You Can Trust Your Brothers - REBUILDING OUR TRUST

 Have you trusted a brother with cinfidential information, only to find out that he betrayed  your trust?  That can be devastating. Once, a sister confided a personal matter to an elder.  The next day, the elder's wide called to encourage the sister, obviously knowing what was told to the elder in confidence.  Understandably, the sister's trust in that elder was shaken.  To her credit, though, the sister reached out for help.  She approached another elder and he helped her to rebuild her trust in the elders.

One brother had a long-staning difference with two elders whom he felt he cold trust.  However,  he started thinking about something that was said by a brother whom he greatly respected. This simple yet powerfu statement was: "Satan is the enemy, not our brothers."  The brother gave that statement considerable, prayerful thought, and he was eventually able to make peace with both elders.

Have  you ever lost a privilege?  That can be a painful experience.  Grete and her mother were loyal Witnesses in Nazi Germany during the 1930's when our work was banned. Grete enjoyed the privilege of typing copies in the Watchtower for her fellow believers.  But when the brothers learned that her father was opposed to the truth, they took away that privilege, out of fear that her father would betray the congregation to the opposers. Grete's trials did not end there.  Throughout the Second World War, the brothers would not entrust Grete and her mother with copies of the magazines and refused to speak to them when they met on the street.  That really hurt!  The wounds were deep, and Grete sais that it took a long time for her to forgive those brothers again.  In time, though, she acknowledge that Jehovah must have forgiven them, so he should too.

Next time: You Can Trust Your Brothers - REBUIDING OUR TRUST

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