从迷惘到信靠
逃避不能解决问题
经文
腓立比书四8-20
8弟兄们，我还有未尽的话：凡是真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、有美名的，若有甚么德行，若有甚么称赞，这些事你们都要思念。
9你们在我身上所学习的，所领受的，所听见的，所看见的，这些事你们都要去行，赐平安的神就必与你们同在。
10我靠主大大的喜乐，因为你们思念我的心如今又发生；你们向来就思念我，只是没得机会。
11我并不是因缺乏说这话；我无论在甚么景况都可以知足，这是我已经学会了。
12我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处丰富；或饱足，或饥饿；或有余，或缺乏，随事随在，我都得了秘诀。
13我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能作。
14然而，你们和我同受患难原是美事。
15腓立比人哪，你们也知道我初传福音离了马其顿的时候，论到授受的事，除了你们以外，并没有别的教会供给我。
16就是我在帖撒罗尼迦，你们也一次两次的打发人供给我的需用。
17我并不求甚么馈送，所求的就是你们的果子渐渐增多，归在你们的帐上。
18但我样样都有，并且有余。我已经充足，因我从以巴弗提受了你们的馈送，当作极美的香气，为神所收纳、所喜悦的祭物。
19我的神必照他荣耀的丰富，在基督耶稣里，使你们一切所需用的都充足。
20愿荣耀归给我们的父神，直到永永远远。阿们！
信息分享
我在过去几天曾建议说：你要愿意面对你的迷惘并感受它。这与基督教会里面很多人的观点有所不同，我很了解他们所持的观点，因为我以前也不例外。这个观点认为：每当你看到一个困难冲着你来的时候，便转身，开始赞美主，那困难便会消失。有些人甚至说：「你若是承认自己有困难，就等于容许它在你生命中有立足之地，这样就不能够把它去掉。「承认」能带来「拥有」──你承认甚么便会得到甚么。
有人认为我们若注视困难，就会失去属灵的视角，导致困难变得越来越大，而神却变得越来越小。我完全同意这个说法。但是我们不能堕进一个陷阱，以为拒绝承认困难就可以令困难消失。著名的牛仔歌手奥特利（Gene Autry）说：「我一直持守一个做人的原则，那就是要对一切都是百分之一百的诚实──对神诚实，对别人诚实，对自己也诚实。」（奥特利是我童年时喜爱的歌手）
我要再一次强调，如果我们不愿意承认有困难，便是否认事实，这就变得不诚实了。那些以假装没有困难来应付困难的人，等于是朝精神问题走出第一步。逃避不能解决任何困难，因为无论我们企图逃避甚么，它都会再成为我们的困扰。它会以里面隐藏起来的情意结这个方式出现──冲突的逆流，来限制我们属灵上的前进。
「我们企图逃避的，必然会再出现」
进深研究
太二十六36-45；路二49；约五19-20；来四15
1. 耶稣怎样对待自己的痛苦和迷惘？
2. 为甚么祂能够面对它们？
祈祷
天父，求您使这样的意识深入我的灵中：我们企图逃避的，必然会再出现。求您使我成为有勇气的人──能够面对任何事情，承受任何事情。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。
From Confusion to Confidence
Evasion solves nothing
Bible reading:
Philippians 4:8-20
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;
16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.
17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Message
The advice I have been giving - to be willing to face your confusion and feel it - runs counter to the view that is held by many in the Christian Church. It is a view with which I am very familiar, for at one time I held it myself. It says: "Whenever you see a problem coming toward you, turn your back on it, begin to praise the Lord, and it will go away." Some go even further and say: "Once you confess you have a problem, you allow it to have a foothold in your life and you will not be able to get rid of it. Confession leads to possession - you will get what you confess."
I am heartily in agreement with the belief that we can look so long at our problems that we lose our spiritual perspective - the problem becomes bigger and God grows smaller. But we must not fall into the trap of thinking that refusing to acknowledge a problem makes it go away. Gene Autry, the famous singing cowboy (and a boyhood hero of mine) said: "I have always followed the rule of one hundred per cent honesty in everything - honesty toward God, honesty toward others, and honesty toward myself."
Once again I suggest that if we are not willing to admit to a problem, then we are denying reality and being dishonest. Those whose method of coping with problems is to pretend they don't have them are taking the first step toward mental ill-health. Nothing is solved by evasion, for whatever we try to evade comes back to pervade. It comes back as hidden complexes within - an undertow of discord that restrains our spiritual progress.
"Whatever we try to evade comes back to pervade"
Prayer
O Father, drive this thought deep into my spirit - whatever I try to evade comes back to pervade. Make me a person of courage - able to face anything and stand up to anything. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
Matthew 26:36-45
Luke 2:49
John 5:19-20
Hebrews 4:15
1. What did Jesus do with His pain and confusing circumstances?
2. Why was He able to face them?
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