1. How can a trusted friend help us?

 WE ARE inclined to trust someone whom we know well. For example, when we face difficult challenges, we may readily turn to a trusted friend for advice and support. Such a friend is like a safety net, ready to catch us if we fall.​—Eccl. 4:9, 10.

2-3. (a) What encouragement is found in Psalm 115? (b) What questions will we answer in this article?

² Jehovah is our closest, most trusted Friend. No matter what challenges we face, we can turn to him for help, trusting in his guidance and support. In Psalm 115, God’s people are urged three times to “trust in Jehovah.” Why? Because “he is their help and their shield.” (Ps. 115:9-11) Of course, we have to be willing to accept that help.

³ In this article, we will answer three questions: When do we especially need to trust in Jehovah? How does Jehovah support those who trust in him? And how can we show that we trust in Jehovah to help us deal with challenging circumstances?

WHEN DO WE ESPECIALLY NEED TO TRUST IN JEHOVAH?

4. When do we especially need to rely on Jehovah?

⁴ We especially need to rely on Jehovah when we face serious challenges. As we sense his help and support​—sometimes in ways we did not expect—​our trust in him deepens. (Eph. 3:20) Let us consider an example.

5-6. What do you learn from the account about Jairus?

⁵ In Jesus’ day, Jairus, a presiding officer of a Jewish  synagogue, went through a heart-wrenching experience. His 12-year-old daughter was gravely ill and was expected to die. Jairus had likely heard that Jesus was empowered by God to perform miracles. So Jairus went looking for Jesus, trusting that he could heal the girl. (Mark 5:21-23) When they met, Jesus agreed to come to the home of Jairus. But along the way, Jesus got delayed when a very sick woman approached him and touched him in order to be healed. He felt compassion for the woman and told her: “Be healed from your grievous sickness.” (Mark 5:24-34) In the meantime, Jairus’ little girl died. His friends told him not to “bother the Teacher any longer.” Jairus may have felt helpless, but Jesus said: “Have no fear, just keep exercising faith.”​—Mark 5:35, 36; see study note.

⁶ Jairus’ faith​—and no doubt his trust in God—​was greatly strengthened by what happened next. Jesus brought the child back to life. As you can imagine, Jairus and his wife “were beside themselves with great ecstasy.” (Mark 5:38-42) From that day on, whenever Jairus looked at his daughter, he would surely remember what Jehovah had done through Jesus.

HOW DOES JEHOVAH SUPPORT THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM?

7. Why can we trust in Jehovah’s support? (Jeremiah 17:7, 8)

⁷ Jehovah cares for his servants both as a group and as individuals. (Ps. 115:12-15) He promises to support us even when we are facing the “heat” of opposition. (Read Jeremiah 17:7, 8.) Jehovah can provide the help we need in any situation, as ancient and modern examples bear out.

8. How did Jehovah protect Abraham and Sarah after they left the city of Ur? (See also picture.)

⁸ Consider the experience of Abraham and Sarah. On more than one occasion, they needed physical protection. After leaving the fortified city of Ur, they lived in tents among people who did not worship Jehovah. That was dangerous  at times, but Jehovah always proved to be a shield for his loyal ones. (Gen. 15:1) For example, when a severe famine struck, Abraham and Sarah journeyed to Egypt. Sarah was a very beautiful woman, and she came to the attention of the king there. He brought her into his house, intending to make her his wife. (Gen. 12:10-15) But Jehovah did not abandon faithful Abraham and Sarah. He stepped in and prevented Pharaoh from taking Sarah and making her his wife.​—Gen. 12:16-20.

9. Relate a modern-day example that demonstrates how Jehovah can help us despite fierce opposition. (See also footnote.)

⁹ Consider a modern-day example that shows that Jehovah can help us to thrive spiritually despite any challenges we may face. When Vladimir, a brother from the country of Georgia, was 15 years old, a group of religious fanatics set fire to his family’s home. The house burned to the ground. Vladimir’s family felt devastated at the loss of their home, but they were grateful to be alive. Did this tragic event cause them to stop serving Jehovah? Not at all! “None of us gave up our pioneer service,” Vladimir recalls. Jehovah used fellow believers to provide practical help and support to Vladimir and his family. a

HOW CAN WE SHOW THAT WE TRUST IN JEHOVAH’S SUPPORT?

10. How could our trust in Jehovah be tested when we are planning for the future?

¹⁰ When we are planning for the future. Jehovah expects parents to care for their children. (2 Cor. 12:14; 1 Tim. 5:8) Part of the parents’ responsibility is to help their children make wise decisions. In view of worsening economic conditions, parents may wonder whether they should encourage their children to pursue a career in full-time service or to focus on getting a well-paying job. In some cultures, children are viewed as a means to provide financial support to their elderly parents. The parents’ concerns for their children’s welfare​—and possibly for their own—​are understandable. So how can parents demonstrate complete trust in Jehovah’s support?

11. How did Isaac and Rebekah show concern for their son’s spiritual well-being? (See also pictures.)

¹¹ Note the example set by Isaac and Rebekah. They proved that they trusted in Jehovah when they urged their son Jacob to travel far away to find a wife among His worshippers. (Gen. 28:1-3, 7) That decision reflected their concern for their son’s spiritual well-being. Today, when parents show that they put spiritual things first, their children often develop similar faith and trust.​—Matt. 6:33.

