The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - GOD ALLOWS JOB TO SUFFER

 During the time the Israelites were suffering in Egypt, a man named Job was living in the land Uz, possibly located east of the Promised Land and somewhere north of the Arabia. In stark contrast to the Israelites who had begun worshipping idols in Egypt, Job served faithfully. (Joshua 24:14; Ezekiel 20:8) Jehovah said of Job: "There is no one like him on the earth." (Job 1:8) Job was extremely wealthy and enjoyed great prestige/greater than that of any other person of the East. (Job 1:3) How infuriated Satan must have been to see this prominent and influential man serving God with integrity!

Satan claimed that Job would abandon true worship if he suffered. (Job 1:7-11; 2:2-5) Though Jehovah loved Job dearly, Satan's brazen claim raised many important issues, so Jehovah allowed Satan to try to prove his case. (Job 1:12-19; 2:6, 8) Satan took away Job's flocks and herds, cause the death of Job's ten children, and struck Job with painful boils from head to toe. But these sadistic attempts to break Job's integrity failed. (Read Job 1:20-22; 2:9, 10.) In time, Jehovah gave Job ten more children. He also miraculously extended Job's life for 140 years, long enough for him to see four generations of his descendants thriving. (Job 42:10-13, 16) How could this account have benefited those in the past, and how can it benefit us today? 

How the Israelites could have benefited. The Israelites had not lived easy lives in Egypt. For example, Joshua and Caleb had spent their youth as slaves. Then through no fault of their own, the wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. If the Israelites had knew about the story of Job's trials and the outcome of his life, no doubt it helped them, as well as the Israelites of future generations, to understand who is ultimately responsible for suffering. They could also better understand why God permits suffering and how much he values human integrity and faithfulness.

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer

 "For a certainty, God does not act wickedly." - JOB 34:12.

Have you recently had the pleasure of reading the book of Job? Though written some 3,500 years age, this ancient book is often counted among the masterpieces of world literature. Commenting on its simple structure, beautiful style, and expressive language, one reference work calls its writer "a literary genius." Moses was the man who penned the remarkable book, but the real Author is Jehovah God. - 2 TIMOTHY 3:16. 

The book of Job is a key part of the Bible. Why? For one thing, it clearly reveals the great issue facing all intelligent creation-the sanctification of Jehovah's name. It also teaches us about Jehovah's marvelous qualities, such as his love, wisdom, justice, and power. For example, the book of Job refers to Jehovah as the "Almighty" 31 times, more than the rest of the Scriptures combined. The book of Job also answers many of life's questions, including one that still troubles many: Why does God allow suffering? 

Just as a mountain give us a vantage point from which we can see our surrounding clearly, the book of Job helps us to view life's trials from an elevated perspective-Jehovah's perspective. Let us see how we can benefit from it today. We will also learn how we can use the Bible account to help others.

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings -LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE

 Even if we have a good spiritual routing and a good study program tailored to our needs, we cannot expect negative thoughts and feelings to disappear completely. We may still have days when we feel miserable! However, with Jehovah's help, we can lessen negative feelings when they arise. We can be confident that on most days we will enjoy a clean conscience and have every reason to rejoice in our life and our service to Jehovah. 

Let us be determined not to be controlled by negative feelings about our past, our troubles or our imperfections. With Jehovah's help, we can keep negative feelings in check.  (Psalm 143:10) We can look forward to the day when positive thinking will no longer be a struggle.  Rather, we will be able to wake up each morning without having any anxious thoughts, happy to be serving our loving God, Jehovah!

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings - HOW YOU CAN FIGHT NEGATIVE FEELINGS - Conclusion

 Prayerfully analyze your personal needs. King David was aware that Jehovah knew him well. So David asked Jehovah to help him identify the cause of his "anxious thoughts." (Read Psalm 139:1-4, 23, 24.) You too can ask Jehovah to help you identify the cause of your negative thoughts and understand how to overcome them. You might also ask yourself such questions as: 'What seems to be the root cause of my anxious thoughts? Is there something that triggers my negative thinking? Do I tend to dwell on the negative thought rather than dismiss it?'

Adapt your personal Bible study to your needs. From time to time, you may find it beneficial to study some aspects of Jehovah's personality. For example, the apostle Paul greatly benefited from reflecting on the ransom and Jehovah's forgiveness. You can do the same. Use the Research Guide for Jehovah's Witnesses, Watch Tower Publication Index, or other Bible study aids available in your language to explore such topics as God's mercy, forgiveness and loyal love. Once you found the articles that would benefit you, make a list of them. Post the list where you can see it, and study the articles from your list when you start to feel down. Try to apply what you read to your own circumstances. - PHILIPPIANS 4:8.

Eliza. quoted earlier, did a personal study project on the Bible character Job. She says: "I relate a lot to Job. He had one trial after another. Yet, when Job was at his lowest point, he never stopped looking to Jehovah-even though he did not know why his problems were happening." (Job42:1-6) Diane, mentioned earlier, says: "My husband and I are doing a study project using the book Draw Close to Jehovah. We appreciate that Jehovah molds us as a potter does clay. Instead of focusing on how disappointed we are in ourselves, we try to imagine Jehovah molding us and trying to make us better people. This brings us closer to him."  ISAIAH 64:8. 

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings -HOW WE CAN FIGHT NEGATIVE FEELINGS

 Eliza quoted earlier, states: "Every time I attend Christian meetings and do my personal study, I am reminded that Jehovah hears me and really loves me. That makes me happy." Nolan, a circuit overseer in Africa, speaks for himself and his wife, Dianem when he says: 'We stick to our spiritual routine even when we feel discouraged. Jehovah always makes it clear that he is helping us to have the right attitude. We try to remember that Jehovah will help us and bless us; we do not know how, but we know he will." 

