我们现在来到从迷惘走向信靠的第十个、也是最后一个步骤──决定以喜乐的灵、而不是退缩的灵来面对一切。今天的经文很清楚地告诉我们，即使是面对最令人困扰的环境，也可以喜乐：「虽然无花果树不发旺，葡萄树不结果……然而，我要因耶和华欢欣，因救我的神喜乐。」

在面对烦恼时我们可以有三种反应：我们可以对抗、屈服或是乐在其中。很多人面对烦恼时都选择对抗，他们向天呼喊、质疑神的公义，认为自己有理由这么做。这当然是一种可以理解的反应，不过不是基督徒应有的行为。有些人会对现实低头，说：「好吧，要发生的终会发生」；「覆水难收」；「我惟有逆来顺受」等等。很多基督徒以为这种屈服的态度没有问题，其实这也不是基督徒应有的行为。在屈服的思想下有不自觉的怨恨。我们不一定能够看到这种怨恨，有时它会被紧紧的压制着以致我们感受不到，但是它确实是存在的。

基督徒面对烦恼的方法就是保持一颗喜乐的心。当最坏的事情发生时，我们不能只是忍受，而是要乐在其中。要是我们不能这样做，就表示我们还有十分重要的功课需要学习。

We have now reached the tenth and final step in our progression : decide to face everything that comes not in a spirit of resignation but in a spirit of rejoicing. The passage before us today shows quite clearly that it is possible to rejoice, even in the face of the most disturbing circumstances: "Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour."

There are three responses we can make in the presence of trouble: we can rebel against it, resign ourselves to it, or we can rejoice in it. Many take the way of rebellion when confronted by trouble - they cry out against the heavens and question the justice of God, believing they have good cause to do so. It is an understandable reaction, of course - but it is not the Christian way. Others resign themselves to the situation and say such things as: "Well, what will be will be." "There's no point in crying over spilt milk." "I will just have to grin and bear it." But resignation is not the Christian way either - although many believers think it is. Beneath all resignation simmers an unconscious resentment. It cannot always be observed and it is sometimes so deeply repressed that it cannot even be felt - but it is there nevertheless.

The Christian way of facing trouble is the way of rejoicing. When the worst comes to the worst, we are not just to put up with it, but rejoice in it. And if we can't - then we still have a vital lesson to learn.