Friday, April 19 2024 What hope is there for those struggling with depression?

PJ54

PJ54

Well-known member
​

Friday, April 19 2024​

I will listen to you.—Jer. 29:12.

As we read about how Jehovah cared for those who were loyal to him in the past, our hope will grow ever stronger. Everything in God’s Word was “written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4) Meditate on how Jehovah has kept his promises. Consider what God did for Abraham and Sarah. They reached the age when they could not have children. Yet, God promised them that they would have a child. (Gen. 18:10) How did Abraham react? The Bible says: “He had faith that he would become the father of many nations.” (Rom. 4:18) Even though from a human perspective the situation appeared hopeless, Abraham was confident that Jehovah would fulfill His promise. That faithful man was not disappointed. (Rom. 4:19-21) Such accounts teach us that we can always rely on Jehovah to fulfill his promises. w22.10 27 ¶13-14
Examining the Scriptures Daily—2024​
Click to expand...

What hope is there for those struggling with depression?

from august, 2004 I've been fighting with depression and anxiety for numerous years. It's made it difficult to attend meetings and...
questions-4jehovahs-witnesses.blogspot.com questions-4jehovahs-witnesses.blogspot.com

What hope is there for those struggling with depression?​

from august, 2004

I've been fighting with depression and anxiety for numerous years. It's made it difficult to attend meetings and conventions. I am being told that if I do not attend meetings, make progress, become a faithful and baptized witness that I will not survive the end of the world and get into paradise. Is this true and where in the Bible is it stated? And, then, how should we teach pioneers or publishers to help depressed ones who are struggling? Thank you
Dear Friend, the brothers and sisters who have been studying with you undoubtedly mean well. No doubt they are sincerely concerned about your spiritual welfare and eternal life. But, sometimes Jehovah’s Witnesses make certain blanket statements that are ill-advised—a sort of one-size-fits-all approach to salvation.

Certainly, though, it is God’s Will for everyone to take in accurate knowledge of him and his Son. It is Jehovah’s Will that we get baptized. And it is Jehovah’s Will that we meet together with fellow Christians. But, Jehovah also understands our limitations and individual circumstances. For example, how reasonable is it to expect a person with a broken leg to get up and walk normally? Surely, none of us would be so unreasonable. Yet, sometimes we expect people who are crippled by depression to carry on and function normally. Jehovah is not so unreasonable.

Paul counseled the Thessalonian Christians to “speak consolingly to the depressed souls.” But, in order for you to be consoled by the Friends in your locale, they must first be aware of your condition. Have you told them of your limitations and asked them for their support and understanding? That might be a first step.

At any rate, our real Comforter is God. The 94th Psalm states; “When my disquieting thoughts became many inside of me, your own consolations began to fondle my soul.”

Isn’t that a wonderful thought? Jehovah knows what is going on inside our minds and he offers his own consolations through his Word and spirit! “Disquieting thoughts” can make us feel depressed and vice-versa: depression generates disquieting thoughts. And certainly, the suggestion that God is going to destroy us because we are not measuring up only adds to the burden. But, Jehovah is able to impart hope, faith and comfort to us, so as to dispel disquieting thoughts of hopelessness and despair.

Try as best you can to draw close to God and do what you can to do his Will and leave the rest in God’s capable hands. That’s all any of us are expected to do.
Posted 3rd January 2012 by Unknown
 
The Daily Text comment is just a fragment of a verse taken out of context. The complete verse and the preceding verse says: "For I well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’ declares Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope. And you will call me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

After the royal family was dragged off to Babylon, Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles in Babylon, telling them not to listen to the false prophets among them who were falsely proclaiming freedom was imminent. Jehovah foretold that Jerusalem would be desolate for 70 years, then God would listen to them and restore them to their homeland. In the meanwhile, Jehovah exhorted the Jews to make themselves at home in Babylon and even pray for the peace of the city. Imagine that!

The fact that God said he would listen to them is in contrast to God not listening to the prayers of the Jews prior to Jerusalem's destruction. God told them he was fed up with their hypocritical, pious religion. He told them he was sick of their festivals and would not listen to them anymore. Their hands were filled with blood—kind of like where the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses is now.

