Post by The Ambassador on Aug 25, 2019 19:19:07 GMT
Comfort Through All Our Troubles
*Note: unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures quoted are from the New International Version Bible (NIV).
Our Father is indeed a loving God, and he comforts us when we face difficulties. You may personally have had experiences in which God provided you with support and guidance, often through his Word. We can be sure that he wants the best for us, as he did for his servants in the past.—Read Jeremiah 29:11, 12.
Understandably, we are in a better position to cope if we can identify the causes of our problems or troubles. And that is true of troubles related to married life and to family life. What, then, are some of the realities that may bring on the ‘troubles in this life’ that Paul mentioned? What examples from both Bible times and our time can help us to find the comfort we need? Knowing this will help us to cope.
TRIALS—‘troubles in this life’
We can read what God said near the start of human history: “A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24) Our Father said that when he performed the first human marriage. Yet, under imperfect conditions, getting married and setting up a new household can strain family relationships. (Rom. 3:23) Usually, parental authority is being replaced by the authority of the husband. God authorizes him to exercise authority over his wife. (1 Cor. 11:3) Some new husbands and wives do not find this to be easy. According to God’s Word, a wife is to accept that she will be directed by her husband rather than by her parents. Relationships with in-laws may become strained and cause troubles for the newlyweds.
New anxieties often surface after a wife announces to her husband, “We are going to have a baby.” Usually, a couple’s joy over their prospective child is tinged with some apprehension about medical issues that may arise during the pregnancy or later. And there will be an economic impact to consider, both immediate and long-term. More adjustments become necessary when the baby arrives. The new mother’s time and attention may be focused on caring for her child. Many a husband has felt left out because his wife is occupied with her duties toward their baby. On the other hand, a new father has new responsibilities to shoulder. His duties increase because he has a new family member to care for and provide for.
A different sort of troubles confronts some married couples. They desperately want children but remain childless. When the wife does not become pregnant, she may feel much emotional distress. Neither marriage nor childbearing guarantees freedom from cares, yet an unfulfilled desire for children is in its own way a form of ‘troubles in this life.’ (Prov. 13:12) In Bible times, barrenness often carried a stigma. Rachel, Jacob’s wife, expressed anguish at seeing her sister have children. (Gen. 30:1, 2) Missionaries serving in lands where it is customary to have large families are often asked why they do not have children. Despite their logical and tactful explanation, the reaction may be, “Oh, we will pray for you!”
Or consider the case of a Christian woman in England who very much wanted a child but whose hopes in that regard had not been fulfilled. Then she entered the change of life. She admitted that she felt devastated, for she realized that her desire would not be satisfied in her lifetime. She and her husband decided to adopt a child. Nonetheless, she said: “I still went through a sort of grieving process. I knew that adoption would not be exactly the same as giving birth to my own child.”
The Bible does mention a Christian woman’s being “saved through childbearing.” (1 Tim. 2:15) But this does not mean that giving birth or having children results in gaining everlasting life. Rather, it refers to the fact that a woman’s having children to tend to, along with the other aspects of caring for a household, may keep her from falling into a pattern of gossiping and meddling in others’ affairs. (1 Tim. 5:13) However, she may still face troubles linked to marriage and family life.
A grieving Christian woman receives comfort through prayer, support from another woman
of faith, by attending Christian Bible studies, and by ministering to others
COMFORT WHEN WE FACE TRIALS
Hannah, a beloved wife of Elkanah, faced a particular trial. She remained barren while Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, produced offspring. (Read 1 Samuel 1:4-7.) Hannah was taunted by Peninnah “year after year.” That caused Hannah great anguish and distress. She sought relief by taking the matter to our Father in prayer. Indeed, “she prayed for a long time before our Great God.” Did she expect God to grant her request? She must have hoped so. In any event, “her face was no longer downcast.” (1 Sam. 1:12, 17, 18) She trusted that our Father would either put an end to her barrenness or fill the lack in some other way.
Trials and troubles will continue as long as we are imperfect and are in this world which is under Satan’s control. (1 John 5:19) How good it is to know, though, that our Father is “the God of all comfort”! One way that we can receive help to deal with our personal trials or troubles is through prayer. Hannah poured out her heart to our Father. Similarly, in the face of troubles, we need to do more than simply mention to God how we feel. We need to supplicate him, yes, to convey our feelings by praying intensely from the heart.—Phil. 4:6, 7.
Even if we feel a deep void in our life—whether from childlessness or from the death of a loved one—we can still gain comfort. In Jesus’ day, the prophetess Anna lost her husband after only seven years of marriage. The Bible account makes no mention of any children. What was Anna still doing at 84 years of age? Luke 2:37 states: “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Yes, Anna found comfort as well as joy in worshiping our Father.
When we associate closely with our Christian friends, we find true comfort and close companions. (Prov. 18:24) Paula recalls how sad she felt at the age of five when her mother fell away from the Christian faith. Overcoming this trial was not easy. But she was greatly encouraged when Ann, a devout woman of faith, took a keen personal interest in her spiritual welfare. “Even though Ann was not related to me, I found her loving concern to be such a help,” Paula explains. “It helped me to keep serving our Father.” Paula continues to serve faithfully. She is also very happy to be once again serving alongside her mother in the congregation. Ann too is happy, for she has been like a spiritual mother to Paula.
Interestingly, when we show loving personal interest in others, we may actually let go of some of our own negative feelings. Women of faith, married or unmarried, know for a fact that they find great joy in speaking with others about their conviction as fellow workers with God. Their goal is to honor God by doing his will. Some even view their service to our Lord as therapy. Certainly, all of us contribute to a close bond in the congregation when we show concern for others, those in our church and those who may also be in need. (Phil. 2:4) The apostle Paul was a fine example. He became like “a nursing mother” to those in the Thessalonian congregation; he was also like a spiritual father.—Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 11, 12.
COMFORT IN THE FAMILY
One area that merits attention is the comfort and help we offer to families. On occasion, new ones ask mature men and women of faith to help them teach their children the gospel message, even to conduct a Bible study with the youngsters. Scripturally, the primary responsibility to teach and train young ones lies with the parents. (Prov. 23:22; Eph. 6:1-4) In some cases help from others is needed and much appreciated. Yet, that does not negate the parents’ responsibility. Their regular communication in the family is essential.
If a parent decides to have someone study with their children, the one who does so should not try to take over the role of the parents. There have been instances when a Christian was asked to study with children whose parents were not even interested in the Christian way of life. The Christian needs to bear in mind, though, that in providing spiritual help, he or she does not become the children’s parent. And if such a study is arranged, it would be wise to do so either in the children’s home with the parents or another mature Christian around or in a suitable public area. Thus no one would have a basis to misconstrue what is occurring. It is to be hoped that the parents will, in time, fulfill their God-given responsibility to care spiritually for their children.
Young ones who learn to love the true God and to follow his counsel can become a source of comfort in a family. They can do so by showing respect for their parents and by helping in material ways. They can also make a valuable spiritual contribution. Before the Flood, Seth’s descendant Lamech worshiped our Father. That family man said of his son Noah: “[He] will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.” That prophecy was fulfilled when the curse on the ground was lifted. (Gen. 5:29; 8:21) On a more personal level, children who pursue true worship can prove to be sources of comfort in their families, helping all to endure present trials and then to survive something greater than the Flood.
Prayer, meditation on examples found in the Bible, and close association with our Father’s people are helping millions right now to gain comfort in all their trials. (Read Psalm 145:18, 19.) Knowing that our Father is the Source of lasting comfort will surely help us to endure courageously whatever troubles we face—now and in the future.
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