Finding real hope in times of trouble
Lead Summary
By
Jehovah’s Witnesses-
Seaman resident Tracie Greene’s hope helps her remain positive despite a life-changing chronic illness.
“So much pain, sores all over the body, tightness in the chest, eye problems. You mourn for what you had. I believed my life would be cut short,” she said.
Rather than becoming consumed by her illness, Greene “begged God to let me put it on the back burner. I started writing journals about positive spiritual things in my life that show I still have worth. Cataloging experiences and conversations with people really solidified that Jehovah is still using me, and I still have value. I have a great life.”
Greene credited her strong hope in a world without sickness and pain for helping her stay positive. “Psalms 22:26 says ‘may you enjoy life forever.’ Every single day, every single decision I make, is based upon my hope.”
This spring, Greene joins millions of Witnesses worldwide inviting all to hear about that hope in a Bible-based lecture held virtually during the week of April 4.
“The Bible describes a future without pain, without suffering — even without death, right here on earth,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “While many religious people look to a better future in a heavenly place, God’s original purpose has never changed: perfect people living in a paradise on earth. While it is difficult to conceive, there’s sound reason to have faith in this promise.”
Faith in that coming reality proved life-changing for Las Vegas teen Hailey-Ann Seavey.
By her sophomore year of high school, painful memories of past trauma left Seavey unable to envision a future worth living for. “I kept cycling through the same negative feelings over and over,” she said. “I thought, ‘If this is how my life is going to be, what’s the point?’”
Seavey confided in a classmate, who comforted her with the Bible’s promise of a future time when pains of the past will plague no one.
Hope began to rise in Seavey’s heart. She started an in-depth study of the Bible and accepted her schoolmate’s invitation to attend congregation meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses; soon, she was sharing her newfound hope with others.
“Learning what the Bible teaches gave me something to look forward to,” said Seavey, now 18. “I feel refreshed and uplifted, and I want others to have that, too.”
Mike O’Connell, 70, of Marietta, Ga. finds comfort in the same Bible promises.
His wife, Dee, contracted COVID-19 last year while hospitalized with a stroke and died just days before their 39th wedding anniversary. “I miss everything about her,” said O’Connell.
Picturing how he will welcome her back in the global resurrection to life on earth as described in Scripture helps O’Connell endure the pain of Dee’s absence.
“I have no doubt I’ll see her again,” he said. “Staying focused on that time keeps my hope alive.”
The 30-minute program “Where Can You Find Real Hope?” will be hosted worldwide by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a virtual format due to the pandemic. The public is also invited the following week to the annual Memorial observance of Jesus Christ’s death on the evening of Friday, April 15.
Admission to both programs is free, and no registration is required. Information on attending locally is available at www.jw.org.
“In times like these, we need hope more than ever,” said Hendriks. “Hope helps a person look ahead with courage and confidence to the fulfillment of God’s beautiful promises. That’s why attending one of these special programs can be life-changing.”
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“So much pain, sores all over the body, tightness in the chest, eye problems. You mourn for what you had. I believed my life would be cut short,” she said.
Rather than becoming consumed by her illness, Greene “begged God to let me put it on the back burner. I started writing journals about positive spiritual things in my life that show I still have worth. Cataloging experiences and conversations with people really solidified that Jehovah is still using me, and I still have value. I have a great life.”
Greene credited her strong hope in a world without sickness and pain for helping her stay positive. “Psalms 22:26 says ‘may you enjoy life forever.’ Every single day, every single decision I make, is based upon my hope.”
This spring, Greene joins millions of Witnesses worldwide inviting all to hear about that hope in a Bible-based lecture held virtually during the week of April 4.
“The Bible describes a future without pain, without suffering — even without death, right here on earth,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “While many religious people look to a better future in a heavenly place, God’s original purpose has never changed: perfect people living in a paradise on earth. While it is difficult to conceive, there’s sound reason to have faith in this promise.”
Faith in that coming reality proved life-changing for Las Vegas teen Hailey-Ann Seavey.
By her sophomore year of high school, painful memories of past trauma left Seavey unable to envision a future worth living for. “I kept cycling through the same negative feelings over and over,” she said. “I thought, ‘If this is how my life is going to be, what’s the point?’”
Seavey confided in a classmate, who comforted her with the Bible’s promise of a future time when pains of the past will plague no one.
Hope began to rise in Seavey’s heart. She started an in-depth study of the Bible and accepted her schoolmate’s invitation to attend congregation meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses; soon, she was sharing her newfound hope with others.
“Learning what the Bible teaches gave me something to look forward to,” said Seavey, now 18. “I feel refreshed and uplifted, and I want others to have that, too.”
Mike O’Connell, 70, of Marietta, Ga. finds comfort in the same Bible promises.
His wife, Dee, contracted COVID-19 last year while hospitalized with a stroke and died just days before their 39th wedding anniversary. “I miss everything about her,” said O’Connell.
Picturing how he will welcome her back in the global resurrection to life on earth as described in Scripture helps O’Connell endure the pain of Dee’s absence.
“I have no doubt I’ll see her again,” he said. “Staying focused on that time keeps my hope alive.”
The 30-minute program “Where Can You Find Real Hope?” will be hosted worldwide by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a virtual format due to the pandemic. The public is also invited the following week to the annual Memorial observance of Jesus Christ’s death on the evening of Friday, April 15.
Admission to both programs is free, and no registration is required. Information on attending locally is available at www.jw.org.
“In times like these, we need hope more than ever,” said Hendriks. “Hope helps a person look ahead with courage and confidence to the fulfillment of God’s beautiful promises. That’s why attending one of these special programs can be life-changing.”
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