YOU CAN COPE With Discouragement!

When Others Hurt Your Feelings

You cannot expect to be protected from every careless word or thoughtless deed. You can, however, refuse to permit the imperfections of others to interfere with your service to Jehovah. If someone has hurt your feelings, you may find it helpful to consider how Hannah, the mother of Samuel, handled a discouraging situation.

Hannah desperately wanted children, but she was barren. Her husband's second wide, Peninnah, had already borne him sons and daughters. Instead of being sensitive to Hannah's plight, Peninnah viewed her a a rival and displayed such an attitude toward her that Hannah "would weep and not eat." -1 Samuel 1:2, 4-7.

One day Hannah went up to the Tabernacle to pray. Eli, the high priest of Israel, observed her lips moving. Not realizing that Hannah was praying. Eli concluded that she must be drunk. "How long will you behave drunk?" He demanded. "Put away your wine from upon you." (1 Samuel 1:12-14) Can you imagine how Hannah must have felt? She had come to the tabernacle to find encouragement. She certainly did not expect to be wrongly accused by one of the most influential men in Israel!

The stage was set for Hannah to become very discouraged. She could have left the tabernacle abruptly, vowing never to return as long as Eli was serving there as high priest. However, Hannah clearly valued her relationship with Jehovah. She knew that he would not be pleased if she took such a course. The tabernacle was the center of pure worship. Jehovah had placed his name there. And imperfect as he was, Eli was Jehovah's chosen representative.

Hannah's godly response to Eli's accusation provides a sterling example for us today. She did not allow herself to be wrongly accused, but she responded in a very respectful manner. "No, my lord!" She replied. "A woman hard pressed in spirit I am; and wine and intoxicating liquor I have not drunk, but I pour out my soul before Jehovah. Do not make you slave girl like a good-for-nothing woman, for it is out of the abundance of my concern and my vexation that I have spoken until now." -1 Samuel 1:15, 16.

Did Hannah make her point? Definitely. Yet, she spoke tactfully to Eli, not presuming to criticize him for his false accusation. He, in responded kindly to her, saying: "Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him." Once the matter was settled, Hannah proceeded to go on her way and to eat, and her face became self-concerned no more." -1 Samuel 1:17, 18.

What do we learn from this account? Hannah acted quickly to correct a misunderstanding, but she did so with deep respect. As a result, she preserved a fine relationship with Jehovah and with Eli. How often good communication and a little tact can prevent small problems from growing into larger ones!

If must be recognized that settling differences with others requires humility and flexibility on both sides. If a fellow believer fails to respond to your efforts to respond to your efforts to resolve a difference, you may have to leave the matter in Jehovah's hands, trusting that he will handle it in his own time and in his own way.

Next time: Have You Lost a Service Privilege?

Watchtower, 2001