每日靈修：苦盡甘來

苦盡甘來

STRENGTH THROUGH SUFFERING

「上帝的眾子啊，你們要將榮耀、能力歸給耶和華，歸給耶和華！」

詩篇29:1

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Psalm 29:1 RSV

上帝要做的事情之一，就是幫助我們度過患難和苦楚。我最近收到一個患有癌症晚期的姊妹的來信。她沒有要求上帝拿去她的痛苦或者讓她重新得力，只是要我為她禱告，讓她有能力度過這一關。聖經告訴我們，苦楚不可避免。我們要接受這個事實，月有陰晴圓缺、人有悲歡離合。約伯說，「人為婦人所生，日子短少，多有患難；」（約14:1）

我們是在母親的痛苦中來到這個世界，人生總是有一些痛苦和悲劇，最後以死亡告終。期待脫離痛苦和失望的人，顯然沒有讀過聖經，也不理解歷史和人生。音樂家知道什麼叫辛苦。沒有日日夜夜的苦練、犧牲，他永遠不可能站在舞台上享受掌聲和榮譽。藝術家知道什麼叫辛苦。沒有鍥而不捨的精神，他永遠做不出曠世傑作。優秀的學生也知道什麼叫辛苦，梅花香自苦寒來。宇航員訓練了很多年，為的就是太空那幾天。

聖經說，苦楚只是人生的一部分。保羅說，「我想，現在的苦楚若比起將來要顯於我們的榮耀就不足介意了。」（羅8:18）我想對那位患癌症的姊妹說，仰望天堂和上帝，透過雲彩，你會見到將來的榮耀，你現在的苦楚，算不了什麼。

In the economy of God there is such a thing as the cloud of suffering. Recently I received a letter from a woman who was suffering on a hospital bed in the last stages of cancer. She did not ask that God would relieve her of suffering or raise her up, but only that we would pray that God』s grace would be sufficient though the trial of suffering.The Bible teaches that human suffering is inescapable. We must accept it as an integral part of life. Job said, 「Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble」 (Job 14:1).

Our life has its beginning in suffering. Life』s span is marked by pain and tragedy, and our lives end with the enemy called death. The person who expects to escape the pangs of suffering and disappointment simply has no knowledge of the Bible, of history, or of life.The master musician knows that suffering precedes glory and acclaim. He knows the hours, days, and months of grueling practice and self-sacrifice that precede the one hour of perfect rendition when his efforts are applauded. The master craftsman knows that years of work, sacrifice, and suffering as an apprentice precede his being promoted to the master of his trade. The student knows that years of study, self-denial, and commitment precede the triumphant day of graduation with honors. Astronauts spend years training for a flight that can be as short as a few days.

The Bible teaches that suffering is a part of life in a sinful world. Paul said, 「For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us」 (Romans 8:18).

To this dear woman on her hospital bed I would say, 「Look toward heaven, look beyond the clouds, and you will see that the sufferings that we are undergoing here are nothing compared to the glory that God has prepared for you yonder.」

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