our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Navigating Rough Waters
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. 1 Chronicles 28:20
I was enjoying the start of my first whitewater rafting experience—until I heard the roar of the rapids up ahead. My emotions were flooded with feelings of uncertainty, fear, and insecurity at the same time. Riding through the whitewater was a first-rate, white-knuckle experience! And then, suddenly, it was over. The guide in the back of the raft had navigated us through. I was safe—at least until the next set of rapids.
Transitions in our lives can be like whitewater experiences. The inevitable leaps from one season of life to the next—college to career, changing jobs, living with parents to living alone or with a spouse, career to retirement, youth to old age—are all marked by uncertainty and insecurity.
God guides us through the rapids of change.
In one of the most significant transitions recorded in Old Testament history, Solomon assumed the throne from his father David. I’m sure he was filled with uncertainty about the future. His father’s advice? “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. . . . For the Lord God, my God, is with you” (1 Chron. 28:20).
We’ll have our fair share of tough transitions in life. But with God in our raft we’re not alone. Keeping our eyes on the One who is navigating the rapids brings joy and security. He’s taken lots of others through before.
God guides us through the rapids of change.
激流历险
不要惧怕，也不要惊惶。因为耶和华上帝就是我的上帝，与你同在；祂必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。-历代志上28章20节
我坐在橡皮艇上，享受首次在湍急水域漂筏的乐趣，突然听到前方传来激流的咆哮声。霎时，我心里泛起疑虑和恐惧不安，五味杂陈。漂筏运动真是叫人冷汗直冒的体验！接下来，我们又进入了平缓的水流。坐在橡皮艇后边的向导带我们驶过了激流，现在我安全了，起码在进入下一波激流之前是如此。
人生的变迁就像漂筏一样，必然会从一个阶段跳到另一个阶段──从念大学到工作；转换职场；从与父母同住到搬出去自己一个人住，或与配偶同住；从工作到退休；从年轻到年老。所有这些转换中，都隐含着未知与不安。
旧约历史记载着许多重要的转换期，所罗门接续他父亲大卫作王就是一例。我相信他当时对未来也是战战兢兢，没有把握。那么，他父亲给他的忠告是什么呢？“你当刚强壮胆去行！……因为耶和华上帝就是我的上帝，与你同在”（历代志上28章20节）。
在每个人的一生中，一定都会经历艰难的转换期。但有上帝在我们的橡皮艇上，就不会感到孤单。只需全心仰望带领我们驶过激流的上帝，祂会带给我们喜乐与平安。祂已经带领了许多人安然渡过。
人生激流多险恶，上帝掌舵领你行。