1. Yibuphi ubunzima esihlangana labo lamuhla njalo kungani uJehova ethokoza ngezinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo? (Khangela imifanekiso esekuqaliseni.)

IMPILO inzima kulezinsuku zokucina. Abafowethu labodadewethu abanengi bathwele nzima ngenxa yokugula. Abanye banakekela izihlobo esezigugile ngapha labo bevele sebekhulile. Abanye njalo bathwele nzima bezama ukuphandela izimuli zabo. Kwabanye inhlupho lezi zibuya zelekene njalo zibaqeda amandla, zibadlele isikhathi kanye lemali. Okuhle yikuthi sonke silethemba lokuthi uJehova uzasincedisa futhi silokholo ezithembisweni zakhe. Kumele ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza nxa ebona ukholo lwethu oluqine kangaka!

2. Amazwi aku-Isaya 40:29 asinceda njani futhi yiliphi iphutha okungamelanga silenze?

² Uyake uzwe angani inhlupho ophakathi kwazo seziphezu kwamandla akho yini? Awuwedwa nxa kuyake kube njalo. IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi labanye abantu ababekhonza uNkulunkulu endulo babephela amandla kwezinye izikhathi. (1 AmaKho. 19:4; Jobe. 7:7) Loba kunjalo kabazange bakhalale ngoba babekholwa ukuthi uJehova uzabanika amandla. Lakanye  wayekwenza lokhu ngoba iBhayibhili lithi “abakhatheleyo uyabanika amandla.” (Isaya. 40:29) Kodwa abanengi lamuhla bayatshiya ukukhonza uJehova nxa sebephakathi kwenhlupho. Bacabanga ukuthi ukukhonza kubabuyisela emuva. Ngakho bayayekela ukubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu, ukungena imihlangano lokutshumayela. Okudanisayo yikuthi bayabe besenza into efunwa nguSathane.

3. (a) Kuyini okungasinceda nxa sesiphela amandla? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?

³ USathane kafuni sihlale siqinile ekukhonzeni njalo uyakwazi ukuthi ukwenza imisebenzi ephathelane lokukhonza yikho okusiqinisayo. Ngakho nxa ungezwa angani usuphela amandla, ungamtshiyi uJehova. Sondela kuye ukuze akwenze ‘ube lamandla, uqine.’ (1 Phet. 5:10; Jak. 4:8) Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngo-Isaya 40:26-31 otshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyenelisa ukusiqinisa lokusinika amandla. Sizaxoxa langezinto ezimbili ezingasiphambanisa ekukhonzeni, sizabona lokuthi ukusebenzisa izimiso eziseBhayibhilini kungasinceda njani.

4. Sifundani ku-Isaya 40:26?

⁴ Bala u-Isaya 40:26. Kakho okwaziyo ukuthi zingaki izinkanyezi emkhathini. Abezesayensi bacabangela ukuthi umthala wethu okuthiwa yi-Milky Way ulezinkanyezi ezedlula 400 bhiliyoni. IBhayibhili liveza ukuthi uJehova uzazi ngamabizo zonke izinkanyezi ezisemkhathini. Nxa uJehova elendaba lezinkanyezi ezingaphiliyo, kusegcekeni ukuthi ulendaba lathi. Okwenza asiqakathekise yikuthi siyamkhonza futhi siyamthanda. (Hubo. 19:1, 3, 14) UJehova wazi ngamunye wethu. ILizwi lakhe lithi: “Kwala zona izinwele zamakhanda enu zibaliwe.” (Mat. 10:30) Liphinda lithi: “Izinsuku zabangelasici ziyaziwa nguJehova.” (Hubo. 37:18) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabubona ubunzima ophakathi kwabo njalo uzimisele ukukunika amandla ukuze ubumele.

5. Kuyini okwenza singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova angasinika amandla?

⁵ Bala u-Isaya 40:28. UJehova ungumnikazi wamandla wonke. Ngokwesibonelo wathi edala ilanga walenza laba lamandla amangalisayo. Omunye umlobi wezesayensi okuthiwa nguDavid Bodanis ubika ukuthi ngomzumzwana owodwa nje ilanga likhipha amandla alingana lamabhomba angamabhiliyoni. Enye njalo ingcitshi ithi nxa ukutshisa okukhitshwa lilanga ngomzuzwana owodwa nje kungantshintshwa kube ngamagetsi, lawomagetsi angenela abantu bonke emhlabeni okweminyaka engu-200 000. Ubufakazi lobu benza sibone ukuthi uJehova angasinika amandla esiwadingayo ukuze silwisane lenhlupho ezisehlelayo.

