Watchtower Study, Week of April 28 to May 4, 2025, Jehovah's forgiveness: how to imitate him, Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, April 28-May 4, 2025, Jehovah's Forgiveness: How to Imitate Him, Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response

Light Yellow: Additional Response

Celeste: Additional Points

“The Lord forgave you generously, so do the same” (COL. 3:13).

1, 2. a) When is it possible that we find it difficult to forgive? b) How did Denise show that she had forgiven?

DOES IT HARD FOR YOU TO FORGIVE? That happens to many of us, and especially when someone says or does something that causes us deep pain. However, it is possible to let go of our hurt feelings and forgive. Let's look, for example, at the case of a sister named Denise, whom he forgave in an extraordinary way. In 2017, she and her family went to visit the new world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses. While they were returning home, a driver lost control of his car and crashed into them. Denise lost consciousness; But when she woke up, she learned that her children were seriously injured and that her husband, Brian, had died. Speaking of the pain she felt, Denise says: “I was devastated and confused.” He later discovered that the accident was not due to the driver being distracted or because he was drunk or high. So Denise asked Jehovah to help her feel peace and not be angry with the man.

2 The driver was accused of involuntary manslaughter, and if found guilty he would go to jail. But an officer told Denise that she had to testify and that her testimony would be key in determining the man's sentence. She explains: “Having to relive the worst moments of my life, it felt like they opened the wound again and poured a bag of salt into it.” Just a few weeks later, Denise was in court, ready to testify in front of the man who had caused her family so much pain.  What was it he said? He asked the judge to treat the man with mercy. When she finished speaking, the judge burst into tears and said: "I have been a judge for 25 years and I have never heard anything like this in my court. The victim's family never asks for compassion for the accused. It is the first time I have heard words full of love and forgiveness."

3. What helped Denise forgive?

3 What helped Denise forgive? Meditate on Jehovah's forgiveness (Mic. 7:18). If we heartily thank Jehovah for forgiveness, we will have the desire to forgive others.

4. What does Jehovah want us to do? (Ephesians 4:32).

4 Jehovah forgives us generously and wants us to do the same (read Ephesians 4:32). He expects us to be willing to forgive those who hurt us. (Ps. 86:5; Luke 17:4). In this article we will talk about three steps that will help us forgive.

DON'T IGNORE YOUR FEELINGS

5. How is it possible that we feel when someone offends us? (Proverbs 12:18).

5 Someone may say or do something that hurts us deeply, and it hurts more if it is a good friend or family member. (Ps. 55:12-14). Sometimes emotional pain can be as strong as the blow of a sword. (read Proverbs 12:18). We may try to suppress or ignore our feelings. But doing so would be like stabbing us with a dagger and leaving it there in the wound without doing anything to remove it. We will not be able to heal hurt feelings if we do not admit what we feel.

6. What can be the first reaction when someone offends us?

6 When someone offends us, perhaps our initial reaction is to get angry. The Bible recognizes that this can happen to us. However, he advises us not to let these negative emotions dominate us (Ps. 4:4; Eph. 4:26). Because? Because many times emotions are transformed into actions. And anger does not usually lead us on the right path (James 1:20). Remember: getting angry is a reaction that may not be up to you, but staying angry is a choice that is always up to you.

Getting angry is a reaction, but staying angry is a choice.

7. What other emotions are we likely to feel when someone hurts us?

7 When someone hurts us, we may also feel other painful emotions. For example, a sister named Ann says: "When I was little, my dad left my mom and married my nanny. I felt abandoned. And when they had kids, I felt replaced. I grew up feeling like no one loved me." A sister named Georgette describes what she felt when she found out that her husband had been unfaithful: “My heart broke. We had been friends since we were little. “We were pioneer companions!” A sister named Naomi says, "I never imagined my husband would hurt me. When he confessed to me that he had been secretly watching pornography, I felt deceived and betrayed."

8. a) What are some of the reasons why we should forgive? b) What benefits do we obtain by forgiving? (See the sidebar “What if what someone did caused me trauma?”)

8 We cannot control what others say or do, but it is in our hands to control what we do about it. And usually the best we can do is forgive. Because? Because we love Jehovah and he wants us to do it. Furthermore, if we remain angry and do not forgive, it is likely that we will end up acting foolishly and even harming our health. (Prov. 14:17, 29, 30). Let's see what a sister named Christine says: "When I allow myself to be overcome by pain, I smile less, I neglect my diet, and I don't get enough sleep. I also have a harder time controlling my emotions, and that ends up affecting my marriage and my relationships with others."

9. Why should we get rid of resentment?

9 What if the person who hurt us never asks for forgiveness? Even so, we can do something so that the situation does not continue to hurt us. Georgette, mentioned in paragraph 7, explains: "It took me some time, but I managed to get rid of the resentment and anger I felt towards my ex-husband. What I felt afterwards was pure peace." When we leave resentment behind, we prevent our hearts from being filled with bitterness. We also give ourselves a gift: we allow ourselves to move on and enjoy life again. (Prov. 11:17). Now, you may have admitted what you feel but still don't feel ready to forgive. Let's see what the second step is.

TRY TO TURN THE PAGE

10. Why do we need time to heal emotional wounds? (See also images).

10 What will help you turn the page and thus overcome the pain? First, let some time pass. Let's think about a person who suffers a serious accident. After receiving medical care, you need time to heal. Similarly, we need time to heal emotionally and be ready to forgive from the heart. (Ecl. 3:3; 1 Ped. 1:22).

