Hope Blossoms 重燃盼望
Dexu Xia
Hope Blossoms
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Isaiah 35:1
In the city of Philadelphia, when weedy vacant lots were cleaned up and brightened with beautiful flowers and trees, nearby residents also brightened in overall mental health. This proved especially true for those who struggled economically.
“There’s a growing body of evidence that green space can have an impact on mental health,” said Dr. Eugenia South, “and that’s particularly important for people living in poorer neighborhoods.” South, a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, is coauthor of a study on the subject.
The downtrodden people of Israel and Judah found fresh hope in the prophet Isaiah’s vision of their beautiful restoration by God. Amid all the doom and judgment Isaiah foretold, this bright promise took root: “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy” (Isaiah 35:1–2).
No matter our situation today, we too can rejoice in the beautiful ways our heavenly Father restores us with fresh hope, including through His creation. When we feel down, reflecting on His glory and splendor will bolster us. “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way,” Isaiah encouraged (v. 3).
Can a few flowers rekindle our hope? A prophet said yes. So does our hope-giving God.
When you feel hopeless, how do you usually respond? How could spending time outdoors in God’s creation transform your despair to renewed hope in God?
Dear God, thank You for the splendor of Your creation, pointing me to Your glory, and reviving my hope in You.
重燃盼望
旷野和干旱之地必然欢喜，沙漠也必快乐，又像玫瑰开花。—以赛亚书35章1节
在美国费城，一片杂草丛生的空地经过清理并种满美丽的花草树木后，变得绿意盎然、生气蓬勃。这样的环境让附近的居民感到心灵舒畅，对那些经济有困难的人更是如此。
一位美国宾州大学医学院的教授表示：“有越来越多的证据显示，环境绿化对我们的心理健康有显著的影响，对居住在贫困地区的人们来说，绿色的环境更为重要。”这位教授是这项专题的研究人员之一。
先知以赛亚在异象中，看见上帝使土地恢复生机、万物复苏，使受压迫的以色列人和犹大人从这里看到了全新的盼望。即便以赛亚预言会有毁灭和审判，却不能摇动这美好的应许：“旷野和干旱之地必然欢喜，沙漠也必快乐，又像玫瑰开花。必开花繁盛，乐上加乐，而且欢呼。”（以赛亚书35章1-2节）
同样地，无论我们现在的景况如何，我们仍能欢喜快乐，因为天父会以各样美善的方式，包括透过祂亲手所造的万物来复兴我们，使我们得着全新的盼望。当我们灰心沮丧时，思想上帝的荣美和光辉能使我们振作起来。以赛亚也鼓励众人说:“你们要使软弱的手坚壮，无力的膝稳固。”（3节）
几朵花就能让我们重新燃起盼望吗？先知对此表示肯定，赐我们盼望的上帝也应允这事！
亲爱的上帝，谢谢祢创造美丽的万物，
让我能看到祢的荣耀，在祢里面重燃盼望。
你感到沮丧时会做些什么呢？
到户外欣赏上帝的创造，如何使你对上帝重燃盼望？