1. Kuyini “ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu” njalo kusinceda njani? (UFiliphi 4:6, 7)

 KULOKUTHULA abantu bomhlaba lo abangakwaziyo. ‘Yikuthula kukaNkulunkulu’ okutsho ukuhlaliseka esikuthola ngokuba ngabangane abaseduze bakaBaba wethu osezulwini. Sizizwa sivikelekile nxa silokuthula kukaNkulunkulu. (Bala uFiliphi 4:6, 7.) Siba ngabangane abaseduze labantu abamthandayo. Kanti njalo siba ngabangane abaseduze kakhulu ‘loNkulunkulu wokuthula.’ (1 Thes. 5:23) Nxa singabamazi uBaba wethu, simthembe futhi simlalele, ukuthula kwakhe kuzakwenza inhliziyo zethu zihlaliseke nxa sisebunzimeni.

2. Kungani siqiniseka ngokuthi singaba lokuthula kukaNkulunkulu?

² Singaba lakho yini ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu nxa sisebunzimeni, ngokwesibonelo nxa kungaba lomkhuhlane omemethekayo, kube lomonakalo, kube leziphithiphithi zombangazwe kumbe sihlukuluzwe? Izinto lezi zingasenza sesabe kakhulu. Lanxa kunjalo uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Inhliziyo zenu kazingakhathazeki futhi kazingapheli amandla ngokwesaba.” (Joh. 14:27) Kuyathokozisa ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu bayakulalela lokho okwatshiwo nguJesu. Bayenelisa ukuba lokuthula lanxa besebunzimeni obukhulu ngenxa yokuthi uJehova uyabancedisa.

3. Umkhuhlane omemethekayo ungakuphambanisa njani ukuthula kwethu?

³ Nxa kungaba lomkhuhlane omemethekayo impilo zethu zingatshintsha kakhulu. Cabanga ngokuthi umkhuhlane weCOVID-19 uzitshintshe njani impilo zabanengi. Kwatholakala ukuthi abantu abanengi kakhulu babethwala nzima ukulala  ebusuku ngesikhathi umkhuhlane lo ubhahile. Abanye bebekhathazeka, abanye behlulukelwa, abanye bedakwa, abanye besebenzisa kubi izidakamizwa. Kanti njalo bekulokulwa ezindlini njalo abanye bebezama lokuzibulala. Nxa kungaba lomkhuhlane omemethekayo lapho ohlala khona kuyini ongakwenza ukuze ungakhathazeki kakhulu futhi ube lokuthula kukaNkulunkulu?

4. Kungani ukwazi isiphrofetho sikaJesu esimayelana lezinsuku zokucina kusenza sibe lokuthula?

⁴ UJesu wathi ezinsukwini zokucina kuzakuba lemikhuhlane emibi kumbe ememethekayo “ezindaweni ezehlukeneyo.” (Luk. 21:11) Ukwazi lokho kusinceda njani ukuthi sibe lokuthula? Asimangaliswa yimikhuhlane ememethekayo ngoba siyananzelela ukuthi izinto lezi zenzakala njengoba nje uJesu watsho. Yikho silandela lokho uJesu akucebisa labo ababezaphila ezinsukwini zokucina. Wathi: “Lingethuki.”—Mat. 24:6.

5. (a) Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuFiliphi 4:8, 9, kuyini okumele sikuthandazele nxa kungaba lomkhuhlane omemethekayo? (b) Ukulalela iBhayibhili elirekhodiweyo kungakunceda njani?

⁵ Nxa kungaba lomkhuhlane omemethekayo singakhathazeka kakhulu njalo sesabe. Lokhu kwenzakala komunye udadewethu okuthiwa nguDesi. b Uyisemncane lomntakayisemdala kanye lodokotela wakhe bafa bebulawa yiCOVID-19, yikho wayesesesaba ukuthi laye uzawuthola umkhuhlane lo abesewuthelela unina owayesegugile. Wayesesaba lokuthi uzaphelelwa ngumsebenzi ngenxa yomkhuhlane lo. Yikho wayezibuza ukuthi uzakuthenga ngani ukudla futhi abhadale ngani irenti. Izinto lezi zamenza wakhathazeka kakhulu okokuthi wayengasabuquthi ebusuku. Kodwa uDesi waphinda waba lakho ukuthula. Kuyini okwamncedayo? Wathandaza kuJehova ecela ukuthi amncedise ahlaliseke lokuthi angakhathazeki kakhulu ngokwakungenzakala. (Bala uFiliphi 4:8, 9.) Wavumela uJehova ukuthi akhulume laye ngokulalela iBhayibhili elirekhodiweyo. Uthi, “Amazwi amnandi alabo ababebala amavesi angenza ngahlaliseka futhi angikhumbuza lokuthi uJehova ulesihawu.”—Hubo. 94:19.

