No Wasted Pain 别浪费痛苦
Dexu Xia
The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people . . . and I am concerned about their suffering.” Exodus 3:7
Today's Scripture Exodus 3:1-4, 7-10
Today's Insights “God to the rescue!” is a major biblical/theological theme in Scripture and history. Because of His person and His promises, He’s mindful of the plight of His people throughout the ages. He’s loving, merciful, and compassionate; therefore, He sees the dilemmas and hears the groans of His people (see Exodus 2:23). And because He’s a promise keeper (v. 24), He acts for the well-being of those who belong to Him. We see this same dynamic in God’s ultimate rescue plan through Jesus (Galatians 4:4-5). Mary sang about such things in Luke 1:54-55: “[God] has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” And God was with Mary and Abraham as they experienced pain in life, just as He’s with us in our pain.
She looked into my eyes and said, “Don’t waste your pain.” My mind immediately returned to the time years prior when I’d led the memorial service for her young adult son whose life was taken in a car accident. She knew what she was talking about. She knew pain. But she also knew how God could use it to honor Him and help others—something this friend had done so very well. And as I heard her words, they comforted and encouraged me as I faced a serious cancer diagnosis. She was reminding me that God heard my cries and lament, and that He was with me in my pain and might use it to help others in a new way.
Moses also learned that God was with His people in their pain. “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt,” God said. “I have heard them crying out . . . and I am concerned about their suffering” (Exodus 3:7). The Israelites, like us at times, must have felt alone in their pain. But God assured them He had a plan to “rescue them” and that “the cry” of their hearts was heard (vv. 8-9). He would ultimately use their pain to grow their faith, defeat their enemies, and bring Him honor.
In Psalm 90, the only psalm attributed to Moses, he declared that even though our “best years are filled with pain” (v. 10 nlt), God’s “unfailing love” is with us “to the end of our lives” (v. 14 nlt). He lovingly won’t waste our pain—and neither should we.
Reflect & Pray
What does it mean for you to know God hears your cries? How is God using your pain to help others?
Loving God, thank You for hearing my cries and using my pain to help others.
By Tom Felton
耶和华说，我的百姓在埃及所受的困苦，我实在看见了，他们因受督工的辖制所发的哀声，我也听见了。我原知道他们的痛苦。” （出埃及记 3:7
今日经文： 出埃及记 3章1-4, 7-10 节
今日心得： “上帝来拯救！”是圣经和历史中一个重要的圣经/神学主题。因着祂的神性和应许，上帝眷顾祂子民历代的困境。上帝满有慈爱、满有怜悯；因此，祂看到祂子民的困境，听见他们的哀求（出埃及记 2:23）。又因祂信守应许（24节），上帝为祂子民的福祉采取行动。我们在神通过耶稣的终极拯救计划中也看到同样的动力（加拉太书 4:4-5）。玛利亚在路加福音1章54-55节的颂歌中唱到这些事：“（神）扶助了他的仆人以色列，记念亚伯拉罕和他的后裔，施怜悯直到永远，正如从前向我们列祖所应许的。” 当玛利亚和亚伯拉罕经历人生的痛苦时，神与他们同在，正如祂在我们痛苦时与我们同在一样。
今日灵修 她看着我的眼睛说：“别白白承受痛苦。” 我的思绪立刻回到几年前，我为她那在车祸中丧生的成年儿子主持追悼会的情景。她知道自己在说什么，她了解痛苦。但她也知道，神能利用痛苦来荣耀祂并帮助他人，而这位朋友在这方面做得非常出色。当我听到她的话时，这些话安慰和鼓励了我，当时我正面对患有严重的癌症诊断。她提醒我，神听到了我的哭喊和哀叹，祂在我的痛苦中与我同在，并且可能会用它以新的方式帮助他人。
摩西也了解到，神与祂的子民同在。上帝说：“我的百姓在埃及所受的困苦，我实在看见了。他们的哀求，我也听见了。我原知道他们的痛苦。”（出埃及记 3:7）以色列人，就像我们一样，有时也一定感到孤独和痛苦。但上帝向他们保证，祂有一个“拯救他们”的计划，并且祂听到了他们内心的“呼求”（8-9节）。祂最终会利用他们的痛苦来增强他们的信心，击败他们的敌人，并荣耀祂自己。 在诗篇90篇（唯一一篇归于摩西的诗篇）中，摩西宣告，即使我们“最美好的年华，也充满痛苦”（10节），上帝的“慈爱”与我们同在，“直到我们生命的尽头”（14节）。祂慈爱地不会浪费我们的痛苦，我们也不应该浪费。
反思与祷告 知道上帝听到你的呼求意味着什么？上帝是如何利用你的痛苦来帮助他人的？
慈爱的上帝，感谢您垂听我的哭诉，并借着我的痛苦去帮助他人。
作者：汤姆·费尔顿