We may need to do more than just follow the basics if we are to overcome negative thoughts. To illustrate, imagine that you have developed back pain. To get rid of it, you may have to do more than just every day. To identify the cause of the pain, you may need to do research and even talk to a doctor. Similarly, we may need to do research in the Bible and in our publications and even talk to a mature Christian to learn how to deal with recurring negative feelings. Consider some further suggestions that can help. 

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings-HOW WE CAN FIGHT NEGATIVE FEELINGS

Maintain a good spiritual routine.When we developed a good spiritual routine, we are better able to focus on the positive. We can compare such a routine to maintaining healthy habits that contribute to our overall physical well-being. When we eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep, we usually feel better. Similarly, we all have experienced how good we feel when we read God's word regularly prepare for, attend, and participate in our meetings; and engage in our ministry. . Such up building activities help us deal with our negative thoughts. ROMANS 12:11, 12.

Consider the example of John, who was diagnosed with rare form of cancer at age 39. At first, he struggled with the negative feelings. 'How could I get sick at such a young age? He wondered.At the time, his son was just 3 years old. What helped John deal with his negative emotions? "Despite my fatigue, I made sure that our family maintained a regular spiritual routine,"he says "We attended all the meetings, had a regular share in the ministry, and had regular family worship even when it was difficult to schedule it." Looking back, John adds:after the initial shock, wears off, the nagging thoughts will be replaced by Jehovah's strength and love. Jehovah can make you strong, just as he had made me."

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings - HOW PAUL DEALT WITH NEGATIVE FEELINGS

 Paul was  also able to fight negative emotions successfully because he believed that the ransom was a gift to him personally. (Galatians 2:20; read Ephesians 1:7.)As a result, he could confidently trust in Jehovah's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Romans 7:24, 25) Despite his past errors and his imperfections, Paul was able to "render sacred to God" with joy. HEBREWS 912-14.

Like Paul, we met feel that there is always a battle going on from within. It may be about what we think, what we do, or what we say. We too may feel like saying. 'Miserable person that I am!' A sister in her 20's named Eliza says this about her personal struggle:  "It is encouraging for me  to think about Paul's situation. I am relieved that I am not the only one who feel this way. It is another reminder that Jehovah knows what his people are prgorg through." What can we do so that, like Paul, we can have a clean conscience and rejoice despite having negative feelings? 

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings - HOW PAUL DEALT WITH NEGATIVE FEELINGS

 As indicated in his letters, Paul reflected on how he and his fellow believers could fight and overcome sinful tendencies with the help of God's spirit. (Roman 8:13; Galatians 5:16, 17) Paul often referred to undesirable traits and desires that Christians should combat.  (Galatians 5:19-21, 26) No doubt Paul meditate on his own weaknesses, sought counsel in the Scriptures, and identified specific steps to deal with his imperfections. We can be sure that he applied the advice he gave to others. 

Although Paul sometimes felt discouraged, he was able to remain positive. For example, he enjoyed receiving good reports from his traveling companions. (2 Corinthians 7:6, 7) He found joy in his friendships with fellow believers. (2 Timothy 1:4) And he knew that he had Jehovah's approval. Yes, Paul was happy because he could serve God "with a clean conscience." (2 Timothy 1:3) Even when he was imprisoned in Rome, Paul urged his fellow believers to "rejoice in the Lord." (Philippians 4:4) His words hardly sound like those of someone overcome by negative thoughts. Clearly, when negative thinking came into his mind, Paul was able to work through it so that he could positive again. 

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings - WHAT CAUSED PAUL TO HAVE NEGATIVE FEELINGS -Conclusion

 A thorn in the flesh. Paul compared something that was causing him much distress to "a thorn in the flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7) The apostle did not mention the cause, but the word picture he suggests something-whether it was a problem, an emotional problem, or something else-that pained him. 

His imperfections. Paul struggled with his imperfections. (Read Romans 7:18, 19.) Although he wanted to do what was right, his imperfect flesh undermined his determination to do so. He admitted that there was a constant battle between his fleshly inclinations and the desire to do what was right. Yet, Paul worked very hard to improve. (1 Corinthians 9:27) How frustrated he must have been whenever his bad traits resurfaced.

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings - WHAT CAUSED PAUL TO HAVE NEGATIVE FEELINGS

    Things that he did in the past. Before becoming a Christian, Paul, earlier known as Saul, did things that he would later regret. For example, he watched with approval as faithful Stephen was stoned to death. (Acts 7:58; 8:1) Also, Saul took the lead in viciously persecuting Christians. - ACTS 8:3; 26:9-11. 

After he became a Christian, the apostle Paul was at times troubled by his past. His previous actions as a relentless persecutor of Christians may have bothered him even more as the years went by. For example, when he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians in about 55 C.E., he said: "I am not worthy of being called an apostle, because I persecuted the congregation of God." (1 Corinthians 15:9) Some five years later, in his letter to the Ephesians, he described himself as being "less than all the least of the holy ones." (Ephesians 3:8) When writing to Timothy, Paul referred himself as being formerly "a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man." (1 Timothy 1:13) Can you imagine how Paul must have felt when he visited a congregation and met those he had persecuted? 

Next time: You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings - WHAT CAUSED PAUL TO HAVE NEGATIVE FEELINGS - Conclusion

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