6. Ukutaditsha lokungena imihlangano kuzakunceda njani?

⁶ Umkhuhlane omemethekayo ungenza ungenelisi ukwenza ezinye izinto obujayele ukuzenza, kodwa ungavumi lokhu kuphambanise uhlelo lwakho lokutaditsha kumbe ukungena imihlangano. Izindaba ezimayelana lalokho okwenzakala ezimpilweni zabafowethu labodadewethu ezisemabhukwini ethu lakumavidiyo zingakukhumbuza ukuthi labo baqhubeka beqotho lanxa belobunzima obuhambelana lobakho. (1 Phet. 5:9) Ukungena imihlangano kuzakunceda uhlale ucabanga  ngezinto ezikhuthazayo eziseBhayibhilini. Kanti njalo kuzakunika ithuba lokuthi ukhuthaze abanye futhi labo bakukhuthaze. (Rom. 1:11, 12) Nxa ungacabangisisa ngokuthi uJehova uzincedise njani izinceku zakhe ngesikhathi zigula, zisesaba kumbe zilesizungu, ukholo lwakho luzaqina njalo awusoze uthandabuze ukuthi lawe uzakuncedisa.

7. Kuyini ongakufunda kumphostoli uJohane?

⁷ Zama ukuhlala uthintana labafowenu labodadewenu. Nxa kungaba lomkhuhlane omemethekayo kungadinga ukuthi siqhelelane labafowethu labodadewethu. Ngezikhathi ezinjalo singazizwa njengomphostoli uJohane owayefuna ukubona umngane wakhe uGayu bakhulume bekhangelene. (3 Joh. 13, 14) Lanxa kunjalo uJohane wananzelela ukuthi kwakungavumi ukuthi abonane loGayu okwesikhathi esithile. Yikho wenza lokho ayengakwenza, wambhalela incwadi. Nxa kungavumi ukuthi ubonane labafowethu labodadewethu zikhathi zonke zama ukubafonela kumbe uxoxe labo ngevidiyo loba ubathumele imeseji. Nxa ungahlala uthintana labafowenu labodadewenu uzazizwa uhlalisekile njalo uvikelekile. Thintana labadala ikakhulu nxa ukhathazekile njalo uvume bakukhuthaze.—Isaya. 32:1, 2.

8. Umonakalo ungakuphambanisa njani ukuthula kwakho?

⁸ Nxa kwake kwaba lezikhukhula kumbe ukuzamazama komhlaba loba umlilo otshabalalisayo lapho okhona, kungenzakala wawulokhu ukhathazekile lanxa kwasekudlule isikhathi lokhu kwenzakele. Nxa kuyikuthi wafelwa yisihlobo kumbe impahla yakho yatshabalala ungabe wasala udane kakhulu, ungelathemba kumbe uzondile sibili. Lokhu akutsho ukuthi uthanda izinto zomhlaba kumbe ukuthi awulakholo. Njengoba uyabe usebunzimeni abanye bangacabanga ukuthi uzadana, uphelelwe lithemba kumbe uzonde. (Jobe. 1:11) Kodwa ungaba lokuthula lanxa uphakathi kobunzima. Kuyini okungakunceda?

9. Kuyini okwatshiwo nguJesu okuzasinceda silungiselele nxa kungaba lomonakalo?

⁹ Khumbula okwaphrofethwa nguJesu. Watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ukuphela kungakafiki kwakuzakuba “lokuzamazama komhlaba okwesabekayo” kanye lokunye okunengi. (Luk. 21:11) Waphrofetha lokuthi kwakuzakuba ‘lokwanda kobubi’ njalo siyakubona lokho namuhla ngoba kugcwele ubugebenga, lodlakela kanye labomalwecatsha. (Mat. 24:12) Abanye abantu bacabanga ukuthi ngeke behlelwe ngumonakalo kodwa thina siyakwazi ukuthi izinto ezinje zizakuba zinengi njalo lathi singaqabuka sesisebunzimeni. Izinceku zikaJehova ezinengi sezike zehlelwa ngumonakalo. UJesu kazange athi nxa sisehlelwa ngumonakalo kutsho ukuthi uJehova uyabe esesitshiyile. (Isaya. 57:1; 2 Khor. 11:25) Lanxa uJehova engasoze asivikele ngendlela eyisimangaliso ukuze singehlelwa ngumonakalo, uzasinika loba yini esiyidingayo ukuze sihlaliseke futhi sibe lokuthula.

