Finding Real Hope in Times of Trouble

William Little, of Delevan, New York, fell into a period of depression when he was in his 30s after his life was uprooted due to his bipolar disorder. He then had a reaction to his medications that led to Stephens Johnson syndrome, a serious skin reaction, and Lupus. Then, he had part of his tongue removed in 2016 due to oral cancer. Most recently he had a shoulder replacement in November.

“Part of my normal routine is to see physicians. I have one of those desk calendars to keep everything straight,” said Little.

Since Little, 71, became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses 48 years ago, his routine of Bible reading and study has helped him cope with his health issues.

Despite his ailments, he draws comfort from his hope. “The Bible helps me to expand my horizons to that time when God will not only do away with pain, but he will undo the effects that I have with my illnesses,” said Little.

This spring, Little joins millions of Witnesses worldwide, including the nearly 70,000 in New York, inviting all to hear about that hope in a Bible-based lecture held during the week of April 4, 2022.

“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?’”

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“The Bible describes a future without pain, without suffering — even without death, right here on earth.”– Robert Hendriks

U.S. SPOKESMAN FOR JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

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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, Georgia, 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. 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, 2022. Both gatherings will be held in person at local Kingdom Halls with live speakers.

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.”