Are You Prepared for Challenges After Baptism?

1-2. What steps can we take to be prepared for challenges that may come up in the truth? Illustrate.

WE EXPECT to have difficulties in Satan’s world. Jesus realistically warned his followers: “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come.” (Matt. 18:7) With that warning in mind, we need to be prepared to face challenges, and that may include having problems with fellow believers.

² Consider an illustration. Jehovah’s people have been encouraged to prepare for natural disasters. How do we do so? First, we identify what disasters may occur in our region. It is especially important to do that if we are new to the area. After identifying the potential disasters, we need to plan what we can do to be ready for each one. (Prov. 21:5) Similarly, we can identify potential challenges in the truth and prepare now so that we will be ready if they come up in our life. In that way, those challenges will have less of an impact on us and will not harm our relationship with Jehovah. (Ps. 17:5) Therefore, let us discuss three possible challenges and how we can prepare for each one.a

A BROTHER OR A SISTER OFFENDS YOU

3. What challenge could we face in the congregation?

³ Do you remember how you felt the first time you attended a meeting and saw the love among Jehovah’s people? Were you convinced that you had found the truth? (John 13:35; Col. 3:12) That is how Blancab felt. However, she had an unexpected experience after she got baptized. She says: “A sister treated me harshly. I also noticed that she would speak negatively about others. I wasn’t expecting this; I had learned that Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to be peaceful and loving.” Of course, your brothers and sisters work hard at refining their Christian qualities, but Jehovah’s people are not perfect. (Eph. 4:23, 24; 1 John 1:8) So at some point, one of them is likely to say or do something that hurts you. (Jas. 3:8) Sadly, such challenges have caused some to stop serving Jehovah.

4. What can help us to be ready in the event that a brother or a sister offends us? (Ephesians 4:32)

⁴ What can you do now to be ready in the event that a brother or a sister hurts or offends you? Make it a habit to apply the advice found at Ephesians 4:32. (Read.) If you do your best to remain kind and compassionate, you will surely avoid needless conflicts with others. Make it your goal to forgive others freely for the mistakes they make. What can help you to do so? Think of how often you ask Jehovah to forgive your mistakes and how freely he does so. (Matt. 6:12) When you focus appreciatively on how generous Jehovah has been in forgiving you, you will find it easier to forgive others.

5. What Bible principle can help us when someone offends us? (Proverbs 19:11) (See also pictures.)

⁵ Read Proverbs 19:11. The Bible says that when we are offended, insightc can slow down our anger. This principle has helped Rima, who has been baptized for a few years. She says: “When I see brothers and sisters act in a way that I find hurtful or offensive, I first remember Proverbs 19:11. I consider their circumstances and background, and I try to think of why they may have acted in that way. I also try to work with them in field service. Doing so helps me to know them better.” That is good advice. You can get to know your brothers and sisters now. The more you understand them, the easier you may find it to forgive them if they ever act in a hurtful way.

6. What can help us to enjoy positive relationships in the congregation?

⁶ What can you do to enjoy positive relationships in the congregation? As you get to know your brothers and sisters, make sure to focus on their good qualities. (Compare Proverbs 10:12; Rom. 12:10; Phil. 2:2, 3) Note how doing so helped a newly baptized brother named Mark. As he began spending more time with the brothers and sisters in his congregation, he became aware of their imperfections. What helped Mark to avoid being stumbled by the faults he saw in them? He says: “I came to realize that I was focusing on minor faults, and these paled in comparison to the wrongdoings prevalent in the world. It became clear to me that I shouldn’t dwell on the imperfections of my fellow believers. So I shifted my focus to their good attributes.” If you respond similarly, you will enjoy positive relationships in the congregation.

YOU BEGIN TO MISS WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND

7. What could lead us to begin to miss what we left behind?

⁷ When you first learned the truth, no doubt you felt relieved to leave behind Satan’s wicked world. You may think, ‘How could anyone ever miss it?’ Yet, when undergoing difficult trials, you could begin to recall​—and even yearn for—​some of the things that you gave up as you began to serve Jehovah. (Compare Numbers 11:4-6.) For example, some brothers may have decided to give up a prestigious but time-consuming career. Others may have had close friends who pulled away from them when they began to study the Bible. Still others may have overcome an addiction that, although unclean, provided some pleasure. How sad it would be if a Christian were to allow anything from his past to cause him to drift away from Jehovah! What can you do now so that no matter what comes your way, you will never return to what you rightly left behind?

8. What do we learn from the example of Abraham and Sarah?

⁸ The Bible contains examples of faithful worshippers who could have started missing what they left behind. For example, in obedience to Jehovah’s command, Abraham and Sarah left the fortified city of Ur to dwell in tents. (Heb. 11:8, 9) Obviously, they might occasionally have called to mind the comforts of Ur. But “if they had kept remembering” or if they had looked longingly to the past, they could have been tempted to return to those comforts. Instead, they focused on the future.​—Heb. 11:15, 16.

9. How did the apostle Paul view the things that he had left behind? (Philippians 3:7, 8, 13)

⁹ The apostle Paul changed course to serve Jehovah. Before becoming a Christian, he had studied under the highly esteemed Law teacher Gamaliel. (Acts 22:3) Paul was on track to reach a very prominent position in Judaism. (Gal. 1:13, 14) However, when he accepted the good news, he left all of that behind. Was life always easy after his conversion? No. He was beaten, imprisoned, and hated by his own people. (2 Cor. 11:23-26) If he had focused solely on those trials and compared his present life with his previous life, he could have concluded that he was better off before his conversion. Instead, Paul focused on the immense privilege he currently had of serving Christ Jesus with a glorious future ahead. Paul was convinced that such blessings far outweighed any sacrifices that he had made.​—Read Philippians 3:7, 8, 13.

