Irrational Fears 莫名的恐惧

[Dexu Xia]

Irrational Fears

I will not forget you!Isaiah 49:15

It makes no logical sense, but when my parents died within a three-month period, I feared they would forget me. Of course they were no longer on earth, but that left me with a large uncertainty. I was a young, unmarried adult and wondered how to navigate life without them. Feeling really single and alone, I sought God.

One morning I told Him about my irrational fear and the sadness it brought (even though He knew it already). The Scripture passage that came from the devotional I read that day was Isaiah 49: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast . . . ? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (v. 15). God reassured His people through Isaiah that He had not forgotten them and later promised to restore them to Himself through sending His Son Jesus. But the words ministered to my heart too. It’s rare for a mother or a father to forget their child, yet it’s possible. But God? No way. “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,” He said.

God’s answer to me could have brought more fear. But the peace He gave because of His own remembrance of me was exactly what I needed. It was the start of discovering that God is even closer than a parent or anyone else, and He knows the way to help us with everything—even our irrational fears.

What fears do you face? How might you seek God’s help to address them?

Father, my emotions and fears can be overwhelming and controlling. Thank You for being kind by helping me with them.

 

莫名的恐惧

我却不忘记你。—以赛亚书49章15节

记得当我父母在三个月内相继过世的时候，我很害怕他们会忘记我。我知道这完全不合逻辑，因为他们已经不在人世了，可是我依旧很茫然，不知何去何从。那时，我年轻而且单身，不知自己该如何在没有父母的引导下找到生活的方向。我感到极度孤独和寂寞，因此我寻求上帝。

一天早上，我向上帝述说自己莫名的恐惧和这种恐惧所带来的悲伤（即使祂早就知道了）。我当天灵修时读到的经文是以赛亚书49章，15节说：“妇人焉能忘记她吃奶的婴孩，不怜恤她所生的儿子？即或有忘记的，我却不忘记你。”上帝透过以赛亚向祂的百姓保证，上帝没有忘记他们。后来又应许要藉着差派祂的爱子耶稣，重建他们与祂的关系。看到这段经文，我觉得这是上帝给我的安慰。很少父母会忘了自己的孩子，但可能性还是存在，然而上帝呢？上帝绝不可能忘记我们，正如祂说：“我将你铭刻在我掌上。”（16节）

上帝给我的答案可能让我更为害怕，但想到祂没忘记我，就使我心中充满所需要的平安。我开始发现，比起父母或任何人，上帝与我的关系更加亲密，祂知道要如何来帮助我们面对一切，包括我们那种莫名的恐惧。

你正面对什么样的恐惧？
你如何寻求上帝的帮助去消除这些惧怕呢？

天父，我的情绪和恐惧可能会掌控我，甚至把我击垮。
谢谢祢爱我，帮助我面对这一切。