Keep Calm and Trust in Jehovah - SIX THINGS THAT WILL HELP US KEEP CALM - Continues

 

3. Learn from good examples and bad ones.  The Bible contains many accounts that highlight the value of keeping calm and putting our trust in Jehovah.  As you study these accounts, notice what helped God's servants to remain calm in the face of extreme opposition.  For example, when the Jewish supreme court ordered the apostles to stop preaching, they were not intimidated.  Instead, they boldly declared:  "We must obey God as ruler rather than men." (Acts 5:29)  Even after being flogged, the apostles did not panic. Why? Because they knew that Jehovah was on their side.  He was pleased with them.  Thus, they continued preaching the good news.  (Acts 5:40-42) Likewise, when the disciple Steven faced death, he remained so peaceful and serene that his face looked "like an angel's face." (Acts 6:12-15)  Why? Because he was assured of Jehovah's approval. 

The apostles had direct evidence that Jehovah was with them. He had given them the  power to perform miracles.  (Acts 5:12-16) That is not the case with us today.  Even so, through His Word, Jehovah lovingly assures us that when we suffer  for the sake of  righteousness, he is pleased with us. (Read 1 Peter 3:14; 4:14.)  So rather than dwell on how we might react to severe persecution in the future, we need to focus on what we can do now to build our confidence in Jehovah's abillity  to sustain and deliver. Just as those early disciples did, we must trust Jesus' promise: "I will give you words and wisdom that all your opposers together will not be able  to resist or dispute."  We have the guarantee:  "By your endurance you will preserve your lives."  (Luke 21:12-19)   And never forget that Jehovah keeps in his memory the smallest details about  his servants who die faithful to him. With that knowledge,  he will resurrect them. 

We can also learn from the experients and failed to keep calm and trust in Jehovah.  Studying these bad example will help us to avoid making the same mistakes they made.  For instance, early in his reign, King Asa of Judah relied on Jehovah when confronted by a massive army, and Jehovah blessed him with victory.  (2 Chronicles 14:9-12)  Later, though, when the much smaller army of King Baash of Israel came against him, Asa paid the Syrians for military help instead of looking to Jehovah for salvation, as he had in the past.  (2 Chronicles16:1-3)  And near the end of his life when he developed a severe ailment, he did not rely on Jehovah to help him. - 2 CHRONICLES 16:12.

In the beginning, Asa looked to Jehovah when faced with problems. But later he failed to turn to his God for help, preferring to handle matters on his own. On the surface, Asa's plan to turn to the Syrians for help against Israel may have appeared to be very practical.  But his success was short-lived. Jehovah told him through a prophet:  "Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on Jehovah your God, the army of the King of Syria has escaped out of your hand. ( 2 Chronicles 16:7) We must be careful not feel so confident about handling matters on our own that we fail to look to Jehovah for guidance through his Word.  Even when we are faced in an urgent situation, we should calmly rely on Jehovah, and he will help us to succeed. 

Next time: Keep Calm and Trust in Jehovah - SIX THINGS THAT WILL HELP US KEEP CALM- Continued

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