12. In what situations might we find it challenging to be patient?

¹² When we must wait for Jehovah to act. We may at times wonder why Jehovah has not intervened in a situation that is troubling us. Perhaps we have been the victim of an injustice. We know that Jehovah will remedy matters in time, but it is not always easy for us to wait on him. (Ps. 33:20) Consider an example.

13. What can we learn from the situation that occurred after King Ahaziah died? (Micah 7:7)

 ¹³ After the death of King Ahaziah, his mother, Athaliah, destroyed most of the royal line and seized the throne by force. (2 Chron. 22:10-12) That wicked woman’s reign lasted for six dark years and was marked by violence and idolatry. (2 Chron. 24:7) To many Israelites, it may have seemed as though Jehovah had abandoned his people. But Jehovah was perfectly aware of what Athaliah was doing. He knew that High Priest Jehoiada and his wife had hidden the only surviving heir to the throne​—young Jehoash. In a dramatic turn of events, Athaliah was put to death and Jehoash was crowned as the rightful king. (2 Chron. 23:1-3, 8-15) What can we learn from this? When we wait on Jehovah to correct matters, we demonstrate our trust in his timing and in his way of doing things.​—Read Micah 7:7.

14. What do we learn from the experience of Sergey and Mariya?

¹⁴ Sergey and Mariya, a married couple in Russia, showed their trust in Jehovah’s support when Sergey was imprisoned for five years for his faith. How did they cope with being apart for so long? “After over 20 years of marriage, we both . . . felt like birds missing a wing,” Mariya admits. But she adds: “Jehovah never left us alone to deal with our challenges. He showered me with love and care through our spiritual brothers and sisters. They were always there exactly when I needed them.” Sergey drew strength from Jehovah by means of prayer. In fact, Sergey became known in the prison as a man of God. Their examples remind us that with Jehovah’s support, we too can patiently endure any situation.​—Col. 1:11.

15. In what situations might we feel powerless?

 ¹⁵ When we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. At such times, we may feel powerless or overcome by fear. Perhaps we are dealing with a chronic illness, or our activities are limited by advancing age. If that is your situation, how can you show your complete trust in Jehovah?

16. What do you learn from the example of young David? (Psalm 37:5)

¹⁶ Consider the example of young David. With confidence in Jehovah’s support, David faced Goliath, the Philistine giant. Goliath saw himself as insurmountable, even taunting the battle line of Israel. (1 Sam. 17:10) But David put his full trust in Jehovah for support and help. So when approaching that giant, David did not say: ‘I am coming against you with my sling and stones.’ Rather, David said: “I am coming against you in the name of Jehovah of armies.” (1 Sam. 17:37, 45) Jehovah gave David the victory. With a single stone​—and his full trust in Jehovah—​David defeated the seemingly undefeatable Goliath. Like David, we may encounter challenges that seem insurmountable. But if we focus on doing what is within our power and if we trust in Jehovah for help and support, we may accomplish far more than we could ever imagine. (Read Psalm 37:5; Phil. 4:13) After all, who is more qualified to help us than “the Maker of heaven and earth”?​—Ps. 115:15.

17. What do we learn from the example of Paula?

¹⁷ Consider the example of Paula, a sister in Canada, who served with her husband in the traveling work for over 25 years. She was born with a serious spinal condition that greatly limits her mobility. Her share in the ministry, however, is anything but limited. “I take advantage of different forms of service, such as telephone and informal witnessing,” she says. “I try to make realistic plans and then leave the rest in Jehovah’s hands, trusting that he will support me.”​—Ps. 143:8.

18-19. What can we learn from the example set by the faithful man Simeon? (See also picture.)

¹⁸ When our expectations have not been  fulfilled. Trusting in Jehovah can help us stay balanced and realistic. For instance, we eagerly look forward to the day when Jehovah will end all suffering. (Rev. 21:4) Yet, as we grow older, we may find ourselves wondering, ‘Will I live to see that day?’ If we feel that way, note what we can learn from Simeon’s example.

¹⁹ Simeon, a faithful aged man in Jerusalem, likely had great hopes when God’s spirit revealed that before he died, he would see the Messiah. (Luke 2:25, 26) When he saw the infant Jesus, though, Simeon must have realized that he would not live to see Jesus grow up and fulfill his role. But Simeon did not focus on what he would not see. He found peace and contentment in what he did see​—some of God’s promises coming true. (Isa. 49:6; Luke 2:27-32) Similarly, if we focus on the prophecies being fulfilled in our day and do our best to serve Jehovah, we too can feel peace and contentment.​—2 Pet. 1:19.

KEEP STRENGTHENING YOUR TRUST IN JEHOVAH’S SUPPORT

20. How can reflecting on Bible accounts help us to strengthen our trust in Jehovah’s support? (See also the box “ Build Your Trust in Jehovah as You Read the Bible.”)

²⁰ Jehovah has always been a helper and a shield to those who trust in him. (Ps. 28:7) But how can we sense that he is actively helping us? One way is by thinking about how Bible accounts relate to our personal experiences. When we do this, we can see how Jehovah has supported us, even in subtle ways, just as he supported his worshippers in ancient times. Such meditation reminds us that we are never alone and that we can overcome any trial as long as we act in harmony with our yeartext for 2027: “Trust in Jehovah.”​—Ps. 115:11.