Siphila ezikhathini ezigcwele ukukhathazeka, ‘izikhathi ezinzima.’ (2 KuThimothi 3:1) Abanengi bathwele nzima ngoba imali kayibonwa, izimuli ziyachitheka, izimpi zidla ubhedu, imikhuhlane ebulalayo iyamemetheka njalo kulezingozi zemvelo lezinye ezibangelwa ngabantu. Phezu kwalokho, wonke umuntu ulezakhe ezimkhathazayo. Ngokwesibonelo omunye angathi: ‘Kanti iqhubu leli elisemzimbeni wami ngelani, sengizakuba lemvukuzane yini?’ ‘Kambe abazukulu bami bazakhula bathini emhlabeni onje?’

Kayisikho ukuthi konke ukukhathazeka kubi. Phela kujayelekile ukuthi umuntu angahlaliseki nxa ezabhala umhloliso, ezakwenza okuthile phambi kwabantu kumbe nxa ezabuzwa imibuzo lapho adinga khona umsebenzi. Kanti njalo kwabo kagwala kakulasililo. Kodwa ukuhlala ukhathazekile kumbe ukukhathazeka uze uswele ubuthongo kuyingozi kakhulu. Kuke kwenziwa ukuchwayisisa ebantwini abadala abedlula 68 000 kwasekutholakala ukuthi lokukhathazeka kancane nje kungabangela ukuthi umuntu aphangise ukufa. UJesu laye wake wabuza wathi: “Ngubani kini ongathi ngokukhathazeka engeze ihora elilodwa empilweni yakhe na?” Kusegcekeni ukuthi ukukhathazeka ngeke kwengeze impilo yomuntu. Yikho uJesu wathi: “Lingakhathazeki.” (ULukha 12:22, 25) Kambe kungenzakala yini ukuthi singakhathazeki?

Kungenzakala sibili nxa izinqumo zethu singazenza ngokuhlakanipha, silwise ukuba lokholo oluqinileyo kuNkulunkulu siphinde sibeke ithemba lethu kuye. Izinto lezi zanceda uPaul, uJanet, kanye lo-Alona lapho belwisana lokukhathazeka. Ake sixoxe ngazo ngoba lanxa izinto zingabe zisihambela kuhle khathesi, akutsho ukuthi zizahlala zitshelela.