0802 逆境的教導
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。《約翰福音 16:33》
基督徒生活，典型的觀點是以為從一切逆境中被拯救出來，但它實際上意味着在逆境中得到拯救，那是非常不同的事情。 「住在至高者隱密處的，必住在全能者的蔭下…禍患必不臨到你，災害也不挨近你的帳棚。」（詩篇 91:1,10）——這是你與神合一的地方。
如果你是神的孩子，你肯定會遇到逆境，但耶穌說，當逆境來臨時，你不應該感到驚訝。「在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。」祂是在說：「你沒有什麼好害怕的。」那些在得救之前拒絕談論自己的逆境的人，在重生後常常抱怨和擔憂，因為他們對活出聖徒的生活有錯誤的看法。
神並沒有賜給我們得勝的生命，但在我們得勝之時，祂賜給我們生命。生活的壓力正是建造我們的力量；如果沒有張力，就不會有力量。你是否在祈求神賜予你生命、自由和喜樂？祂不能給你，除非你願意接受壓力。一旦你面對壓力，你就會立即獲得力量。你要克服自己的膽怯，邁出第一步；然後神就會賜給你營養——「…得勝的，我必將神樂園中生命樹的果子賜給他吃…」（啟示錄2:7）。如果你身體上付出自己，你會變得精疲力竭；但當你在靈里付出自己時，你會獲得更多力量。神從來不為明天或下一個小時賜給我們力量，而是只為了當下壓力時刻賜給我們力量。我們的試探是從我們自己常識的角度面對逆境。但是聖徒即使看似被逆境擊敗，也「可以放心」，因為勝利對每個人來說都是出奇的不可能，除了神之外。
來自章伯斯的智慧
對那些沒有經歷過痛苦的人，耶穌說：「我沒有什麼可以給你的；站穩自己的腳，挺起自己的肩膀（挺身而立）。我是為這樣的人而來：知道自己所面對的遠超出他能應付的，知道有他無法觸碰的勢力；若他放手讓我來，我必為他做一切的事。只要讓一個人承認他有需要，我必出手幫助他。」《痛苦的陰影》
0802 The Teaching of Adversity
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. —John 16:33
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling…” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life…” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
To those who have had no agony Jesus says, “I have nothing for you; stand on your own feet, square your own shoulders. I have come for the man who knows he has a bigger handful than he can cope with, who knows there are forces he cannot touch; I will do everything for him if he will let Me. Only let a man grant he needs it, and I will do it for him.” –The Shadow of an Agony