Waiting for a Blessing 等候祝福

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Dexu Xia

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Feb 6, 2021, 3:30:22 AM2/6/21

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A popular restaurant in Bangkok serves soup from a broth that has been cooking for forty-five years and is replenished a bit each day. The practice, called “perpetual stew,” dates back to medieval times. Just as some “leftovers” taste better a few days later, the extended cooking time blends and creates unique flavors. The restaurant has won multiple awards for the most delicious broth in Thailand.

Good things often take time, but our human nature struggles with patience. The question “How long?” occurs throughout the Bible. One poignant example is from the prophet Habakkuk, who begins his book by asking “How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2). Habakkuk (whose name means “grappler”) prophesied God’s judgment on his country (Judah) through the invasion of the ruthless Babylonian Empire, and he wrestled with how God could allow corrupt people to prosper as they exploited others. But God promised hope and restoration in His own time: “For the revelation [of God’s help] awaits an appointed time . . . . Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (2:3).

The Babylonian captivity lasted seventy years. By human reckoning that’s a long time, but God is always faithful and true to His Word.

Some of God’s best blessings may be long in coming. Though they linger, keep looking to Him! He prepares every blessing with perfect wisdom and care— and He is always worth waiting for.

等候祝福

虽然迟延，还要等候。—哈巴谷书2章3节

曼谷有家颇富盛名的餐厅，他们的汤头已经煮了45年，只是每天补充一点肉汤。这种使用陈年老汤头的做法，可以说历史悠久。正如某些“剩菜”要几天后尝起来才更美味一样，因长时间的烹煮，味道会更融合，创造出独特的风味。这家餐厅也因为他们的美味汤头而在泰国荣获不少的奖项。

美好的事物通常需要等待，但人类的天性就是缺少耐心。圣经中充斥许多“要等多久？”的问题。先知哈巴谷就有过沉痛的经历，他在书卷的开头就问道：“耶和华啊，我呼求祢，祢不应允，要到几时呢？”（1章2节）哈巴谷（原意是“紧紧抱住”）预言上帝将藉着巴比伦帝国残酷的入侵，对他的国家（犹大）施行审判，但他不明白为何上帝允许恶人藉剥削他人变得昌盛。然而，上帝应许会按祂所定的时间带给他们希望和复兴：“因为这[上帝会帮助的]默示有一定的日期，……虽然迟延，还要等候；因为必然临到，不再迟延。”（2章3节）

犹大人被掳到巴比伦长达七十年。在人看来，这是很长的时间，但上帝是信实的，祂所说的话必要按祂的时间来成就。

上帝所赐最美的祝福，有些可能要等一段很长的时间才会到来。但即使迟延，我们仍要继续定睛仰望祂！上帝会以完美的智慧和关爱来预备每个祝福，祂总是值得我们等待。

你正在等候上帝赐下何种福分？
即便祝福还未来到，你会如何继续敬拜祂？

阿爸天父，谢谢祢让我在人生的各个阶段中，
都能得享祢的慈爱和信实，帮助我能单单渴慕祢。