10. Ukulungiselela umonakalo ungakaveli kutshengisa njani ukuthi silokholo? (IZaga 22:3)

¹⁰ Nxa singahlala silungiselele kuzakuba lula ukuthi sihlaliseke kungaba lomonakalo. Ukuhlala silungiselele kutsho ukuthi asilakholo kuJehova yini? Ngitsho sibili. Ukuhlala silungiselele kutshengisa ukuthi silalo ukholo lokuthi uJehova uzasinakekela. Njani? ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisicebisa ukuthi sihlale silungiselele umonakalo ongavela. (Bala iZaga 22:3.) Inhlanganiso kaNkulunkulu isisikhuthaze kanengi ukuthi silungiselele umonakalo ongabakhona isebenzisa izihloko eziphuma kumagazini, imihlangano yebandla kanye lezaziso ezifika  ngesikhathi. c Siyamthemba yini uJehova? Nxa simthemba sizalandela lokho asicebisa khona khathesi kungakabi lomonakalo.

11. Ufundani kuMargaret?

¹¹ Ake sixoxe ngokwenzakala kudadewethu okuthiwa nguMargaret. Watshelwa ukuthi asuke lapho ayehlala khona ngoba kwasekulumathe umlilo otshabalalisayo. Kwaba lezimota ezinengi kakhulu emgwaqweni kwabanzima ukuthi abantu bahambe ngenxa yokuthi abantu abanengi babezama ukubaleka ngalesosikhathi. Intuthu emnyama yayisibambe nki njalo uMargaret wayengasenelisi ukuphuma emoteni yakhe. Kodwa wasinda ngenxa yokuthi wayelungiselele. Wayehlala elemephu esikhwameni sakhe ayengayisebenzisa ukuthi adinge eyinye indlela ayengahamba ngayo nxa sekumele asuke lapho ahlala khona. Wayeseke wahamba ngalowomgwaqo kungakabi lomonakalo ukuze ungamlahli nxa sekumele abaleke. UMargaret wasinda ngenxa yokuthi wayewulungiselele umonakalo.

12. Kungani kumele silalele lokho esikutshelwayo?

¹² Iziphathamandla zingasitshela isikhathi esithile sokuthi sibe sezindlini, zisitshele ukuthi sisuke siye kwenye indawo kumbe zisitshele okunye nje okuyabe kumele sikwenze ukuze sizivikele lokuthi yonke into ihambe ngendlela. Abanye abantu bayaphuza ukulalela belokhu bebalisela ngoba bengafuni ukutshiya impahla yabo. Kodwa amaKhristu wona enza njani? IBhayibhili lithi: “Ngenxa yeNkosi, zehliseni kukho konke okusungulwe ngabantu, lizehlise kuloba yiphi inkosi ngoba iphezu kwenu, lakubabusi ngoba bathunywe yiyo.” (1 Phet. 2:13, 14) Inhlanganiso kaJehova iphinda isitshele okumele sikwenze ukuze sihlale sivikelekile. Sihlala sikhunjuzwa ukuthi sinike abadala inamba zethu zefoni esizisebenzisayo, sibatshele lalapho esihlala khona ukwenzela ukuthi benelise ukusithinta nxa kube lomonakalo. Usukwenzile yini lokho? Singatshelwa lokuthi sihlale lapho esikhona singasuki, ukuthi sisuke siye kwenye indawo, sitshelwe lokumele sikwenze ukuze sithole izinto esizidingayo. Singatshelwa lokuthi singabancedisa njani abanye lokuthi sibancedise nini. Nxa singayekela ukulalela singafaka ukuphila kwethu lokwabadala engozini. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi amadoda la athembekileyo ayasilinda. (Heb. 13:17) UMargaret  uthi: “Angithandabuzi ukuthi ukulalela abadala lalokho esikutshelwa yinhlanganiso yikho okwanginceda ngasinda.”

13. Kuyini okuncede amaKhristu atshiye imizi yawo ukuthi aqhubeke ethokoza futhi ahlaliseke?

¹³ Abafowethu labodadewethu abatshiye imizi yabo ngenxa yomonakalo kumbe impi loba iziphithiphithi zombangazwe benze okusemandleni abo ukuthi baqalise impilo entsha lapho asebekhona lokuthi bahle benze izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza. Baqhubeka “betshumayela izindaba ezinhle ezimayelana lelizwi” njengamaKhristu akuqala ayesabalale aya kwezinye izindawo ngenxa yokuhlukuluzwa. (Imiseb. 8:4) Ukutshumayela kubanceda ukuthi bahlale becabanga ngoMbuso hatshi inhlupho abayabe belazo. Yikho beqhubeka bethokoza futhi belokuthula.

14. Ukuhlukuluzwa kungakuphambanisa njani ukuthula kwethu?

¹⁴ Nxa sihlukuluzwa singalahlekelwa yizinto ezinengi ezisenza sibe lokuthula. Siyathokoza kakhulu nxa sihlangana ndawonye labafowethu labodadewethu, sitshumayela sikhululekile futhi sisenza izinto esijayele ukuzenza singesabi ukuthi sizabotshwa. Nxa singasavunyelwa ukwenza izinto lezo singakhathazeka sihlalele evalweni. Akukubi ukuzizwa ngaleyondlela. Lanxa kunjalo kumele siqaphele. UJesu wathi ukuhlukuluzwa kungenza abalandeli bakhe bakhubeke. (Joh. 16:1, 2) Pho singenzani ukuze sihlale silokuthula nxa sihlukuluzwa?

