (Ezra 10:1-4) When we feel overwhelmed by anxieties about our material needs or about our family’s safety, we must confidently turn to Jehovah in prayer.

18. What can help our confidence in Jehovah to grow?

¹⁸ If we humbly seek Jehovah’s help and accept the support of our fellow believers, our confidence in God will grow. Erika, a mother of three, maintained her confidence in Jehovah in the face of devastating losses. During a short period of time, she suffered the deaths of her unborn child and her beloved husband. In retrospect, she notes: “You cannot know in advance how Jehovah will help you. Help can come in surprising ways. I have learned that many of my prayers have been answered through the words and actions of my friends. If I open up to my friends, they can help me more easily.”

REMAIN CONFIDENT IN JEHOVAH TO THE END

19-20. What do we learn from the Jews who could not return to Jerusalem?

¹⁹ We can also learn a valuable lesson from the Jews who were not able to return to Jerusalem. Some of them were likely limited in what they could do because of old age, serious illness, or family obligations. Even so, they willingly supported the returnees by contributing materially. (Ezra 1:5, 6) It seems that some 19 years after the arrival of the first group of returnees in Jerusalem, those remaining in Babylon were still sending voluntary gifts to Jerusalem.​—Zech. 6:10.

²⁰ Even if we feel limited in what we can do in God’s service, we can rest assured that Jehovah appreciates our sincere efforts to please him. How do we know? In Zechariah’s day, Jehovah asked his prophet to make a crown out of the gold and the silver sent by the exiles in Babylon. (Zech. 6:11) This “grand crown” would serve as a “reminder” of their generous contributions. (Zech. 6:14, ftns.) We can be confident that Jehovah will never forget our earnest efforts to serve him during uncertain times.​—Heb. 6:10.

21. What will help us to face the future with confidence?

²¹ We will no doubt continue to face uncertainties in these last days, and conditions may even get worse in the future. (2 Tim. 3:1, 13) However, we do not need to be consumed by anxiety. Remember Jehovah’s words to his people in Haggai’s day: “I am with you . . . Do not be afraid.” (Hag. 2:4, 5) We too can be sure that Jehovah will be with us as long as we do our best to carry out his will. By applying the lessons we have learned from the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah and the example of Ezra, we will maintain our confidence in Jehovah no matter what uncertainties we may experience in the future.

1-2. Why might we feel that Jehovah is not answering our prayers?

“FIND exquisite delight in Jehovah, and he will grant you the desires of your heart.” (Ps. 37:4) What an amazing promise! But should we expect Jehovah to give us everything we ask for right away? Why might we ask that question? Consider the following scenarios. A single sister prays about attending the School for Kingdom Evangelizers. But several years go by, and she has still not been invited. A young brother asks Jehovah to be relieved of a debilitating disease so that he can serve in the congregation more fully. But his health does not improve. Christian parents pray that their child will stay in the truth. But their child decides to stop serving Jehovah.

² Perhaps you too have asked Jehovah for something, but you have not received it. As a result, you may conclude that Jehovah answers some prayers but not yours. Or you may reason that you must have done something wrong. A sister named Janiceb felt that way. She and her husband prayed about their desire to serve at Bethel. She says: “I was convinced that we would be at Bethel in no time.” But months turned into years, and the couple had still not been invited. Janice says: “I felt sad and confused. I wondered what I had done to disappoint Jehovah. I had prayed so specifically for his direction. Why had he not answered my prayer?”

3. What will we discuss in this article?

³ At times, we may wonder if Jehovah is listening to our prayers. Even some faithful men of old had that concern. (Job 30:20; Ps. 22:2; Hab. 1:2) What can convince you that Jehovah will respond to your prayers? (Ps. 65:2) To help answer that question, we will first need to answer the following: (1) What can we expect from Jehovah? (2) What does Jehovah expect from us? (3) Why may we need to adjust some of our requests?

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM JEHOVAH?

4. According to Jeremiah 29:12, what does Jehovah promise to do?

⁴ Jehovah promises to listen to our prayers. (Read Jeremiah 29:12.) Our God loves his faithful worshippers, so he will never ignore their prayers. (Ps. 10:17; 37:28) However, this does not mean that he will grant us all our requests. We may have to wait until the new world before we receive some of the things we ask for.

5. What does Jehovah consider when listening to our prayers? Explain.

⁵ Jehovah considers how our requests relate to his overall purpose. (Isa. 55:8, 9) Part of that purpose includes filling the earth with men and women who are joyfully united under his rulership. But Satan claims that humans would be better off ruling themselves. (Gen. 3:1-5) To prove that the Devil’s claim is a lie, Jehovah has allowed humans to govern themselves. Yet, human rule has caused many of the problems we face today. (Eccl. 8:9) We understand that Jehovah will not remove all these problems at this time. If he were to do so, some might conclude that human rule does work, that it is able to solve mankind’s problems.

