Navigating Life’s Rapids 人生激流

[Dexu Xia]

Navigating Life’s Rapids

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8

“Everybody on the left, give me three strong forward strokes!” our whitewater raft guide shouted. Those on the left dug in, pulling our raft away from a churning vortex. For several hours, we’d learned the importance of listening to our guide’s instructions. His steady voice enabled six people with little rafting experience to work together to plot the safest course down a raging river.

Life has its share of whitewater rapids, doesn’t it? One moment, it’s smooth sailing. Then, in a flash, we’re paddling like mad to avoid suddenly swirling whirlpools. Those tense moments make us keenly aware of our need for a skilled guide, a trusted voice to help us navigate turbulent times.

In Psalm 32, God promises to be that voice: “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go” (v. 8). Backing up, we see that confessing our sins (v. 5) and prayerfully seeking Him (v. 6) play a role in hearing Him too. Still, I take comfort in the fact that God promises, “I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (v. 8), a reminder that His guidance flows from His love. Near the end of the chapter, the psalmist concludes, “The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts him” (v. 10). And as we trust Him, we can rest in His promise to guide us through life’s rockiest passages.

What circumstances in your life right now feel like whitewater rapids? How might you seek God’s guiding voice about how to respond?

Father, thank You for Your promise to be my Guide. Help me to seek You and listen to You as You direct the course of my life.

 人生激流

我要教导你，指示你当行的路；我要定睛在你身上劝戒你。—诗篇32篇8节

我们的激流泛舟向导大声喊道:“每个坐在左边的人，用力向前划桨三下！”左边的人便用力划桨，使橡皮艇脱离翻腾的涡流。在这几个小时内，我们体验到听从指令的重要性。向导沉稳冷静地发出指示，使我们这六个没什么泛舟经验的人，能合力在湍急的河流中，安全地顺流而下。

人生偶尔也会碰到激流，不是吗？这一刻是一帆风顺，下一秒，却要拼命划桨以避开突如其来的漩涡。在那些惊险的时刻，我们会强烈地意识到自己需要一位能掌控情况的向导，一个沉稳可靠的指令，帮助我们度过种种逆境。

在诗篇32篇，上帝应允祂要成为我们的向导：“我要教导你，指示你当行的路”（8节）。前面两节经文也让我们看到，若要明白主的指引，我们就须先承认自己的过犯（5节），以及祷告寻求祂（6节）。尽管如此，上帝仍应许我们：“我要劝戒你，我的眼睛看顾你”（8节，新译本）。这提醒我们，祂是出于爱而劝戒我们，让我深感安慰。在这篇经文的结尾处，诗人总结说：“惟独倚靠耶和华的，必有慈爱四面环绕他”（10节）。当我们信靠上帝，就可在祂的应许中坦然无惧，让祂带领我们走过人生最艰难的路。

天父，感谢祢应允担任我们的向导。在祢带领我行走人生道路时，帮助我时时寻求祢，并听从祢的指引。

现在有什么景况使你觉得好像碰到了激流？
在应对这个难题时，你会如何寻求上帝的引导？