Return to Jehovah/PART FIVE: Return to "the Shepherd and Overseer of Your Souls"

 Were you able to relate to one or more of the challenges discussed in this brochure?  If so, you are in good company.  Many faithful servant of God-both in Bible times and in our day-have dealt with similar challenges. Just as they received help from Jehovah to overcome such challenges, so can you.

Be assured that Jehovah will be there for you as you return to him. He will help you to deal with anxiety, to resolve hurt feelings, and to find the peace of mind and hear that comes from having a clean conscience. Then you may once again feel moved to serve Jehovah along with fellow worshippers.  Your situation will be similar to that of some first-century Christians, to whom the apostle Peter wrote:  "You were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls." -1 Peter 2:25. 

Returning to Jehovah is absolutely the best thin you can do. Why? You will bring joy  to Jehovah's heart.  (Proverbs 27:11)  As you know, Jehovah has feelings, so our actions affect him. Of course, Jehovah does not force us to love and serve him. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) One Bible scholar put it this way:  "There is no handles on the outside of the door of the human heart. It must be opened from within."  By worshipping Jehovah out of a heart full of love, we can choose to  that door. . When we do so, we give him a precious gift-our integrity-and we bring tremendous to his heart.  Really, nothing can compare to the happiness we experience from giving Jehovah the worship he deserves. -Acts 20:35; Revelation 4:11. 

Next time: Conclusion of  Return to "the Shepherd and Overseer of Your Souls"

From the jw.org publications