6. Why do we need to be convinced that Jehovah will always do what is loving and just?

⁶ Jehovah may respond to similar requests in different ways. For example, when King Hezekiah was extremely sick, he begged Jehovah to help him recover. In response, Jehovah healed him. (2 Ki. 20:1-6) On the other hand, when the apostle Paul pleaded with Jehovah to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” possibly a physical ailment, Jehovah did not remove the problem. (2 Cor. 12:7-9) Consider also the example of the apostles James and Peter. They both faced certain death at the hands of King Herod. The congregation prayed for Peter and likely for James too. However, James was put to death, while Peter was miraculously rescued. (Acts 12:1-11) We may wonder, ‘Why did Jehovah save Peter but not James?’ The Bible does not say.c What we can be sure of is that Jehovah’s ways are “never unjust.” (Deut. 32:4) And we know that both Peter and James had Jehovah’s approval. (Rev. 21:14) At times, we may be faced with an outcome we did not expect. But because we trust that Jehovah’s answer to our prayers will always be loving and just, we do not question the way he chooses to answer us.​—Job 33:13.

7. What do we try to avoid, and why?

⁷ We try to avoid comparing our situation with that of others. For instance, we may ask Jehovah to help us in a specific way, but our request is not granted. Later, we learn that someone else made a similar request, and Jehovah seemed to have granted it. A sister named Anna had that experience. She prayed that her husband, Matthew, might recover from cancer. At the same time, two elderly Christian sisters were also battling cancer. Anna prayed intensely for Matthew and for the sisters. The sisters recovered, but Matthew passed away. At first, Anna wondered if the sisters got well because Jehovah intervened. And if so, why did he not answer her prayers that her husband get better? Of course, we cannot say why the two sisters recovered. What we do know is that Jehovah has a permanent solution for all our suffering, and he longs to resurrect his friends who have died.​—Job 14:15.

8. (a) According to Isaiah 43:2, how does Jehovah support us? (b) How can prayer help us when we are facing difficult trials? (See the video Prayer Helps Us to Cope.)

⁸ Jehovah will always support us. As our loving Father, Jehovah does not like to see us in pain. (Isa. 63:9) Still, he does not prevent all our trials, which can be likened to rivers or flames. (Read Isaiah 43:2.) However, he does promise to help us “pass through” them. And he will not allow our trials to cause us permanent harm. Jehovah also gives us his powerful holy spirit to help us endure. (Luke 11:13; Phil. 4:13) As a result, we can be confident that we will always have exactly what we need in order to endure and to remain faithful to him.d

WHAT DOES JEHOVAH EXPECT FROM US?

9. In line with James 1:6, 7, why do we need to trust that Jehovah will help us?

⁹ Jehovah expects us to trust in him. (Heb. 11:6) At times, our trials may seem insurmountable. We might even begin to doubt whether Jehovah will help us. But the Bible assures us that by God’s power we can “scale a wall.” (Ps. 18:29) So instead of giving in to our doubts, we should pray in full faith, trusting that Jehovah will answer our prayers.​—Read James 1:6, 7.

10. Illustrate how we can act in harmony with our prayers.

¹⁰ Jehovah expects us to act in harmony with our prayers. For example, a brother may ask Jehovah to help him get time off from his secular work so that he can attend a regional convention. How might Jehovah answer that prayer? He might give the brother the courage he needs to approach his employer. But the brother will still need to follow through by making the request. He may need to ask repeatedly. He may even offer to trade shifts with another employee. And, if necessary, he may offer to take the time off without pay.

11. Why should we pray repeatedly about our concerns?

¹¹ Jehovah expects us to pray repeatedly about our concerns. (1 Thess. 5:17) Jesus implied that some of our requests would not be granted right away. (Luke 11:9) So do not give up! Pray earnestly and repeatedly. (Luke 18:1-7) When we continue praying about a matter, we show Jehovah that our request is not just a passing whim. We also demonstrate our faith in his ability to help us.

WHY MAY WE NEED TO ADJUST SOME OF OUR REQUESTS?

12. (a) What is one question we should ask ourselves about our requests, and why? (b) How can we make sure that our prayers show respect for Jehovah? (See the box “Do My Requests Show Respect for Jehovah?”)