6. Atshoni amazwi kaJesu athi “ijogwe lami lilula”?

⁶ Bala u-Isaya 40:29. Ukukhonza uJehova kwenza sithokoze. UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Zithwaliseni ijogwe lami.” Waseqhubeka wathi: “Lizazuza ukuphumula kwemiphefumulo yenu. Ngokuba ijogwe lami lilula lomthwalo wami kawusindi.” (Mat. 11:28-30) Aliqiniso sibili amazwi la! Kwesinye isikhathi siyake siye emhlanganweni yebandla loba ekutshumayeleni lanxa sidinwe sifile. Kodwa nxa sesivela khona siyabe sesivuselelwe futhi sesilamandla okubekezelela inhlupho esiphakathi kwazo. Kuyakhanya sibili ukuthi ijogwe likaJesu lilula.

7. Qamba isibonelo esitshengisa ukuthi aliqiniso sibili amazwi akuMathewu 11:28-30.

⁷ Omunye udadewethu okuthiwa nguKayla  uthwele nzima ngenxa yomkhuhlane wokudinwa masinyane, owokuhlulukelwa kanye lokuhlala etshaywa likhanda. Ngakho kwezinye izikhathi kuba nzima ukuthi aye emihlanganweni yebandla. Ngelinye ilanga waqinisela waya emhlanganweni. Uthi: “Mhlalokho inkulumo yayikhuluma ngokudana. Umzalwane owayesenza leyonkulumo wayekhuluma ngomusa njalo ayekutsho kwangithinta ngaze ngakhala. Yikho lapho engabona khona ukuthi akumelanga ngikhuthe ukungena imihlangano ngoba iyanginceda.” Udadewethu lo wajabula kakhulu ukuthi wayenze okusemandleni akhe ukuze angene umhlangano.

8, 9. Wayesitshoni uPhawuli lapho esithi “nxa ngibuthakathaka, kulapho-ke ngilamandla”?

⁸ Bala u-Isaya 40:30. Kungenzakala ukuthi sizingcitshi ekwenzeni izinto ezithile kodwa iqiniso elikhona yikuthi amandla esilawo alalapho aphelela khona. Leli liqiniso okumele sihlale silikhumbula. Ngokwesibonelo, lanxa uPhawuli wayeyindoda ekhutheleyo zikhona izinto ezazimenza angenelisi ukwenza okunengi enkonzweni. Ngelinye ilanga wathandaza kuNkulunkulu emtshela okwakumkhathaza futhi uNkulunkulu wathi kuye: “Amandla ami apheleliswa ebuthakathakeni.” UPhawuli wakuzwisisa okwakutshiwo ngamazwi la wasesithi: “Ngoba nxa ngibuthakathaka, kulapho-ke ngilamandla.” (2 Khor. 12:7-10) Wayesitshoni?

⁹ Wayesithi udinga amandla avela kuNkulunkulu ngoba kulutshwane kakhulu ayengakwenza ngawakhe amandla. Wayekwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezamqinisa ngomoya wakhe ongcwele nxa esebuthakathaka. Umoya ongcwele wawuzamsiza lokuthi enelise ukwenza izinto ayengeke azenze ngamandla akhe. Lalamuhla uJehova angasinika amandla afananayo nxa sibuthakathaka.

10. UJehova wayemsiza njani uDavida nxa ephakathi kobunzima?

¹⁰ UDavida laye wakunanzelela ukuthi umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu yiwo owawumenza abe lamandla. Wabhala wathi: “Ngosizo lwakho ngingaphuma ngimelane lebutho lempi; ngoNkulunkulu wami ngingaweqa umduli.” (Hubo. 18:29) Ezinye inhlupho esihlangana lazo lamuhla zinjengomduli esingeke siweqe. Sidinga amandla avela kuNkulunkulu ukuze senelise ukuzinqoba.