10. On what should we regularly reflect? (Mark 10:29, 30) (See also pictures.)

¹⁰ What is the lesson? If you start thinking about the things you gave up in order to become a Christian, be sure you also remember why you gave them up. (Eccl. 7:10) Compare what you left behind with the blessings you have gained by coming into the truth. You have a close friendship with the Sovereign of the universe. (Prov. 3:32) You are surrounded by a loving spiritual family. (Read Mark 10:29, 30.) And you have a wonderful future before you! (Isa. 65:21-23) If you regularly reflect on the blessings that come from serving Jehovah, you will be less likely to miss what you left behind.

11. What do you learn from Rosemary’s experience?

¹¹ A sister named Rosemary got baptized in her 50’s. Note what she did to avoid longing for what she left behind. She says: “At first, I missed Christmas, since it had always been an enjoyable time with family. I enjoyed giving gifts to my loved ones. I liked having the children around the Christmas tree and seeing their little faces light up when they opened their presents.” What has helped her? Rosemary says: “I have found a way to replace Christmas. Each year on a different day, I gather my family, give them gifts, and explain why I appreciate them.” Rosemary also faced another challenge. She says: “When I learned the truth, my old friends left me. At times, I would miss them and feel lonely.”d What helped her? She started making plans with different sisters to go out preaching. She says: “In doing so, I have made new friends whom I love and value.” What might you learn from her? You may miss something that made you happy before you learned the truth, but you may very well be able to replace what you miss with something wholesome. (Phil. 4:8, 9) And remember: With Jehovah, you always gain much more than you lose.

OTHERS LEAVE JEHOVAH

12. What challenge in the congregation could be especially difficult?

¹² When you became a Witness, you likely felt relieved to leave behind a corrupt world and enter a spiritual and moral oasis. (Isa. 65:14) And yet, at times, you may hear of wrongdoing in the congregation. Someone may even be removed from the congregation. (1 Cor. 5:13) Note how such a situation affected a sister named Samar. She says: “Not long after my baptism, an elder committed a serious sin and was removed from the congregation. I was almost stumbled because I couldn’t believe that it was possible for an elder to sin against Jehovah and the congregation.” Of course, we should always trust that our brothers and sisters love Jehovah and want to stick to him. (1 Cor. 13:4, 7) Still, we must be realistic; each year some are removed from the congregation. And it could be especially challenging if someone close to you or someone you looked up to chooses a bad course.

13. How can we strengthen ourselves now so that if someone close to us leaves Jehovah, we will not be stumbled?

¹³ How can you prepare yourself now so that if someone close to you leaves Jehovah, you will not be stumbled? Continue strengthening your personal relationship with Jehovah. (Jas. 4:8) Do not allow your relationship with God to be dependent on someone else’s faithfulness. For example, although we may often worship together as a family and as a congregation, we also need to have our own personal routine of prayer and Bible reading.​—Ps. 1:2; 62:8.

14. What do we learn from the apostle Peter’s example? (John 6:66-68)

¹⁴ We can also draw a lesson from the way the apostle Peter reacted when many disciples stopped following Jesus. Peter himself may have been somewhat confused at that time. But note what he said according to John 6:66-68. (Read.) Instead of focusing on what others were doing, Peter focused on the sayings of truth that he had received from Jesus. As a result, Peter was not stumbled. Similarly today, the actions of others do not change the valuable truth you have found with the help of God’s organization. Cling to that truth! Samar, mentioned earlier, says, “I always remind myself that the wrong actions of one individual do not represent the entire congregation or organization; neither do they represent Jehovah’s qualities.”

15. What do you learn from Emily’s experience?

¹⁵ Consider the example of Emily. Only a week after Emily got baptized, her mother left the family and was removed from the congregation. Emily says: “Never could I have imagined that this would happen. This has been my biggest challenge, and I miss my mom a lot.” What has helped Emily? She says: “I am not alone. I have support not only from my dad but also from others in the congregation, who have been like a family to me. Everyone is dealing with a trial. That’s why it’s important to stay close to one another and encourage one another.” (1 Pet. 5:9) You do not have to wait for a challenge before you strengthen your bonds with your brothers and sisters. Continue doing so now. In that way, no matter what happens, you are less likely to feel alone.

16. What should we remember? (See also picture.)

¹⁶ Remember, too, that Jehovah disciplines those he loves. (Heb. 12:6) He wants all who are removed from the congregation to return. (2 Pet. 3:9) So if someone close to you is removed from the congregation, you can be sure that the elders will do all that they can to help him to return to Jehovah.​—2 Tim. 2:24, 25.

17. Of what can we be sure?

¹⁷ We have discussed just a few of the challenges that you may face after baptism. True, some may seem daunting, but you have no reason to fear. There is much you can do to prepare. And never forget that you have the greatest help available: Jehovah God. He has already helped you, and he wants to help you forever! (1 Pet. 5:10) He will always give you the strength and the endurance you need to face any trial. As you keep accepting Jehovah’s help, there is no challenge that could ever pull you away from him!​—Ps. 119:165; Rom. 8:38, 39.