ILLUSTRATION

Images of an injured brother who recovers over time. 1. The paramedics take him away in an ambulance. 2. Receive physical therapy to walk again. 3. Walk upright and confident.

When someone suffers a serious accident, they need proper care and time to heal. The same thing happens with emotional wounds. (See paragraph 10).

11. How can prayer help us forgive?

 11 Second, ask Jehovah in prayer to help you forgive. Ann, mentioned in paragraph 7, explains how prayer helped her: “I asked Jehovah to forgive all of us in the family for things we didn't handle well. Afterwards, I wrote a letter to my dad and his new wife telling them that I forgave them.” Ann admits it wasn't easy to do, but adds: “I hope that as I have strived to imitate Jehovah’s forgiveness, my dad and his wife will want to learn about it.”

12. Why should we trust in Jehovah and not our feelings? (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

12 Third, trust in Jehovah, not in your feelings (read Proverbs 3:5, 6). Jehovah always knows what is best for us (Is. 55:8, 9). He will never ask us to do something that hurts us. Therefore, when he encourages us to forgive, we can be sure that it is a good thing for us. (Sal. 40:4; Is. 48:17, 18). On the other hand, if we trust our feelings, we may never be able to forgive. (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 17:9). Naomi, mentioned in paragraph 7, says: "At first I thought I had every reason not to forgive my husband for watching pornography. I was afraid that he would hurt me again or that he would forget all the suffering he had caused me. I justified myself by saying that Jehovah understood my feelings. But over time I began to see that just because Jehovah understands my feelings does not mean that he approves of them. He knows how I feel and that wounds do not heal overnight, but he wants me to “Excuse me.”

CULTIVATE POSITIVE EMOTIONS

13. According to Romans 12:18-21, what must we do?

13 Forgiving someone who hurt us a lot is not just a matter of making the decision not to talk about what happened. Something else has to be done. If it's a brother, the goal is to make peace (Matt. 5:23, 24). We choose to replace anger with mercy and resentment with forgiveness. (read Romans 12:18-21; 1 Pet. 3:9). What can help us achieve this?

14. What should we strive to do, and why?

14 We must strive to see the person who offended us as Jehovah sees him. He decides to look at good qualities (2 Chron. 16:9; Ps. 130:3). One thing is certain: if when we look at someone we look for something good, we will find it; But, if we look for something bad, we will also find it. It all depends on our approach. If we look at the virtues of others, it will be easier to forgive them. For example, a brother named Jarrod says, “I find it easier to forgive a brother when I compare the bad things he did with all the good things I like about him.”

15. Why is it good for you to tell the person that you forgave them?

15 There is another thing you can do: tell the person that you have forgiven them. Why is it important that you do so? Notice what Naomi says: “My husband asked me, ‘Have you forgiven me?’ When I opened my mouth to say, ‘I forgive you,’ I felt a lump in my throat and couldn’t say it. I realized I still hadn't truly forgiven him. Over time I was able to say 'I forgive you'. I never imagined the tremendous impact those two words would have on both my husband and me. He was so relieved that tears came to his eyes, and an immense peace came over me. From then on I regained my trust in him, and now we are best friends again.”

16. What have you learned about forgiveness?

16 Jehovah wants us to show forgiveness (Col. 3:13). Even so, sometimes we may find it difficult to do so. But we will achieve it if we take the steps we have seen: do not ignore our feelings, try to turn the page and cultivate positive emotions. (See the sidebar “Three Steps to Help You Forgive.”)

THINK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF FORGIVING

17. How does forgiving benefit us?

17 We have many reasons to forgive. Let's look at some of them. First, we imitate and please our Father, Jehovah, who is so merciful (Luc. 6:36). Second, we show that we are grateful that Jehovah forgives us generously (Matt. 6:12). And, third, we will have better health and stronger friendships.

18, 19. What can happen if we forgive?

18 When we forgive, we may reap unexpected benefits. Let's see what happened to Denise, who we talked about at the beginning of the article. She didn't know that the man who caused the accident planned to commit suicide after the trial. But he was so impressed with Denise's show of forgiveness that he began studying the Bible with the Witnesses.

19 We may feel that forgiving someone is one of the hardest things we have to do in life. But it may also be one of the most worthwhile things (Matt. 5:7). Therefore, let us strive to be like Jehovah and truly forgive.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

Why shouldn't you ignore your feelings?

We may try to suppress or ignore our feelings. But doing so would be like stabbing us with a dagger and leaving it there in the wound without doing anything to remove it. We will not be able to heal hurt feelings if we do not admit what we feel.

What will help you turn the page?

First, let some time pass. Let's think about a person who suffers a serious accident. After receiving medical care, you need time to heal. Similarly, we need time to heal emotionally and be ready to forgive from the heart.

Second, ask Jehovah in prayer to help you forgive. Ann, mentioned in paragraph 7, explains how prayer helped her: “I asked Jehovah to forgive all of us in the family for things we did not handle well. Ann admits that it was not easy to forgive, but adds: “I am hopeful that, having worked to imitate Jehovah's forgiveness, my dad and his wife will want to learn about it.”

Third, trust in Jehovah, not your feelings. Jehovah always knows what is best for us. He will never ask us to do something that hurts us.

What can you do to cultivate positive emotions?

We choose to replace anger with mercy and resentment with forgiveness. We must strive to see the person who offended us as Jehovah sees him. He decides to look at the good qualities. There is another thing we can do: tell the person that we have forgiven them.