Not for Our Comfort 不为安乐

[Dexu Xia]

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Romans 5:3–4

Dan was riding his motorcycle when a car swerved into his lane and pushed him into oncoming traffic. When he woke up two weeks later in the trauma center, he was “a mess.” Worst of all, he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him a paraplegic. Dan prayed for healing, but it never came. Instead, he believes God has compassionately taught him that “the purpose of this life is that we become conformed to the image of Christ. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen when everything is unicorns and rainbows. It . . . happens when life is tough. When we’re forced to rely upon God through prayer just to make it through the day.”

The apostle Paul explained two benefits of right standing with God: persevering and rejoicing in suffering (Romans 5:3–4). These two benefits weren’t a call to endure suffering with stoic fortitude or to find pleasure in pain. It was an invitation to unshakable confidence in God. Suffering plus Christ cultivates “perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (vv. 3–4). This all flows from a faith that the Father won’t abandon us but will walk with us through the fire and into the future.

God meets us in our suffering and helps us grow in Him. Rather than viewing afflictions as His disfavor, may we look for ways He’s using them to sharpen and build our character as we experience His love “poured out into our hearts” (v. 5).

What needs to change in your heart and mind for you to handle suffering in Jesus’ strength? What’s one practical way you can persevere through and rejoice in challenges this week?

Jesus, may I find hope and joy in You as You provide what I need.

就是在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的。因为知道患难生忍耐，忍耐生老练，老练生盼望。—罗马书5章3-4节

有一天，当振宇正骑着摩托车时，一辆汽车突然切入振宇的车道，使他连人带车飞向迎面而来的车流。两周之后，当振宇在创伤中心醒来时，情况糟透了，他的脊椎受伤，导致下半身瘫痪了。振宇祈求能得医治，但却未能如愿。尽管如此，他相信上帝满有怜悯地教导他一个功课：“生命的目的乃是使我们越来越有基督的样式。可惜的是，这不会发生在一切看似美好的生活中，而是发生在生活艰困的时刻。这时，我们不得不藉着祷告倚靠上帝好度过每一天。”

使徒保罗阐述与上帝和好的两个益处，就是在患难中能忍耐和欢喜（罗马书5章3-4节）。这两个益处不是要人百折不挠地忍受痛苦或苦中作乐，而是邀请我们对上帝有坚定不移的信心。倚靠基督就能“患难生忍耐，忍耐生老练，老练生盼望”（3-4节）。这全都源于信心，即相信天父不会离弃我们，祂会陪伴我们走过烈火般的试炼，并且迈向未来。

在患难中，上帝仍然与我们同在，并帮助我们在祂里面成长。与其将苦难视为被上帝厌弃，不如将苦难视为上帝用来磨练和建立我们品格的方式，因我们会经历到祂的爱“浇灌在我们心里”（5节）。

你需要如何改变自己的心态和想法，才能倚靠耶稣的力量面对苦难？有什么具体的方法能让你以忍耐和喜乐面对这周的挑战？

耶稣，当祢赐下我所需的一切，使我在生活中得以忍耐时，求祢使我能在祢里面得着盼望和喜乐。