Joy in Hard Places / 患难中的喜乐

[Dexu Xia]

Joy in Hard Places

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:18 Whenever she was unable to take my phone call, my friend’s voicemail recording invited me to leave her a message. The recording cheerfully concluded, “Make it a great day!” As I reflected on her words, I realized that it’s not within our power to make every day “great”—some circumstances truly are devastating. But a closer look might reveal something redeeming and beautiful in my day, whether things are going well or poorly.

Habakkuk wasn’t experiencing easy circumstances. As a prophet, God had shown him coming days when none of the crops or livestock—on which God’s people depended—would be fruitful (3:17). It would take more than mere optimism to endure the coming hardships. As a people group, Israel would be in extreme poverty. Habakkuk experienced heart-pounding, lip-quivering, leg-trembling fear (v. 16).

Yet despite that, Habakkuk said he would “rejoice in the Lord” and “be joyful” (v. 18). He proclaimed His hope in the God who provides the strength to walk in difficult places (v. 19).

Sometimes we go through seasons of deep pain and hardship. But no matter what we’ve lost, or wanted but never had, we can, like Habakkuk, rejoice in our relationship with a loving God. Even when it feels like we have nothing else, He will never fail or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5). He, the One who “provide[s] for those who grieve,” is our ultimate reason for joy (Isaiah 61:3).

患难中的喜乐

我要因耶和华欢欣，因救我的上帝喜乐。-哈巴谷书3章18节

    朋友在手机的语音信箱设置了一段录音，表示她未能接听电话，欢迎对方留言，最后她以欢欣愉快的语气说：“祝你有个美好的一天！”

    其实，我们无法使每一天都变得“美好”，有些处境的确令人烦扰不堪。但如果我们进一步深思，就会发现无论日子好坏，生活中总有一些美好的事。

    先知哈巴谷也曾经历很糟糕的一天，上帝向他启示，将来以色列百姓赖以维生的作物或牲畜将严重短缺（3章17节）。即使以色列民抱持乐观的态度，也将无法承受如此艰困的生活，因为他们将陷入赤贫。哈巴谷听了上帝的话，就感到无比恐惧，胆战心惊、嘴唇发颤、四肢无力（16节）。即便如此，哈巴谷仍说，他要因上帝欢欣喜乐（18节），他宣称自己的盼望在于上帝，上帝使他稳行在高处（19节）。

    有时候，我们会面对深切的痛楚与艰难。但无论是失去什么，或未能得着所渴盼的，我们仍能像哈巴谷一样，因认识这位慈爱的上帝而欢欣。就算我们感到好像一无所有，祂也永不撇下或丢弃我们（希伯来书13章5节）。上帝必眷顾悲哀的人，祂是我们欢欣喜乐的最佳理由（以赛亚书61章3节）。

    主啊，祢是我生活与生命中喜乐的源头，无论境遇如何，求祢帮助我能因祢而喜乐。

你与耶稣的关系是否让你得到最大的喜乐？
当你在困境或悲伤中，祂如何与你同在？