All Alone? 独自一人？
Dexu Xia
God heard the boy crying. Genesis 21:17
Sue’s family was falling apart before her eyes. Her husband had suddenly left the home, and she and her children were confused and angry. She asked him to go for marriage counseling with her, but he wouldn’t because he claimed the problems were hers. Panic and hopelessness set in when she realized he might never come back. Would she be able to care for herself and her children alone?
Hagar, a servant of Abraham and Sarah, faced those thoughts as well. Impatient for God to give them a son as promised (Genesis 12, 15), Sarah gave Hagar to her husband, and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael (16:1–4, 15). However, when God fulfilled His promise and Sarah gave birth to Isaac, family tensions erupted such that Abraham sent Hagar away with their son Ishmael with just some water and food (21:–21). Can you imagine her desperation? Soon they ran out of provisions in the desert. Not knowing what to do and not wanting to see her son die, Hagar put Ishmael under a bush and walked a distance away. They both began to sob. But “God heard the boy crying” (v. 17). He heard their cries, provided for their needs, and was with them.
Times of desperation when we feel all alone cause us to cry out to God. What a comfort to know that during those moments and throughout our lives, He hears us, provides for us, and stays near to us.
By: Anne Cetas
How has God provided for you when you’ve felt alone? How have you responded to Him?
I’m grateful, God, that I never really walk alone. Help me in my desperation.
上帝听见童子的声音。—创世记21章17节
舒玲的家庭即将分崩离析，她的丈夫突然离家，让她与孩子们既困惑又愤怒。她要求丈夫一起去寻求婚姻辅导，但遭到丈夫的拒绝，因他认为这一切都是舒玲的问题。当舒玲明白丈夫可能永远不会回来时，心中的惊慌与绝望油然而生，她能独自一人照顾自己和孩子们吗？
亚伯拉罕和撒拉的婢女夏甲，也同样感到惊慌与绝望。撒拉没有耐心等候上帝赐下所应许的儿子（创世记12、15章），就让夏甲与丈夫同房，后来夏甲生下了以实玛利（16章1-4、15节）。然而，当上帝成就祂的应许使撒拉生下以撒之后，家庭冲突爆发了。亚伯拉罕只好打发夏甲和以实玛利离开，而且只给了他们一点食物和水（21章8-21节）。你能想像夏甲有多绝望吗？在沙漠里，他们很快就没食物吃、没水喝。夏甲不知何去何从，也不想看着以实玛利死去，于是将孩子放在一棵小树下，然后走到离他约一箭之远的地方，与他相对而坐。母子俩放声大哭，而上帝听见孩子的哭声（17节）。祂听见他们的哭声，供应他们所需，并与他们同在。
在我们感到孤立无援的绝望时刻，会促使我们呼求上帝。最大的安慰，就是知道在我们的一生中，无论身处何种困境，上帝都听见我们、供应我们，而且就在我们身旁。
作者： 施安妮
当你觉得孤立无援时，上帝曾如何帮助你？
你曾如何回应祂？
上帝，我感谢祢，因我从未真正一人踽踽独行。
当我感到绝望时，请帮助我记得祢与我同在