There is another instance in prophecy where God urges his people to pray to him earnestly, and he will listen. It is during the day of Jehovah. Although the false prophets of Bethel have deceived JWs into believing the book of Joel has no relevance in modern times, I disagree. Here is what Jehovah, my God, says, or, rather, what he will say in the future when his worldly military force is unleashed upon an unsuspecting world: "Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests; wail, you ministers of the altar. Come in and spend the night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God; for grain offering and drink offering have been withheld from the house of your God. Proclaim a fast; call for a solemn assembly. Gather the elders together, with all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of Jehovah your God, and cry to Jehovah for help. Woe because of the day! For the day of Jehovah is near, and it will come like a destruction from the Almighty! Has not food been taken from before our very eyes, and rejoicing and joy from the house of our God?" - Joel 1:13-16

When I first began writing in the late 1990s, I sent a couple of essays to the Watchtower trying to explain Joel. Obviously, the locust could not possibly represent JWs, but what then? Leading up to the year 2000, I supposed the Y2K snafu might cause the computer-run financial system to collapse and result in martial law. I was, of course, completely wrong. Now, a quarter of a century later, it is coming more into focus. Previously, I received an education on derivatives from my worldly mentor, the late Lyndon LaRouche. But even he did not foresee the real purpose of derivatives. In his recent publication called The Great Taking, David Webb explained how derivatives have been used to lay claim upon the underlying assets of virtually every financial institution. This means that every bank deposit, stock share, corporate and state bond, every mortgaged house or commercial real estate property, every financed vehicle, everyone's personal debt, and corporate debt has been put up as collateral, including the underlying physical assets -- the stuff. Basically, the USA itself is collateral for the massive, intentionally exploding national debt. In the event of a crash, virtually certain to take place in the near term, the legal holder of the collateral will wind up literally owning everything, and the world will be wiped out and foreclosed upon. I suspect that among the millions of invaders into Europe and America are embedded skilled military men who will pop up like locusts to ensure that the great taking is successful.

The 8th chapter of Daniel explains this, too, revealing how a fierce-looking king will, by his cunning, bring to ruin the mighty ones of the earth along with the holy ones. The Watchtower will be wiped out too. The hundreds of millions of dollars they have stashed away will be vaporized. Put on sackcloth, indeed. Wail and weep. Doesn't James also say something about that? I believe he does: "Come, now, you rich men, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted away, and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh. What you have stored up will be like a fire in the last days. Look! The wages you have withheld from the workers who harvested your fields keep crying out, and the cries for help of the reapers have reached the ears of Jehovah of armies. You have lived in luxury and for self-gratification on the earth. You have fattened your hearts on the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one. Is he not opposing you?" - James 5:1-6

If there is any doubt to whom James' words are prophetically directed, please consider the very next span of the verse: "Be patient then, brothers, until the presence of the Lord. Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until the early rain and the late rain arrive. You too exercise patience; make your hearts firm, because the presence of the Lord has drawn close."

 
Last edited:
Watchman said:
In his recent publication called The Great Taking, David Webb explained how derivatives have been used to lay claim upon the underlying assets of virtually every financial institution. This means that every bank deposit, stock share, corporate and state bond, every mortgaged house or commercial real estate property, every financed vehicle, everyone's personal debt, and corporate debt has been put up as collateral, including the underlying physical assets -- the stuff. Basically, the USA itself is collateral for the massive, intentionally exploding national debt. In the event of a crash, virtually certain to take place in the near term, the legal holder of the collateral will wind up literally owning everything, and the world will be wiped out and foreclosed upon.
Click to expand...
This is why everyone needs to obtain a copy their legal title of ownership for any property. The plan has been openly announced!!! They plan to take ownership of EVERYTHING and make us renters... renters who can be removed if we don't accept the MOTB.

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.”

-Thomas Jefferson
 
Carl said:
This is why everyone needs to obtain a copy their legal title of ownership for any property. The plan has been openly announced!!! They plan to take ownership of EVERYTHING and make us renters... renters who can be removed if we don't accept the MOTB.

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.”

-Thomas Jefferson
Click to expand...
I doubt that even having a debt-free title deed would prevent confiscation. When they do away with everyone's money, they will probably impose some sort of property tax that property owners will not be able to pay since their money will have been taken by the bank.
 
a watcher said:
For some people, St. John's Wort relieves suicidal ideation.
Click to expand...
I used to think of suicide multiple times a day, every day. Now? I can't remember the last time it crossed my mind. St. John's Wort is something I take, but the key is to get you GI tract to produce serotonin for you. You can do that by removing every toxic ingredient our criminal FDA allows into our food supply.
 
Watchman said:
I doubt that even having a debt-free title deed would prevent confiscation. When they do away with everyone's money, they will probably impose some sort of property tax that property owners will not be able to pay since their money will have been taken by the bank.
Click to expand...
You're most likely correct, but it could slow it down. I'd rather be at the end of the confiscation instead of the beginning.

They'll also most likely outlaw gold, silver, crypto... I'm talking about the transition phase, and how to survive it.
 
Carl said:
You're most likely correct, but it could slow it down. I'd rather be at the end of the confiscation instead of the beginning.

They'll also most likely outlaw gold, silver, crypto... I'm talking about the transition phase, and how to survive it.
Click to expand...
I am pretty much resolved just to let it happen. Either Jehovah saves and protects, or he doesn't.
 