¹² If we do not receive what we asked for in prayer, we might ask ourselves three questions. The first is, ‘Am I praying for the right thing?’ Often, we think that we know what is best for us. But the things we ask for may not benefit us in the long run. If we are praying about a problem, there may be a better solution to the problem than the one we are asking for. And some things we ask for may not be in harmony with Jehovah’s will. (1 John 5:14) For instance, consider the example of the parents mentioned earlier. They had asked Jehovah to keep their child in the truth. That seems like an appropriate request. Yet, Jehovah will not force any of us to serve him. He wants all of us, including our children, to choose to worship him. (Deut. 10:12, 13; 30:19, 20) So the parents could instead ask Jehovah to help them reach their child’s heart so that he will be moved to love Jehovah and to become His friend.​—Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4.

13. According to Hebrews 4:16, when will Jehovah help us? Explain.

¹³ A second question would be, ‘Is it Jehovah’s time to grant my request?’ We may feel that we need an immediate answer to our prayers. Really, though, Jehovah knows the best time to help. (Read Hebrews 4:16.) When we do not receive what we ask for right away, we may think that Jehovah’s answer is ‘No.’ But his answer could in effect be ‘Not yet.’ For example, think back to the young brother who prayed to be cured of his illness. If Jehovah had miraculously cured him, Satan could have argued that the brother continued serving Jehovah only because he had been healed. (Job 1:9-11; 2:4) Additionally, Jehovah has already set the time to cure all sicknesses. (Isa. 33:24; Rev. 21:3, 4) And until then, we cannot expect miraculous cures. So the brother could ask Jehovah to give him the strength and the peace of mind to endure his illness and to continue serving God faithfully.​—Ps. 29:11.

14. What do you learn from Janice’s experience?

¹⁴ Recall the experience of Janice, who prayed about serving at Bethel. Five years passed before she understood how Jehovah had answered her prayer. She says: “Jehovah used that time to teach me and to refine me. My trust in him needed to grow. My personal study habits needed to improve. And I needed to find inner joy, which is not dependent on my circumstances.” Later, Janice and her husband were invited to serve in the circuit work. Looking back, Janice says: “Jehovah did answer my prayers, though not in the way I expected. It took me a while to see the beauty of his answer, but I am so grateful to have experienced his love and kindness.”

15. Why may we need to broaden our requests? (See also pictures.)

¹⁵ A third question would be, ‘Should I be praying for something else?’ Although it is good to be specific in prayer, we may be able to discern what Jehovah’s will is for us by making our request broader. Consider the example of the single sister who has been praying about attending the School for Kingdom Evangelizers. She wants to attend the school so that she can serve where the need is greater. So while continuing to pray to be invited to the school, she could also ask Jehovah to help her identify other opportunities to expand her ministry. (Acts 16:9, 10) Then she could act in harmony with that prayer by asking her circuit overseer if a nearby congregation has a need for more pioneers. Or she could write to a branch office to ask about where there is a need for more Kingdom publishers.e

16. Of what can we be convinced?

¹⁶ As we have learned, we can be convinced that Jehovah will answer our prayers in a loving and just way. (Ps. 4:3; Isa. 30:18) Sometimes we may not get the response we expect. But Jehovah will never ignore our prayers. He loves us very much. And he will never abandon us. (Ps. 9:10) So continue to “trust in him at all times,” pouring out your heart to him in prayer.​—Ps. 62:8.

A LIFE OF TRUST IN JEHOVAH BEGINS

I was born in 1948 in a small village in the southwest of Nigeria. During that time, Uncle Moustapha, my father’s younger brother, and then Wahabi, my eldest brother, got baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses. When I was nine, my father died. I was heartbroken. Wahabi told me that we could see Father again in the resurrection. That comforting thought moved me to study the Bible. I got baptized in 1963. My three other brothers also got baptized.

In 1965, I joined my older brother Wilson in Lagos and enjoyed close association with other regular pioneers in the Igbobi Congregation. Their joy and zeal motivated me, and in January 1968, I too joined the pioneer ranks.

A brother serving at Bethel, Albert Olugbebi, organized a special meeting with us young ones regarding the need for special pioneers in northern Nigeria. I still remember Brother Olugbebi’s enthusiastic appeal: “You are young, and you can use your time and energy for Jehovah. The field is open!” Eager to imitate the prophet Isaiah’s volunteer spirit, I submitted an application.​—Isa. 6:8.

In May 1968, I was assigned as a special pioneer to the city of Kano, in northern Nigeria. This was during the Biafran War (1967-1970), which had ravaged the region before the hostilities moved to the east of Nigeria. A well-meaning brother tried to convince me not to go. But I told him: “Thank you for your concern. However, if Jehovah wants me to serve him in this assignment, I have no doubt that he will be with me.”

