From Wailing to Worship / 哀哭变为敬拜

[Dexu Xia]

From Wailing to Worship

You turned my wailing into dancing; you . . . clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11

Kim began battling breast cancer in 2013. Four days after her treatment ended, doctors diagnosed her with a progressive lung disease and gave her three to five years to live. She grieved, sobbing prayers as she processed her emotions before God for the first year. By the time I met Kim in 2015, she had surrendered her situation to Him and radiated contagious joy and peace. Though some days are still hard, God continues to transform her heart-wrenching suffering into a beautiful testimony of hope-filled praise as she encourages others.

Even when we’re in dire circumstances, God can turn our wailing into dancing. Though His healing won’t always look or feel like we’d hoped or expected, we can be confident in God’s ways (Psalm 30:1–3). No matter how tear-stained our path may be, we have countless reasons to praise Him (v. 4). We can rejoice in God, as He secures our confident faith (vv. 5–7). We can cry out for His mercy (vv. 8–10), celebrating the hope He’s brought to many weeping worshipers. Only God can transform wails of despair into vibrant joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances (vv. 11–12).

As our merciful God comforts us in our sorrow, He envelops us in peace and empowers us to extend compassion toward others and ourselves. Our loving and faithful Lord can and does turn our wailing into worship that can lead to heart-deep trust, praise, and maybe even joyful dancing.

哀哭变为敬拜

祢已将我的哀哭变为跳舞，……给我披上喜乐。-诗篇30篇11节

从2013年起，金萍就开始对抗乳癌，但在结束治疗四天后，又被诊断出患有进行性肺病，只剩下3至5年的寿命。知道消息的第一年，金萍学习接受这事实，在上帝面前哀伤痛哭地祷告。到了2015年我遇见金萍时，她已将自己的处境完全交托给上帝，她活出了喜乐与平安，也影响周围的人。虽然有时日子依旧难熬，但上帝不断将她痛苦的煎熬，转化为满怀盼望的美好见证，让她能藉此激励他人。

纵然我们处于悲惨的困境中，上帝也能将我们的哀哭变为欢乐的舞蹈。虽然祂所施行的医治，并不总是符合我们的期盼，但我们仍可信靠上帝的作为（诗篇30篇1-3节）。无论我们一路走来流了多少的泪水，却仍有无数的理由可以称颂上帝（4节）。我们可以在上帝面前欢呼喜乐，因祂使我们信心坚定（5-7节）。我们可以呼求祂的怜悯（8-10节），称颂祂将盼望赐给在伤恸中敬拜上帝的人。唯有上帝能将绝望的哭泣转化为满有活力、不受环境影响的喜乐（11-12节）。

我们在哀痛中，慈爱的上帝会安慰我们、以平安环绕我们，并加添我们力量，使我们经历祂的怜悯，并以怜悯待人。这位慈爱且信实的主，能将我们的哀哭转化为敬拜，让我们能从内心深处全然倚赖祂、颂赞祂，甚至欢欣地舞蹈！

上帝啊，相信祢能将我们的哀哭变为敬拜，
求祢与我们紧密相连。

什么能带给你真正的平安与喜乐？
何谓将自己完全交托给上帝呢？