“Stay in Jehovah’s Presence Until Your Heart Changes” Brothers and sisters, sometimes we carry something inside us that no one else can see. On the outside we smile... we greet others... we attend the meetings... but deep inside, we may be struggling

[Hubi]

 

Brothers and sisters,

sometimes we carry something inside us
that no one else can see.

On the outside we smile...
we greet others...
we attend the meetings...

but deep inside,
we may be struggling with worries,
with disappointment,
with hurt,
with loneliness.

And at some point we notice:

My joy is gone.

We still serve Jehovah...
we still keep doing what is right...
but our heart feels heavy.

Why does that sometimes happen?

One reason may be
that although we go to Jehovah...

we do not stay with him long enough.

Imagine this:

You are thirsty
and pour yourself a glass of water.

But when you are about to drink it,
you realize:
It is warm.

So you place the glass in the refrigerator.
You close the door.
But only one second later
you take it back out.

Is it cold now?

No.

Why not?

It was in the refrigerator.

Yes...
but not long enough.

If you leave it there longer,
it slowly becomes cool.

And if afterward you place it in the freezer
and leave it there long enough,
its whole form changes.

It becomes ice.

And that is exactly how it is with our heart.

When worries “heat us up” inside...
when problems drain us...
when pain steals our joy...

then we need Jehovah’s presence
just as that water needs the cold.

But brothers and sisters,
sometimes this is what we do:

We say a quick prayer...
maybe 20 seconds...
maybe one minute...

and then we go on again,
back to the stress,
back to the worries,
back to the battle.

And then we wonder:

“Why do I still feel so heavy?”

Because some things only heal
when we stay long enough in Jehovah’s presence.

Psalm 62:8 says so beautifully:

“Pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us.”

Jehovah does not say:

“Quickly mention your problem to me.”

No.

He says:

“Pour out your heart.”

Pour out everything.

Not just the pain—
but the tears behind it.

Not just the worry—
but the fear behind it.

Not just the problem—
but what it does to you at night.

Jehovah does not just want to hear
what happened.

He wants to hear
how it feels to you.

Perhaps we can compare it to a little child.

When a child is afraid at night,
it runs to its father.

But what would happen
if the father held the child for only one second
and immediately put it back down?

The child would hardly calm down.

But if the father holds it close...
if the child remains against his chest...
if it hears his heartbeat...
if it feels his warmth...

then slowly it becomes calm.

Not immediately.

But little by little.

And that is how it is with Jehovah.

Sometimes he does not heal our heart
in the first 10 seconds of prayer.

Sometimes he lovingly waits
for us simply to stay.

To remain seated.

To keep talking.

To keep crying.

To take our time.

And while we remain in his presence,
something beautiful happens:

Our heart slowly becomes calmer.

Our thoughts become clearer.

Our burden becomes lighter.

And sometimes Jehovah changes not only our feelings...

but our entire inner self.

Brothers and sisters,

if your heart is heavy...
if you are tired inside...
if you no longer feel joy...

then do not pray only briefly.

Stay.

Stay in Jehovah’s presence.

Stay until you feel peace.

Stay until your thoughts become calmer.

Stay until your heart feels warmth again.

Because perhaps Jehovah has been waiting a long time
for you not just to knock on his door...

but to come inside...
sit down...
and simply stay with him.

Because the one who stays long enough in Jehovah’s presence
rarely leaves the same way he came.