Living as Christians for the week of January 11-17, 2027

Young person, be proud to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses

To remain faithful in the future, why is it good to examine your beliefs and your strengths and weaknesses now?

Galatians 6:4 — But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person.

Comment 1: Examining myself helps me see how I am doing without comparing myself with others. I can recognize what I am doing well and what I need to improve. That way, my confidence does not depend on resembling someone else but on personally striving to please Jehovah.

Comment 2: It is good to ask myself why I serve Jehovah before a difficult situation arises. The video emphasizes that it is not enough to do so simply because our family does. If I am convinced that this is the truth and I personally love Jehovah, I will have a firm reason to remain faithful, even if my circumstances or the decisions of those around me change.

Comment 3: I am struck by the comparison with the foundation of a house. A house needs a good foundation before facing difficulties. Similarly, investigating the reasons for our beliefs now strengthens our faith. It is not just a matter of knowing how to answer a question but of being truly convinced of what we believe and why we want to continue serving Jehovah.

Comment 4: Recognizing a weakness does not mean that we do not love Jehovah. It can help us see where we need to work. For example, if there is a belief that we still do not understand well, we can take time to study it. In the video testimonies, searching for answers was precisely what helped strengthen their friendship with Jehovah. It is better to address those questions than simply leave them unresolved.

Comment 5: Knowing our strengths is also useful. By examining our actions, we can recognize which good habits are helping us and continue caring for them. The video mentions Bible study and setting spiritual goals. If we see that these things strengthen our friendship with Jehovah, we will have more reasons to give them an important place in our life from now on.

Comment 6: We do not know when problems will come. Alex and Tainara had to face very painful family situations while they were still young. So, it is not wise to think that we will strengthen our faith later. What we do now to get to know Jehovah and be determined to be loyal to him can help us when we face an unexpected difficulty.

Comment 7: Examining myself can also help me choose my goals. If I know what I need to strengthen and what I want to do in Jehovah’s service, I will be able to make decisions with clear direction. The video explains that before making a decision, they thought about how it would affect their future goals. That habit can help us keep sight of what we truly want.

What did Alex and Tainara do to be clear about why they served Jehovah?

Comment 1: They made their beliefs their own. Their testimonies emphasize the importance of serving Jehovah out of love for him, not simply because their family does. That personal conviction gave them a reason to remain faithful when they had problems.

Comment 2: They searched for answers to their questions. The video explains that studying the Bible more deeply helped strengthen their friendship with Jehovah and convinced them that he is the true God. I find it important that they were not satisfied with what they already knew. They wanted to understand their beliefs, and that effort made their relationship with Jehovah more personal.

Comment 3: One specific detail is the research they did about creation. One testimony explains that a section of the brochure Life—How Did It Get Here? was read to examine the evidence that Jehovah is the Creator. Reflecting on the design of things strengthened that conviction. So they did not leave that question unanswered; they looked for information and thought about it.

Comment 4: They gave personal study importance. The video mentions the practice of studying in the mornings, when there was more peace and quiet and the problems did not seem as great. This shows that it was not only important to study but also to find a time that helped them study well. In addition, they enjoyed studying. The Bible became a personal help, not simply something they had to read.

Comment 5: Getting to know Jehovah better helped them view him as someone close to them. The video speaks of him as a friend they can rely on and as a Father who helps. Viewing him that way gives great meaning to the service we render to him. It is not merely a matter of carrying out certain activities but of caring for a friendship with someone we love.

Comment 6: They set spiritual goals. One testimony mentions short-, medium-, and long-term goals, as well as some that had already been reached, such as getting baptized, becoming a regular pioneer, and serving with construction groups. Having those objectives gave direction to their decisions. Their desire to serve Jehovah was reflected in concrete plans for the future.

Comment 7: One thing that stands out is that they valued basic truths. At times, we might think that because we have known a teaching since childhood, we no longer need to examine it more deeply. But in the video those truths are compared to the foundation of a house. Understanding clearly what they believed helped them have a solid foundation and be convinced that they wanted to serve Jehovah.

What difficulties did they have to face?

Comment 1: One of the testimonies explains that at age 17, the mother was diagnosed with cancer. It was a very painful situation that changed life from one moment to the next. It was not a minor difficulty: they had to face the illness of someone very dear to them and take on new responsibilities while still a teenager.

Comment 2: The mother’s illness brought many practical responsibilities. They had to learn to do household chores, cook, and care for a sick person. In addition, they had to provide emotional support. I am impressed that it was not just a matter of carrying out new tasks but of caring for someone dear while going through a personally very painful situation.

Comment 3: Another difficulty was the parents’ divorce when they were about 15 or 16 years old. In addition, the mother stopped being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The account explains that at precisely the age when they needed much parental support and guidance, they did not receive that help. It was an especially difficult period for the family.

Comment 4: They also express deep pain over the absence of a much-loved mother. She is remembered as their best friend, a kind person who helped them and with whom they enjoyed studying the Bible. Those memories help us understand how close their relationship was. Remaining faithful to Jehovah did not mean that they stopped feeling sad; they had to move forward in the midst of that pain.

Comment 5: Their difficulties affected their family and emotional life, not just their day-to-day activities. The illness, the divorce, and the lack of the support they needed tested their determination to serve Jehovah. That is why it is so meaningful that the video highlights the importance of being determined to be loyal before problems come.

What else did you learn from their example?

Romans 12:2 — And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Comment 1: Faith requires personal conviction. Alex and Tainara did not simply accept what they had learned; they searched for reasons to believe it. Their example moves me to study with the desire to understand and verify, not merely so that I can give an answer.

Comment 2: I learned that it is worth looking for a suitable time to study. The video explains that in the morning there was more peace and quiet and the problems seemed less overwhelming. This does not mean that everyone has to study at that time. The important thing is to recognize when we can concentrate best and use that time to strengthen our friendship with Jehovah.

Comment 3: Spiritual goals can guide decisions that may seem small. I liked that they thought about how each decision would affect their future objectives. This can help us when we have several options before us. Instead of focusing only on what we feel like doing at the moment, we can ask ourselves whether that decision brings us closer to what we want to do in Jehovah’s service.

Comment 4: I am encouraged to think that our relationship with Jehovah can remain strong even if our family situation changes. The video emphasizes that we can show loyalty to him even if our family is not made up of Witnesses. It does not minimize the pain that this can cause. Rather, it shows that our love for Jehovah can continue guiding us in very difficult circumstances.

Comment 5: One very beautiful lesson is that Jehovah is not a distant friend. In the testimonies, he is described as a Father who helps and as someone who comforts. That trust did not make the difficulties disappear, but it did help them face those difficulties. Getting to know him better can help us remember that we have his love even when we lack the support we expected to receive.

Comment 6: Being faithful does not mean that problems will not hurt us. The video expresses very deep feelings when recalling the mother and all that they shared. This helps me see that sadness and love for Jehovah can exist at the same time. What matters is remaining determined to do what pleases him, even while going through painful moments.

Comment 7: Feeling proud to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is connected with valuing the One we represent. At the end of the video, the joy of being a friend of such a powerful God and having the privilege of defending and carrying his name is expressed. The more we get to know Jehovah and appreciate his friendship, the more reasons we will have to feel happy to belong to his people.

More posts for this week

Week of January 11–17, 2027

Gems Spiritual Gems for the Week of January 11-17, 2027 View post →

Book Study Congregation Bible Study for the Week of January 11-17, 2027 View post →

The Watchtower Watchtower Study for the Week of January 11-17, 2027 View post →