TRUSTING IN JEHOVAH IN A WAR-TORN REGION

Conditions in Kano were very sad. The civil war had ravaged this large city. While in the ministry, we sometimes came across the corpses of those who had been massacred during the conflict. Although there had been several congregations in Kano, most of the brothers had fled. Fewer than 15 publishers remained, and they were frightened and discouraged. Those brothers and sisters were overjoyed when six of us special pioneers arrived. The publishers responded well to our encouragement. We helped them reestablish a spiritual routine and resume sending field service reports and literature orders to the branch.

We special pioneers started learning the Hausa language. On hearing the Kingdom message in their own tongue, many locals listened to us. However, members of the dominant religion did not favor our preaching work, so we had to be very cautious. On one occasion, my partner and I were chased by a man with a knife. Fortunately, we had a head start and managed to escape! Despite the dangers, Jehovah made us “dwell in security” and the number of publishers began to grow. (Ps. 4:8) Today, over 500 publishers are serving in 11 congregations in Kano.

FACING OPPOSITION IN NIGER

Later in August 1968, after being in Kano for just a few months, I was sent to Niamey, the capital of the Republic of Niger, along with two other special pioneers. We soon discovered firsthand that Niger, in West Africa, is in one of the hottest regions on earth. In addition to learning to cope with the heat, we had to learn the official language, French. In spite of these challenges, we put our trust in Jehovah and began preaching in the capital alongside a handful of publishers who lived there. Within a short time, just about everyone in Niamey who could read had received a copy of the Bible study book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. People would even come looking for us to get a copy!

Before long, we realized that the authorities were not favorable toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. In July 1969, we gathered for the first-ever circuit assembly in the country, with about 20 in attendance. We were looking forward to the baptism of two new publishers. However, on the first day of the assembly, the police arrived and stopped the program. They took the special pioneers and the circuit overseer to the police station. After questioning us, they ordered us to report back the next day. Sensing that trouble was on the horizon, we arranged a baptism talk in a private home and then discreetly baptized the candidates in a river.

A few weeks later, the Ministry of the Interior expelled me and five other special pioneers. They gave us 48 hours to leave the country, and we had to use our own means. We complied and went directly to the branch office in Nigeria, where we received new assignments.

I was assigned to the Nigerian village of Orisunbare, where I enjoyed a productive ministry along with the small group of publishers who lived there. But after six months, the branch office invited me to return to Niger by myself. After my initial surprise and not a little apprehension, I was eager to meet the brothers in Niger again!

I returned to Niamey. The day after I arrived, a Nigerian businessman recognized that I was a Witness and started asking questions about the Bible. We studied together, and after he quit smoking and heavy drinking, he got baptized. Thereafter, I was pleased to participate in the slow but steady growth in various regions of Niger. When I first arrived, there were 31 Witnesses in the country; when I left, there were 69.

“WE DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE KINGDOM WORK IN GUINEA”

Late in 1977, I returned to Nigeria to receive training. At the end of the three-week course, the Branch Committee coordinator, Malcolm Vigo, had me read a letter from the Sierra Leone branch. The brothers were looking for a healthy, single pioneer brother who spoke English and French so that he could serve as a circuit overseer in Guinea. Brother Vigo informed me that I was being trained for the assignment. He stressed that it was not an easy assignment. “Think it over before you accept,” he advised me. I immediately replied, “Since it is Jehovah who is sending me, I will go.”

I flew to Sierra Leone and met with the brothers at the branch office. One Branch Committee member told me, “We do not know much about the Kingdom work in Guinea.” Although the branch was responsible for the preaching work in neighboring Guinea, communication with the publishers was not possible because of the tense political situation there. And despite several attempts, the branch had been unable to get a representative into the country. Therefore, I was asked to travel to the capital of Guinea, Conakry, to try to obtain residency.

When I arrived in Conakry, I went to the Nigerian embassy and met the ambassador. I told him of my desire to preach in Guinea. He urged me not to stay as I risked being arrested or worse. “Return to Nigeria and preach there,” he said, to which I replied, “I am determined to stay.” So he wrote a letter asking the Guinean Minister of the Interior to assist me, and the minister received me cordially.

Shortly afterward, I returned to the branch office in Sierra Leone and informed the brothers of the minister’s decision. The brothers shouted with joy when they heard how Jehovah had blessed my journey. I had been granted residency in Guinea!

From 1978 to 1989, I served in the circuit work in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and as a substitute circuit overseer in Liberia. At first, I fell sick quite often. This sometimes happened in isolated areas. But the brothers would do their best to get me to a hospital.