15. Kungani kungamelanga sesabe ukuhlukuluzwa? (UJohane 15:20; 16:33)

¹⁵ ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Bonke abazimisele ukuphila bezinikele kuNkulunkulu futhi bemanyene loKhristu uJesu labo bazahlukuluzwa.” (2 Thim. 3:12) Kwakunzima ukuthi umfowethu u-Andrei akukholwe lokho umsebenzi wethu ungasavunyelwa elizweni ayehlala kulo. Wathi: ‘Banengi kakhulu oFakazi lapha. Kambe iziphathamandla zingasibopha sonke?’ Kodwa lokhu akuzange kwenze u-Andrei abe lokuthula, wayesehlala ekhathazeka. Abanye abazalwane bathemba uJehova kulokuthi bacabange ukuthi abasoze babotshwe. Babekwazi ukuthi bangabotshwa kodwa babengakhathazeki kakhulu njengo-Andrei. U-Andrei wabona kungcono ukuthi enze njengabo, amthembe ngenhliziyo yonke uNkulunkulu. Laye wacina ehlalisekile njalo khathesi uyathokoza lanxa elenhlupho. Lathi singaba lokuthula futhi  siqhubeke sithokoza lanxa silenhlupho. UJesu watsho ukuthi sizahlukuluzwa kodwa waphinda wasiqinisekisa ukuthi singenelisa ukuqhubeka sithembekile.—Bala uJohane 15:20; 16:33.

16. Kuyini okumele sikwenze nxa sihlukuluzwa?

¹⁶ Nxa umsebenzi wethu ungamiswa kumbe kube lezinye izinto esingasavunyelwa ukuzenza, igatsha kanye labadala bangasitshela okumele sikwenze lokungamelanga sikwenze. Lokhu kuyabe kusenzelwa ukuthi sivikeleke, siqhubeke sifundiswa ngoJehova lokuthi siqhubeke sitshumayela nxa kuvuma. Zama ngamandla wonke ukulalela lokho esikutshelwayo lanxa uyabe ungazwisisi ukuthi kungani kumele wenze njalo. (Jak. 3:17) Kanti njalo akumelanga sikhulume izinto eziphathelane labafowethu labodadewethu kumbe eziphathelane lebandla lethu ebantwini abangelalungelo lokuzazi.—Umtshu. 3:7.

17. Sizimisele ukwenzani njengabaphostoli?

¹⁷ Esinye isizatho esikhulu esenza uSathane ahlasele abantu bakaNkulunkulu yikuthi ‘balomsebenzi wokufakaza ngoJesu.’ (Isam. 12:17) Ungavumi ukwethuselwa nguSathane lomhlaba wakhe. Ukutshumayela lokufundisa lanxa sihlukuluzwa kusenza sithokoze futhi sibe lokuthula. Iziphathamandla ezingamaJuda zatshela abaphostoli ukuthi bayekele ukutshumayela kodwa amadoda la athembekileyo akhetha ukulalela uNkulunkulu. Aqhubeka etshumayela futhi umsebenzi lo wenza athokoza. (Imiseb. 5:27-29, 41, 42) Nxa umsebenzi wethu ungasavunyelwa kumele siqaphele sibili nxa sitshumayela. (Mat. 10:16) Kodwa nxa singenza okusemandleni ethu sizaba lokuthula ngenxa yokuthi siyabe sithokozisa uJehova futhi sitshela abantu amazwi azakwenza bathole ukuphila.

18. Ngubani ongasinika ukuthula kweqiniso?

¹⁸ Lanxa izinto zingaze zibe nzima njani ungathandabuzi ukuthi ungaba lokuthula. Ngezikhathi ezinjalo kumele ukhumbule ukuthi ukuthula okudingayo yikuthula kukaNkulunkulu, ukuthula ongakuphiwa nguye kuphela. Thembela kuye nxa kungaba lomkhuhlane omemethekayo, kungaba lomonakalo loba nxa uhlukuluzwa. Hlala useduze lenhlanganiso yakhe. Hlala ucabanga ngezibusiso ezinhle ozazithola ngesikhathi esizayo. Ungenza njalo ‘uNkulunkulu wokuthula uzakuba lawe.’ (Flp. 4:9) Esihlokweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngokuthi singabancedisa njani abafowethu labodadewethu abaphakathi kobunzima ukuthi labo babe lokuthula kukaNkulunkulu.