11. Chaza ukuthi umoya ongcwele usinceda njani nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho.

¹¹ Bala u-Isaya 40:31. Ukhozi kalusebenzisi amandla alo kuphela nxa lusemoyeni. Umoya okhudumalayo osemkhathini yiwo owenza ukhozi lwenelise ukundiza emoyeni okwesikhathi eside lungasebenzisanga amandla alo amanengi. Ngakho nxa ungahlangana lobunzima obukuqeda amandla, khumbula ukhozi. Cela uJehova akunike umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze ukusize. (Joh. 14:26) Okuhle yikuthi uyasipha umoya wakhe loba nini nxa siwudinga. Kwezinye izikhathi siyawadinga amandla omoya ongcwele nxa singaphambanisana lothile ebandleni. Kodwa kuyini okubangela ukuthi kube lokungazwanani ebandleni?

12, 13. (a) Kungani kusiba lokungazwanani ebandleni? (b) Indaba kaJosefa isifundisani ngoJehova?

¹² Okwenza kube lokungazwanani ebandleni yikuthi sonke silesono. Lokhu kubangela ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi sikhulume loba senze izinto ezizwisa abanye ubuhlungu kumbe sicatshulwe ngokwenziwa ngabanye. Lokhu kungaba yisilingo sibili. Loba kunjalo uJehova ukhangelele ukuthi sibe qotho kuye ezimeni ezinjalo futhi ufuna sifunde ukuhlala simanyene labafowethu labodadewethu lanxa bephambanisa.

 ¹³ UJehova kavimbi ukuthi izinceku zakhe zingehlelwa yibunzima. Lokhu sikubona endabeni kaJosefa. Abafowabo ababelomhawu bamthengisa ebugqilini eseselijaha. (Gen. 37:28) UJehova wakubona lokhu futhi akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kwamkhathaza ukubona umngane wakhe ephathwa kubi. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova kazange angenele. Langesikhathi uJosefa emangalelwa ukuthi ubefuna ukubamba umkaPhothifa iganyavu uJehova kazange angenele. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi wayesemkhohliwe yini uJosefa? Hatshi, ngoba iBhayibhili lithi: “UJehova wayelaye uJosefa wamupha impumelelo kukho konke ayekwenza.”​—Gen. 39:21-23.

14. Kunceda ngani ukuxwaya ukuzonda?

¹⁴ Omunye owaphathwa kubi nguDavida. Lanxa kunjalo kazange avume ukuthi ukuphathwa kubi kumqede amandla. Wabhala wathi: “Xwayana lokuzonda njalo ufulathele intukuthelo; ungakhathazeki, kukhokhelela ebubini kuphela.” (Hubo. 37:8) Kungenzakala ukuthi inengi lethu kalikaze lihlangane lobunzima obunjengobukaDavida. Kodwa kuqakathekile ukuthi sixwaye ukuzonda, silingisele uJehova ngoba yena “kasiphathi ngokufanele izono zethu.” (Hubo. 103:10) Ukuzonda loba ukuthukuthela kubangela imikhuhlane eminengi eyingozi. Ngakho kuyanceda kakhulu ukuxwayana lokuzonda. Nxa umuntu ezondile kenelisi ukucabanga kuhle njalo kwezinye izikhathi angacina ehlutshwa yikukhathazeka. IBhayibhili lithi: “Ingqondo elokuthula iletha ukuphila emzimbeni.” (Zaga. 14:30) Manje kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sixwaye ukuzonda nxa umzalwane esesizwise ubuhlungu? Yikusebenzisa izimiso eziseBhayibhilini.

15, 16. Singenzani nxa umfowethu angasiphatha kubi?

¹⁵ Bala u-Efesu 4:26. Akubuhlungu kangako nxa ungaphathwa kubi ngumuntu ongamkhonziyo uJehova. Kodwa kuba buhlungu kakhulu nxa kungenziwa ngomunye ebandleni loba emulini. Pho ungenzani nxa kusehlula ukuthi ukhohlwe ngaleyondaba? Uzayekela kudlule iminyaka yini ulokhu ufuthelene loba uzalandela lokho okutshiwo yiMibhalo? Ukuhlala isikhathi eside ungalungisanga kungenza kube nzima ukuthi lihlalisane ngokuthula.