On one occasion, I contracted a serious case of malaria, along with intestinal worms. When I eventually recovered, I learned that the brothers had been discussing where to bury me! Despite these life-threatening events, I never thought of abandoning my assignments. And I remain convinced that true and lasting security comes from the God who can raise us from the dead.

TRUSTING IN JEHOVAH AS A COUPLE

In 1988, I met Dorcas, a very humble, spiritually-minded pioneer sister. We got married, and she joined me in my assignment in the circuit work. Dorcas has proved to be a loving and self-sacrificing wife. Together, we walked as far as 25 kilometers (15 mi) between congregations, carrying our baggage. For more distant congregations, we used any transport we could find to travel along the muddy roads riddled with potholes.

Dorcas is very courageous. For example, we would at times have to cross crocodile-infested waters. During one five-day journey, the wooden bridges over a river were broken and we had to use canoes. As Dorcas stood up to get out of the canoe, she fell into deep water. Neither of us could swim, and there were crocodiles in that river. Fortunately, some young men dived in and rescued her. We both had nightmares about that event for some time, but we continued in our mission.

Early in 1992, we were very surprised to learn that Dorcas was pregnant. Was this the end of our career in full-time service? We reasoned, “Jehovah has given us a gift!” Therefore, we decided to name our daughter Jahgift. Four years after the arrival of Jahgift, her brother, Eric, followed. Both our children have turned out to be spiritual gifts to us. Jahgift served for some time in the remote translation office in Conakry, and Eric is a ministerial servant.

Although Dorcas eventually had to stop special pioneering, she continued to regular pioneer, even while raising our children. With Jehovah’s help, I continued in special full-time service. After our children grew up, Dorcas was again able to serve as a special pioneer. Now both of us serve as field missionaries in Conakry.

THE SOURCE OF TRUE SECURITY

I have always gone wherever Jehovah has taken me. Often my wife and I have felt his protection and blessing. Trusting in Jehovah has spared us many of the stresses that plague those who trust in material things. Dorcas and I have learned through personal experience that the Source of true security is the “God of our salvation,” Jehovah. (1 Chron. 16:35) I am confident that the life of all those who trust in him “will be wrapped securely in the bag of life with Jehovah.”​—1 Sam. 25:29.

IF YOU had visited the small island of Sangir Besar in Indonesia some years ago, you might have seen three of our Christian sisters on the beach. They are well-known on the island for their ministry​—helping people understand the Bible. But on that occasion, they were doing something quite different.

First, they waded into the sea and lugged stones back onto the beach. Some of the stones were as large as soccer balls. Next, the women sat on small wooden stools and used hammers to smash the stones into pieces smaller than a chicken egg. After that, they put the small stones into plastic buckets and carried them up a stairway to the place where they lived. Then, they put the stones into large bags that could be loaded onto trucks and used as material for road construction.

One of these sisters was Hulda. Her circumstances allowed her to spend more time than the others doing this work. She would normally use the money earned to pay for her family’s daily necessities. However, now she worked with an additional goal in mind. She wanted an electronic tablet so that she could access the JW Library^® app. Hulda knew that the videos and the other content in the app would enhance her ministry and her understanding of the Bible.

Hulda worked two hours every morning for a month and a half, smashing enough stones to fill the back of a small truck. Finally, she had enough money to buy the tablet.

“Even though I was physically exhausted and sore from smashing stones,” Hulda said, “I quickly forgot all about the aches and pains when I was able to use this new tablet to help me to be more effective in the ministry and to prepare for Christian meetings more easily.” She also said that the tablet helped her during the early part of the pandemic, since all congregation activities were being held virtually. We rejoice with Hulda that she reached her goal.

Learn “Spiritual Songs” by Heart

“When I struggle with low self-esteem, Jehovah encourages me by means of the songs on JW Broadcasting^®.”​—Lorraine, U.S.A.

“Spiritual songs” have always been part of Christian worship. (Col. 3:16) If you learn these songs by heart, they can help you even when you do not have access to a songbook or an electronic device. Try the following tips to help you to commit songs to memory.

• Carefully read the lyrics to understand the meaning. You can recall information more easily when it makes sense to you. The lyrics for all our songs, including the original songs and the songs for children, are available on jw.org. Under the Library section, go to Music.

• Write out the lyrics by hand. Doing so will likely impress the words more deeply on your memory.​—Deut. 17:18.

• Practice out loud. Read or sing the song repeatedly.

• Test your memory. Try recalling the words without looking at the lyric sheet, and then check to see how well you did.