I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)
When we face suffering, what happens to our relationship with God? Some people turn their backs on God and stop taking refuge in him. Some calm down and pray, choose to live in Christ, and build a strong faith that helps them overcome the difficulties they encounter in life.
Our help comes from God for his loving kindness endures for ever. Even when we are in trouble, God is truly with us. However, the devil works to break our bond with God. He tempts us to focus on things that entangle us and pressures us. Then we lose love and trust for God.
God is concerned about every service we offer to him, every devotional that comes from our hearts, and every praise that we give him. Those are good moments when we rebuild intimacy with God. That Jesus is Christ should not be a slogan. It should be the firm confession of Christians and the source from which we have the courage to face life.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Believe in the existence of God and also believe that he will bless me if I am searching for his help. The essence of faith is not conceptual, but a living and organic relationship. Before God blesses a person, he will first check if they have faith in him and have a heart that seeks him actively. It is the premise of whether one’s spiritual life is renewed or not.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
What are the faith and foundation behind Jesus’ words? To save us, Jesus Christ became flesh. He served the sinners on the earth, was crucified on the cross, resurrected, and ascended to heaven. He will come again. Jesus absolutely believed in God’s justice and promise. He trusted God’s love and that this was the best plan for him. This faith overcame the temptation of fame and the death threat from Satan.
Changing rules and circumstances bring anxiety and fear to many people. The essential wisdom is that how this world manipulates people’s souls. We give the world the chance of influencing us when we refuse to depend on God and affirm his existence.
The rule of the world is that personal safety lies in the extent of your possessions and how much money you control. Your value is based on your achievements. But the Bible tells us that is a lie. Since we are created in the image of God, the image inside us is honorable and priceless. Our dignity and peace come from God’s grace and blessings.
We need to be convinced that God loves the world and his justice and loving-kindness endure for ever. Today whatever circumstance you face, don’t forget that God reveals his perfection through your weakness. When we admit and confess, “the end of man is the beginning of God,” we can understand more deeply the world of the resurrection: “When I humble myself and turn to Christ, the God who loves me immediately arranges the most suitable path for me.”
I hope we can hold fast to God’s unchanging faithfulness and justice so we can deal with all of the changes and difficulties in our life. Let Jesus Christ become the center of all the things we do so that our feet can be like the feet of a deer and we can reach new heights by his grace and guidance.
- Translated by Karen Luo
盼望与力量在基督里 作者：恩提 我要向山举目，我的帮助从何而来？ 我的帮助从创造天地的耶和华而来。（诗121：1-2） 在经历患难的时候，我们如何看待与神的关系？ 有的人是转脸不再投靠，有的人会安静下来祷告，选择住在基督里，寻求并建立信心面对生活中各样的艰难。 我们的帮助是从上帝而来，祂的慈爱永远长存。患难中，上帝也真实地与我们在一起。而魔鬼的工作则是希望断开我们与上帝的联合。诱导我们把焦点只是放在焦头烂额的事情本身，复工前方各样的压力等等，从而失去对上帝的爱和信任。 上帝关注我们每一次向祂献上的礼拜，每一次走心的灵修， 每一次对祂的赞美，这都将是我们与神再次建立紧密关系的绝佳时刻。耶稣是基督，这本不应该成为一句口号，应该要成为信仰人坚定的告白和面对生活勇气的来源。 人非有信，就不能得上帝的喜悦；因为到上帝面前来的人，必须信有上帝，且信那赏赐寻求祂的人。（希11：6） 相信上帝存在，同时相信祂会祝福寻求祂帮助的我。信仰的本质不是概念的，而是鲜活有机的关系。上帝要想祝福一个人，先要看这个人是否对祂建立信心，对祂有主动寻求的心。 这是一个人灵性生命被更新，点燃的前提。 我将这些事告诉你们，是要叫你们在我里面有平安。 在世上你们有苦难。但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。（约16：33） 耶稣说这样的话的信心和根据是什么呢？耶稣基督为了拯救我们，祂道成肉身，侍奉地上的罪人，被罪人钉死在十字架上，死而复活，升天，将来还要再来。耶稣对父神的公义和应许是绝对的相信，相信父神是爱祂并且会给祂最好的安排。这样的信心，胜过了魔鬼撒旦对祂名利的诱惑和死亡的威胁。 世界的游戏规则和客观环境总是在变化，因此会给很多人带来不安和恐惧。知道这个世界是如何操控人的心灵是非常必要的智慧。当人明明知道有上帝的存在，但是故意不依靠祂生活的时候，我们就给了世界操控我们的机会。 世界的法则是，你对金钱的拥有和支配的程度，会给你带来相应程度的安全感，你要做成如何的结果，你才有价值。但是圣经告诉我们这是谎言。我们是按着上帝的形象创造的，我们里面的神的形象本身就是尊贵的，无价的。我们的尊贵和平安都是源于上帝的恩惠和祝福。 我们需始终坚信上帝爱世人，祂的公义和慈爱永远长存。无论今天的你面对着多么艰难的环境，请不要忘记，上帝会藉着你的软弱，展现祂的完全。当我们承认并告白：“人的尽头是上帝的起头”的时候，我们可以更深的明白复活的世界：“我何时谦卑转向基督，爱我的上帝何时为我安排最适合我的道路。” 盼望今日的你我可以抓住不变的上帝的信实和应许，来应对生活中一切的变化和艰难。让耶稣基督成为我们做一切事情的中心 ，这样我们的生活可以靠着祂的恩惠和引导，脚步快如母鹿的蹄，稳行在高处。