¹⁶ Ake sithi kube lokungazwanani phakathi kwakho lomunye umzalwane futhi kuyala ukuthi ukhohlwe ngaleyondaba. Ungenzani ukuze uyilungise? Okokuqala thandaza kuJehova. Mcele akuncedise ukuthi wenelise  ukuxoxisana kuhle lalowomuntu. Hlala ukhumbula ukuthi laye ungumngane kaJehova futhi uyamthanda. (Hubo. 25:14) UJehova ubaphatha ngomusa abangane bakhe yikho ukhangelele ukuthi lathi sibe lomusa kwabanye. (Zaga. 15:23; Mat. 7:12; Kol. 4:6) Ngemva kwalokho cabanga ngalokho ozafika ukutsho futhi ungazitsheli ukuthi ubekuqophile. Kungenzakala ukuthi bekuliphutha nje kumbe nguwe ongayizwisisanga kuhle indaba. Mhlawumbe lawe kukhona okwenzileyo ukuze kube njalo. Ngakho ongakwenza yikuya kuye ufike ukhulume laye ngomusa umtshele ukuthi okwenzakeleyo kukuphathe njani. Nxa kungehlula ukuthi lizwanane dinga esinye isikhathi uphinde uxoxe laye. Kodwa usalindele lesosikhathi, mthandazele umfowenu ucele ukuthi uJehova ambusise futhi akuncedise wenelise ukubona okuhle akwenzayo. UJehova uzathokoza kakhulu ngokuzimisela kwakho ukuthi wenze ukuthula lomfowenu ngoba phela laye ungumngane wakhe.

17. UJehova usincedisa njani nxa senze isono futhi kungani kumele silwamukele uncedo lolu?

¹⁷ Abanye abantu bacabanga ukuthi akubafanelanga ukukhonza uJehova ngenxa yezono abazenza kudala. Ukuzisola kungenza ungahlaliseki njalo uphelelwe yintokozo kanye lamandla. Ngesikhathi edliwa yisazela uDavida wabhala wathi: “Ngathi lapho ngithule, amathambo ami ababuthakathaka ngenxa yokububula kwami ilanga lonke. Ngokuba imini lobusuku isandla sakho sasingelekile.” Okuhle yikuthi uDavida waba lesibindi sokwenza lokho uJehova afuna ukuthi izinceku zakhe zikwenze. Wathi: “Lapho-ke ngasengisivuma isono sami kuwe . . . Walithethelela icala lesono sami.” (Hubo. 32:3-5) Nxa wenze isono, uJehova uzimisele ukukuncedisa ukuthi ulungisise ubuhlobo bakho laye. Okumele ukwenze yikwamukela usizo akunika lona esebenzisa abadala. (Zaga. 24:16; Jak. 5:13-15) Kwenze masinyane lokhu ngoba yikho okuzakusiza ukuthi uthole ukuphila okungapheliyo. Kwesinye isikhathi kungenzakala ukuthi ubulokhu uzithonisisa ngesono owasenzayo lanxa uJehova esekuthethelele. Kuyini okungakusiza esimeni esinjalo?

18. Isibonelo sikaPhawuli singabanceda njani labo abahlutshwa yizono abazenza kudala?

¹⁸ Umphostoli uPhawuli laye ngezinye izikhathi wayekhathazwa yizono ayeke wazenza. Wabhala wathi: “Ngoba mina ngingomncane kubaphostoli njalo kangifanelanga lokuthiwa mphostoli, ngoba ngahlukuluza ibandla likaNkulunkulu.” Lanxa kunjalo waphinda wathi: “Kodwa ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu ngiyilokhu engiyikho.” (1 Khor. 15:9, 10) UJehova wayekwazi ukuthi uPhawuli wayengumuntu olesono futhi wamamukela enjalo. Wayefuna ukuthi laye uPhawuli ahlale ekukhumbula ukuthi usemamukele. Ngakho nxa wasivuma isono sakho kuJehova njalo waxoxa labadala ukuze bakusize woba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova usekuthethelele.​—Isaya. 55:6, 7.

19. Uthini umbhalo womnyaka ka-2018 futhi uzasinceda njani?

¹⁹ Asimangali nxa sibona izinto zisiba nzima ngoba umumo lo ususiya ekupheleni. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova uzasinika amandla ukuze siqhubeke simkhonza ngoba “abakhatheleyo uyabanika amandla, andise amandla ababuthakathaka.” (Isaya. 40:29; Hubo. 55:22; 68:19) Sizahlala sikukhumbula lokhu nxa sibona umbhalo womnyaka ka-2018 othi: “Labo abathemba uJehova bazawavuselela amandla abo.”​—Isaya. 40:31.