SOON A World Without Despair

LIFE is getting increasingly demanding, and the reason for despair are man. When frustrated, we may find it hard to control our emotions. Why, even people who love life can become desperately unhappy!  Consider a few examples.

In ancient times, the prophet Moses got so discouraged that he said to God: "Please kill off altogether, if I have found favor in your eyes, and let me not look upon my calamity." (Numbers 11:15)  Fleeing from his enemies, the prophet Elijah exclaimed:  "It is enough!  Now, O Jehovah, take my soul [life] away." ( 1 Kings 19:4) And the prophet Jonah said:  "O Jehovah,  take away, please, my soul from me, for my dying is better than my being alive." (Jonah 4:3) But neither Moses, Elijah, nor Jonah committed suicide. All of them knew God's commandment: "You must not murder." (Exodus 2o:13) Having strong faith in God, they were aware that no situation is hopeless and that the life is a gift from God.

What about the problem we now face? In addition to emotional distress or physical problems, we may at times have to put up with ill-treatment from family members, neighbors, or colleagues.  The Bible speaks of people who are filled "with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, badness, being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malicious disposition, being whispers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, self-assuming, inventors of injurious things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, false to agreements, having no natural affection, merciless." (Romans 1:28-31) Being surrounded by such people day after day may make life seem like a burden.  How can we help those who need comfort and relief?

Next time: Willingness to Listen

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000