Watchman said:
I am pretty much resolved just to let it happen. Either Jehovah saves and protects, or he doesn't.
Click to expand...
I plan on losing everything, I just hope it's towards the end of the HOT, not the beginning. I really hope I can use up all of my assets helping Jesus' brothers and sheep, and not one dime goes to Satan's minions. Knowing Jehovah will allow us to go through whatever He thinks we can endure is enough for me... I'm at peace.
 
Carl said:
This is why everyone needs to obtain a copy their legal title of ownership for any property. The plan has been openly announced!!! They plan to take ownership of EVERYTHING and make us renters... renters who can be removed if we don't accept the MOTB.

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.”

-Thomas Jefferson
Click to expand...
Watchman said:
I doubt that even having a debt-free title deed would prevent confiscation. When they do away with everyone's money, they will probably impose some sort of property tax that property owners will not be able to pay since their money will have been taken by the bank.
Click to expand...
It just comes to show that those of this world are just a bunch of thieves who along with their god(s), stole this entire realm & think it's their obligation to do so. Jehovah will have to make it clear existence belongs to him & always has been. They'll fight Him & they'll learn they are a bunch of invading interlopers that should have never been here to begin with.
 
PJ54 said:
It just comes to show that those of this world are just a bunch of thieves who along with their god(s), stole this entire realm & think it's their obligation to do so. Jehovah will have to make it clear existence belongs to him & always has been. They'll fight Him & they'll learn they are a bunch of invading interlopers that should have never been here to begin with.
Click to expand...
Scriptures to go along with your thought.

2 The kings of earth take their stand+And high officials themselves have massed together as one+Against Jehovah+ and against his anointed one,*+ 3 [Saying:] “Let us tear their bands apart+And cast their cords away from us!”+ 4 The very One sitting in the heavens+ will laugh;Jehovah* himself will hold them in derision.+ 5 At that time he will speak to them in his anger+And in his hot displeasure he will disturb them,+ 6 [Saying:] “I, even I, have installed my king+Upon Zion,+ my holy mountain.”*+ Read more>

Psalm2:1-12​

 
Carl said:
I plan on losing everything, I just hope it's towards the end of the HOT, not the beginning. I really hope I can use up all of my assets helping Jesus' brothers and sheep, and not one dime goes to Satan's minions. Knowing Jehovah will allow us to go through whatever He thinks we can endure is enough for me... I'm at peace.
Click to expand...

Scriptures for thought...​

Mark12: ​

Jesus said "Bring me a de·narʹi·us* to look at.”+ 16 They brought one. And he said to them: “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to him: “Caesar’s.”+ 17 Jesus then said: “Pay back* Caesar’s things to Caesar,+ but God’s things to God.”+ And they began to marvel at him.+​

1 John2:​

15 Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world.+ If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him;+ 16 because everything in the world+—the desire of the flesh+ and the desire of the eyes+ and the showy display* of one’s means of life+—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world.+ 17 Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire,+ but he that does the will+ of God remains forever.+
 
A great deal of fear generated by this system is based just on that: this system. In this country, just outside of living memory during the late Victorian, early Edwardian eras, property ownership was out of the question. It was much the same with work, in that work was obtained on a daily basis, as was income - hand to mouth. The “security”, such as it is now, was unknown. The 1880-1970 saw the emergence and demise of “jobs for life” along with viable healthcare and provision of food - at least in developed countries - if one dismisses the great post First World War depression that was only brought to an end by the Second World War. Essentially though, the emergence of general social security only came into existence in a meaningful way in early late 1960s -1970 - post Second World War, - within our life time then. This went hand in hand with the demise of the gold standard leading to the debt ridden expectations of today - and of course this is coming to an end as we speak, along with all the services, food production and various financial securities we expected to sustain our new way of life. On top of that is the lethal outcome of drug addiction and immigrant invasion of the USA along with the lesser symptoms in Europe. Certainly, mental depression is on the increase, but it is not exactly the medical type of depression, but the “not knowing the way out…” depression, a type of soft panic that is rapidly developing into aggression and wars.

It is time in many aspects of our lives to quit worrying over the state of society and prepare mentally for survival. Which road one chooses upon is critical. The preppers have been going since the 1961 Cuban crisis, but their parents were going strong during the 1930s, and both underestimate the degree of wipe-out, but the mindset required now is the realisation that there is only one way out, and that demands spiritual preparation, over and above physical. “You will own nothing, but be happy” used as sop and a threat to all by the bankers, is actually the wake up call best paid attention to, because that is the exact outcome of what is coming. For those seeking Jehovah, it has a completely different outcome and it is this that provides the comfort for those fearing the future now. The best defence then is to expect it and prepare, not so much for survival at all costs, but with faith. It rather depends on how the site here is viewed - something to discuss from one‘s armchair and dream about, wondering if one is anointed or not, or to realise that we Pompeiian’s looking at a nice little warning cloud drifting up from Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD., or as Brooklyn Kevin suggests at 1John 2. The outcomes are similar.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top