Treasures From God's Word – November 23–29, 2026

Prepared talk

Have you ever felt that you just can't take any more? Maybe a health problem won't go away. Or a family difficulty drags on month after month.

Imagine someone who wakes up every morning with the same worry. At first he handles it well, but little by little his strength runs low.

Most of us have felt something like that, and it's normal to feel worn out. What matters is what we do next. The book of Lamentations can help.

Its writer suffered deeply and still did not give up. Let's see what kept him going.

Before he gets to words of hope, the writer describes his pain openly. He says he walks in darkness, that people mock him, and that his situation feels unbearable. He doesn't pretend everything is fine.

But in the middle of all that, something shifts in his thinking. He explains it in verse 21: he calls something to mind, and that is why he waits patiently. That memory gave him hope.

Appreciate what Jehovah has done for you (La 3:22; w24.01 30 ¶16)

LET'S READ LAMENTATIONS 3:22

So what did he call to mind? That Jehovah's loyal love and his mercies never come to an end. Notice the reason he gives.

Because of that love, the people had not been wiped out. Things were terrible, but the end had not come. Even in a very dark hour, he could see what Jehovah had done.

This is very practical. When we're overwhelmed, our minds fill up with everything that's going wrong. It's like looking through a dirty window, where all we can see is the smudge.

We need to wipe the glass a little and look at what Jehovah has done. That doesn't make the problem vanish, but it puts the problem back in its true size.

Notice how the writer speaks to Jehovah in the verses just before this. He tells him plainly that he is afflicted and homeless. Then he says he is sure Jehovah will remember him.

We can pray the same way. We don't need fancy words. We just need to open our hearts to our Father.

Imagine a sister who has spent months caring for a sick relative. One night, instead of going over her worries, she grabs a piece of paper and jots down three good things from the day. Maybe an encouraging text from a friend, a quiet meal, and a scripture she read that morning. When she's done, she sees that Jehovah was close all day long.

What could you write on your list? Think of your family and the brothers and sisters who encourage you. Think of the Bible you can read every day and the hope of Paradise.

All of it comes from a Father who loves us. Each time we acknowledge that, our hearts fill with gratitude, and discouragement loses its grip.

Appreciating what Jehovah has done also reminds us of what he did in the past. He has taken care of his people for centuries. Many faithful ones went through hard trials, and Jehovah helped them keep going. If he did that for them, he can do it for us.

Trust that Jehovah will continue to be with you (La 3:23; Mt 6:34)

LET'S READ LAMENTATIONS 3:23

The verse says Jehovah's mercies are new every morning. Think about what that means. Each day that begins brings a fresh supply of kindness from him.

Yesterday's help was for yesterday. Today Jehovah gives us what we need for today.

Then the writer adds that Jehovah's faithfulness is great. He isn't a friend who helps when it's convenient and then disappears. He keeps his word, day after day. So we can trust that tomorrow he will be with us too.

A good habit is to start the day with a short prayer. We can thank him for the night that passed and ask for strength for the next few hours. It's like being handed a flashlight at the start of a night walk.

It doesn't light up the whole path, but it shows the next step. And that's enough to keep moving.

Now let's look at something Jesus said about this.

LET'S READ MATTHEW 6:34

Jesus urges us not to be anxious about tomorrow, because each day has its own troubles. He isn't saying problems aren't real. He's saying we shouldn't carry tomorrow's weight today.

It's like carrying a backpack. If I carry only today's load, I can handle it. But if I add every stone from next week, the weight crushes me. Jehovah gives us strength for each day, not for carrying every stone at once.

That changes how we face long trials. Imagine a brother who just received a difficult diagnosis. It weighs on him to think about how he'll be a year from now.

But if he focuses on today, he can ask himself, what do I need for this day? Maybe a sincere prayer, the company of a friend, or a few minutes in the Bible. That can carry him to nightfall.

Ask yourself: What part of tomorrow is stealing my peace today? You can place it in Jehovah's hands through prayer. Then turn back to what you can do today. Little by little, you may notice that help arrives right when you need it.

Wait patiently for your trials to end (La 3:24; w21.08 13 ¶17-19)

LET'S READ LAMENTATIONS 3:24

The writer says Jehovah is his portion. That word speaks of something that belongs to us and sustains us. It's like saying, Jehovah is the most valuable thing I have.

That's why he adds that he will wait patiently for him. If we have Jehovah, we have what matters most, and that helps us wait without panicking.

Look at what comes next, in verses 25 and 26. Jehovah is good to those who hope in him, and it is good to wait quietly for his salvation. Waiting isn't sitting with our arms crossed. It's continuing to trust while Jehovah acts in his own time.

Sometimes the wait gets long, and we start to think Jehovah has forgotten us. But verse 31 gives another reason for patience: Jehovah will not reject us forever. And verse 33 assures us that it gives him no pleasure to see people suffer. Jehovah takes no delight in our pain.

Picture

The picture shows a sister with a severe illness who prays calmly while receiving an IV treatment. The caption reminds us of something important: while we wait on Jehovah, we keep praying to him in faith. As we wait, prayer keeps us close to him.

What can we do while we wait? We can keep praying, like the sister in the picture. We can keep reading the Bible, even if it's only a little each day.

And we can keep going to meetings, where our brothers and sisters build us up. All of that keeps us steady until the trial ends.

Imagine a road with construction. It's annoying to crawl along, but we know the work will be finished. Meanwhile, we keep driving patiently.

Our trials are like that: they're real, but they won't last forever. Jehovah promises a new world without pain, and that promise helps us hold on today.

Conclusion

Let's sum up what we learned. First, appreciate what Jehovah has done for you. Remembering his loyal love gives us hope. Second, trust that he will stay by your side.

His mercies are new every morning, and Jesus encourages us to live one day at a time. Third, wait patiently. Jehovah is the best thing we have, and he will not reject us forever.

Maybe you're going through something very hard today. Remember what the writer of Lamentations did. He didn't deny his pain, but he chose to remember who Jehovah is.

Let's do the same. With our Father's help, let's not give out.