I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)
When we face suffering, what happens to our relationship with God? Some people turn their backs on God and stop taking refuge in him. Some calm down and pray, choose to live in Christ, and build a strong faith that helps them overcome the difficulties they encounter in life.
Our help comes from God for his loving kindness endures for ever. Even when we are in trouble, God is truly with us. However, the devil works to break our bond with God. He tempts us to focus on things that entangle us and pressures us. Then we lose love and trust for God.
God is concerned about every service we offer to him, every devotional that comes from our hearts, and every praise that we give him. Those are good moments when we rebuild intimacy with God. That Jesus is Christ should not be a slogan. It should be the firm confession of Christians and the source from which we have the courage to face life.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Believe in the existence of God and also believe that he will bless me if I am searching for his help. The essence of faith is not conceptual, but a living and organic relationship. Before God blesses a person, he will first check if they have faith in him and have a heart that seeks him actively. It is the premise of whether one’s spiritual life is renewed or not.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
What are the faith and foundation behind Jesus’ words? To save us, Jesus Christ became flesh. He served the sinners on the earth, was crucified on the cross, resurrected, and ascended to heaven. He will come again. Jesus absolutely believed in God’s justice and promise. He trusted God’s love and that this was the best plan for him. This faith overcame the temptation of fame and the death threat from Satan.
Changing rules and circumstances bring anxiety and fear to many people. The essential wisdom is that how this world manipulates people’s souls. We give the world the chance of influencing us when we refuse to depend on God and affirm his existence.
The rule of the world is that personal safety lies in the extent of your possessions and how much money you control. Your value is based on your achievements. But the Bible tells us that is a lie. Since we are created in the image of God, the image inside us is honorable and priceless. Our dignity and peace come from God’s grace and blessings.
We need to be convinced that God loves the world and his justice and loving-kindness endure for ever. Today whatever circumstance you face, don’t forget that God reveals his perfection through your weakness. When we admit and confess, “the end of man is the beginning of God,” we can understand more deeply the world of the resurrection: “When I humble myself and turn to Christ, the God who loves me immediately arranges the most suitable path for me.”
I hope we can hold fast to God’s unchanging faithfulness and justice so we can deal with all of the changes and difficulties in our life. Let Jesus Christ become the center of all the things we do so that our feet can be like the feet of a deer and we can reach new heights by his grace and guidance.
- Translated by Karen Luo
Hope and Strength in Christ
