Overcoming Trials 胜过试炼

[Dexu Xia]

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good . . . the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

Anne grew up in poverty and pain. Two of her siblings died in infancy. At five, an eye disease left her partially blind and unable to read or write. When Anne was eight, her mother died from tuberculosis. Shortly after, her abusive father abandoned his three surviving children. The youngest was sent to live with relatives, but Anne and her brother, Jimmie, went to Tewksbury Almshouse, a dilapidated, overcrowded poorhouse. A few months later, Jimmie died.

At age fourteen, Anne’s circumstances brightened. She was sent to a school for the blind, where she underwent surgery to improve her vision and learned to read and write. Though she struggled to fit in, she excelled academically and graduated valedictorian. Today we know her best as Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller’s teacher and companion. Through effort, patience, and love, Anne taught blind and deaf Helen to speak, to read Braille, and to graduate from college.

Joseph too had to overcome extreme trials: at seventeen, he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and was later wrongly imprisoned (Genesis 37; 39–41). Yet God used him to save Egypt and his family from famine (50:20).

We all face trials and troubles. But just as God helped Joseph and Anne to overcome and to deeply impact the lives of others, He can help and use us. Seek Him for help and guidance. He sees and hears.

By:  Alyson Kieda

How has God helped you through a trial? How have you been able to help another in their struggle?

Dear God, thank You! You helped me come through a trial. Please help me to be a helper to others.

从前你们的意思是要害我，但上帝的意思原是好的，要保全许多人的性命。—创世记50章20节

安妮在贫穷与痛苦中长大。她父母生了五个孩子，两个不幸夭折。五岁时，一场眼疾使安妮双眼半盲，无法阅读或写字。八岁时，她母亲死于肺结核。不久之后，她那有暴力倾向的父亲抛下她和弟弟妹妹。她最小的妹妹被送去与亲戚同住，安妮和弟弟吉米则被送到图克斯伯里济贫院。这间济贫院破旧不堪，且人满为患。几个月后，吉米也去世了。

安妮十四岁时，境遇开始好转。她被送到盲人学校，在那里接受改善视力的手术，并学习读书写字。虽然她很难融入群体，但学业表现出色，甚至代表毕业生于毕业典礼上致词。如今，她最广为人知的身份是安妮·苏利文，也就是海伦·凯勒的老师兼同伴。安妮以努力、耐心及爱心，让看不见也听不到的海伦学习说话、摸读点字，并帮助海伦读完大学。

圣经人物约瑟也必须克服极大的试炼。17岁时，他的哥哥们妒忌他，把他卖为奴隶，后来他还遭诬陷被关入监牢（创世记37、39-41章）。但上帝却使用约瑟拯救埃及人和他的家人，使许多人在饥荒中可以存活（50章20节）。

我们都会面临试炼和困境。但如同上帝帮助约瑟和安妮克服困难，并让他们影响别人的生命，祂也能帮助和使用我们。让我们寻求上帝的帮助与引导，祂看得见也听得到。作者：  柯爱莉

上帝如何帮助你渡过试炼？你要怎样帮助那些正身陷困境的人？

亲爱的上帝，感谢祢帮助我渡过试炼。请祢让我也能成为别人的帮助。