Facing the Battle 面对挑战
Dexu Xia
Facing the Battle
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11
Not long ago I met up with a group of friends. As I listened to the conversation, it seemed like everyone in the room was facing some significant battle. Two of us had parents fighting cancer, one had a child with an eating disorder, another friend was experiencing chronic pain, and another was facing major surgery. It seemed a lot for a bunch of people in their thirties and forties.
First Chronicles 16 recounts a key moment in Israel’s history when the ark of the covenant was brought into the City of David (Jerusalem). Samuel tells us it happened in a moment of peace between battles (2 Samuel 7:1). When the ark was in place, symbolizing God’s presence, David led the people in a song of praise (1 Chronicles 16:8–36). Together the nation sang of God’s wonder-working power, His promise-keeping ways, and His past protection (vv. 12–22). “Look to the Lord and his strength,” they cried out; “seek his face always” (v. 11). They’d need to, because more battles were coming.
Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face. That’s not bad advice to follow when illness, family concerns, and other battles confront us, because we haven’t been left to fight in our own waning energies. God is present; God is strong; He’s looked after us in the past and will do so again.
Our God will get us through.
What battle do you need God’s power to face right now? How can you hand your struggle to Him?
Wonder-working God, I hand over this battle to You. I trust in Your strength and Your promises.
面对挑战
要寻求耶和华与祂的能力，时常寻求祂的面。—历代志上16章11节
不久前，我和一群朋友碰面聊天时，我发现似乎每个人都面临一些严峻的挑战：有两个人的父母正在抗癌；有一个人的孩子患有饮食失调症；另有人正经历慢性疼痛；还有人即将面临重大手术。对于一群三、四十岁的人来说，这些似乎都是难以承受的重担。
历代志上16章讲述了以色列历史上约柜被带入大卫城（耶路撒冷）的关键时刻，撒母耳告诉我们这事发生在两次战争之间的和平时期（撒母耳记下7章1节）。当约柜被安放妥当时，象征上帝同在，大卫就带领众民以一首诗歌称颂耶和华（历代志上16章8-36节）。全国百姓歌颂上帝施行奇妙作为的大能、持守祂的应许，以及祂过去的保守看顾（12-22节）。他们大声喊着说：“要寻求耶和华与祂的能力，时常寻求祂的面”（11节）。他们必须这样做，因为接下来他们将面临更多的战争。
当我们面对疾病、家庭问题和其他挑战时，要寻求耶和华与祂的能力，时常寻求祂的面，这实在是个不错的建议！因祂没有让我们独自以日渐衰弱的精力，去面对这些难处。上帝与我们同在且大有能力，祂过去一直看顾我们，现在仍是如此。
上帝必带领我们渡过难关！
你现在要倚靠上帝的能力去面对何种挑战？
你如何把这个困难交托给祂？
施行奇事的上帝啊，我把这个挑战交在祢的恩手中，
我要完全相信祢的大能和应许。