新视域的力量
留在痛苦中

经文
约伯记十三13-19
13你们不要作声,任凭我吧!让我说话,无论如何我都承当。
14我何必把我的肉挂在牙上,将我的命放在手中。
15他必杀我;我虽无指望,然而我在他面前还要辩明我所行的。
16这要成为我的拯救,因为不虔诚的人不得到他面前。
17你们要细听我的言语,使我所辩论的入你们的耳中。
18我已陈明我的案,知道自己有义。
19有谁与我争论,我就情愿缄默不言,气绝而亡。
信息分享
昨天我们结束时谈论到,虽然我们蒙拯救不至滑倒,但主要的问题仍未获解决的话,那是十分的关键。为甚么是关键的呢?因为正如我们说过,我们心里想要解除痛苦的那种渴望,有时可能会导致我们采取了不是最好的解决方案。我们惟有在明白神的做法时才会有比较好的感受,哪怕只有一丁点儿的明白。
当我们在面对属灵困难,似乎看不到出路,而内心的情绪又是那么强烈的时候,我认为我们只有两个选择:要不是好像约伯那样,忍受那困扰的情绪,耐心地等候神在适当的时候给予清晰的答案;就是以某种意识取代疑惑。第一个选择往往是困难的,因为它要求一些我们很难做到的事情,特别是在疑惑的时候,那就是信任。第二个选择容易得多,但却有更大的潜在危险,因为除非我们特别小心,否则它会令我们接受一些并不能真正解决问题的方法。
要在混淆不清和无所适从的情况下具有信心地行动,并得出一个「清晰的」答案,这股压力相当巨大。所以我们必须小心,不要轻易满足于有助减低疑惑但并非真正解决办法的方案。我们宁可留在疑惑和不确定的痛苦中,也不要抓着不是答案的答案,因为它们其实只会使我们逃避真正的问题。
「有些答案并非真正的解决办法」
进深研究
箴三1-6;诗三十七5,一一八8;赛二十六4
1. 我们应当做甚么?
2. 我们不应当做甚么?
祈祷
天父,求您帮助我能透彻地想通这个问题;在我学习的时候我需要您的爱、您的智慧和您的支持。奉耶稣的名祈求,阿们。
The Power of a New Perspective
Staying with the pain

Bible reading:
Job 13:13-19
13 "Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may.
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!
17 Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.
19 Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die.
Message
We ended yesterday with the thought that the moments after we have been saved from slipping and sliding, but are left with our main problem still unresolved, are exceedingly critical. Why critical? Because, as we said, the desire to relieve the pain that is going on inside us can sometimes lead us to settle for answers that are less than the best. We feel better when we can make sense of the ways of God - even a little sense.
When we are confronted by a spiritual problem that appears to have no immediate resolution and causes strong emotions to rage within us, there are, as far as I can see, just two options: either to live with the troublesome emotions, as Job did, and wait patiently for God to give a clear answer, in His time; or to replace the confusion with some form of understanding. The first option is often difficult, for it demands something which, especially when we are confused, we find hard to do - trust. The second is a lot easier, but potentially more dangerous, for unless we are careful, it can lead us into accepting solutions that are not solutions.
The pressure to move confidently in the midst of ambiguity and uncertainty and come up with "clear" answers is a strong one. But we must be careful that we don't settle for an answer that, although it helps to reduce the level of confusion, is not a real solution. Better to stay with the pain of confusion and uncertainty than to grasp at answers that are not answers because they evade the real problem.
"Some answers are not real solutions"
Prayer
O Father, help me as I think through this issue. I sense there is something here that I need to learn, but I need Your love and wisdom and insight to support me as I learn it. Come close to me - particularly over these next few days. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
Proverbs 3:1-6
Psalm 37:5; 118:8
Isaiah 26:4
1. What are we to do?
2. What are we not to do?
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