Signs of Life 生命的迹象
Dexu Xia
I will come to you and fulfill my good promise. Jeremiah 29:10
When my daughter received a pair of pet crabs as a gift, she filled a glass tank with sand so the creatures could climb and dig. She supplied water, protein, and vegetable scraps for their dining pleasure. They seemed happy, so it was shocking when they disappeared one day. We searched everywhere. Finally, we learned they were likely under the sand, and would be there for about two months as they shed their exoskeletons.
Two months passed, and then another month, and I had begun to worry that they’d died. The longer we waited, the more impatient I became. Then, finally, we saw signs of life, and the crabs emerged from the sand.
I wonder if Israel doubted that God’s prophecy for them would be fulfilled when they lived as exiles in Babylon. Did they feel despair? Did they worry they’d be there forever? Through Jeremiah, God had said, “I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to [Jerusalem]” (Jeremiah 29:10). Sure enough, seventy years later, God caused the Persian king Cyrus to allow the Jews to return and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1–4).
In seasons of waiting when it seems like nothing is happening, God hasn’t forgotten us. As the Holy Spirit helps us to develop patience, we can know that He’s the Hope-Giver, the Promise-Keeper, and the One who controls the future.
How does understanding God’s character help you when you’re waiting? What’s the relationship between doubt and faith?
Dear God, help me to have faith in You as I wait. Show me how to handle doubt and display faith instead.
我要眷顾你们，向你们成就我的恩言。—耶利米书29章10节
我的女儿收到一份礼物，那是一对宠物螃蟹。她将螃蟹放在一个装满沙子的玻璃缸里，让螃蟹可以自由爬行和挖洞。她也为它们预备水、蛋白质和蔬菜渣为食物。这对螃蟹看起来很开心，所以当有一天我们发现它们不见时，真的吓了一跳。我们寻遍家中各处都找不到，最后才想到它们可能是埋在沙堆里，因为当螃蟹换壳时，会在沙堆里待上约两个月。
两个月过去了，然后又过了一个月，我开始担心它们已经死了。等得越久，我就越没有耐性。直到某一天，我们终于看见生命的迹象，螃蟹从沙堆里爬出来了。
我不禁想到以色列人被掳到巴比伦时，是否也怀疑上帝将拯救他们的应许会真的实现？他们是否感到绝望？是否担心会永远留在被掳之地？上帝曾藉先知耶利米告诉他们：“我要眷顾你们，向你们成就我的恩言，使你们仍回[耶路撒冷]”（耶利米书29章10节）。在犹太人被掳七十年之后，上帝果然让波斯王塞鲁士允许犹太人返回耶路撒冷，重建他们的圣殿（以斯拉记1章1-4节）。
在我们苦苦等待，好像没看到什么迹象的时候，上帝并没有忘记我们。当圣灵帮助我们培养耐心时，我们就会知道上帝才是赐下希望、持守应许、掌管未来的那一位。
明白上帝的特质，如何使你更能忍耐等候？
怀疑和信心之间有何关联？
即使在艰难的环境中，我们依然可以靠着主结出圣灵的果子。
上帝，请帮助我在等候中仍然信靠祢。
我相信祢会参与我的生活，关心我的处境。