our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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May 26, 2018, 11:42:27 PM5/26/18

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Persevering with Peace

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:5

As I continue trusting God through my struggles with chronic pain, even the simplest setback can feel like a fierce enemy attacker. Problem One jabs me from the right. Problem Two shoves me from behind. Problem Three punches me square in the nose. During these times, when my strength wanes and immediate relief evades me, running and hiding can seem like a good idea. But since I can’t escape my pain, change my circumstances, or ignore my emotions, I’m learning slowly to rely on God to carry me through.

When I need encouragement, comfort, and courage, I prayerfully read through the songs of the psalmists, who honestly bring their situations to God. In one of my favorite psalms, King David flees from Absalom, his son who wanted to kill him and take his kingdom. Though David lamented his painful situation (Psalm 3:1–2), he trusted God’s protection and expected Him to answer his prayers (vv. 3–4). The king didn’t lose sleep worrying or fearing what could happen, because he trusted God to sustain and save him (vv. 5–8).

God offers us peace as He holds us up and carries us through every trial.

Physical and emotional pain can often feel like aggressive adversaries. We may be tempted to give up or wish we could escape when we’re weary and can’t see the end of our current battle. But, like David, we can learn to trust that God will hold us up and help us rest in His constant and loving presence.

Lord, thanks for giving us rest in the peace of Your constant presence and assuring us of the victory You’ve already won.

God offers us peace as He holds us up and carries us through every trial.

痛苦中的平安

我躺下睡觉，我醒着，耶和华都保佑我。-诗篇3篇5节

在我学习倚靠上帝忍受身体的长期疼痛时，小小的挫折都会让我感觉有如强敌重击。有时是右边被刺一下，有时是从背面被猛推一把，或一拳正中鼻心。每逢这些时刻，我的力量消退，又无法立即得到解脱，逃走躲开似乎是个好主意。但我无法躲避身上的疼痛，也不能改变我的处境，更不能无视我心中的情绪，只好慢慢学习倚靠上帝，让祂带领我度过。

当我需要鼓励、安慰与勇气时，我会以祷告的心仔细阅读诗人所写的诗篇，他们诚实地将自己的情况带到上帝面前。我最喜欢的其中一篇诗篇，是大卫王逃避他儿子押沙龙时所作的诗。那时，押沙龙想取大卫的性命、夺取他的王位。虽然大卫哀叹自己痛苦的景况（诗篇3篇1-2节），但他仍信靠上帝的保守，期盼上帝回应他的祷告（3-4节）。大卫并没有因忧虑或害怕可能发生的事而寝食难安，因为他相信上帝会扶持和搭救他（5-8节）。

身体或情绪上的痛苦，往往就像凶猛的敌人。当我们疲惫不堪，又不知这样的痛苦何时才能结束，或许会忍不住想放弃，或希望能够逃脱。但就像大卫一样，我们也可以学习相信上帝会扶持我们，并帮助我们在祂永远和慈爱的同在中得享安歇。

感谢主，让我们在祢永远同在的平安中得享安歇，
并让我们知道祢早已赢得胜利。