五月廿二日

又領他們行走直路……（詩107：7）

變幻不定的經驗常使煩擾的信徒要問：“為什麼我會遭遇這事呢?”我要光，可是偏偏有暗來到；要平安，卻有困難。我心中說，我的山是穩固的，我必不至動搖。主啊，你一掩面，我就有困難。昨天我還能清楚地看到我的名分，而今天我的證據都模糊了，我的盼望都被烏雲遮沒起來；昨天我還能上毗斯迦山頂觀看全地，並且滿心快樂地相信我將來要承受那地，而今天我的靈魂失去了盼望，倒來了許多懼怕，沒有快樂，只有患難。這是神為我所定的計劃中的一部份嗎?神能用這方式把我帶到天堂上去嗎?是的，就是這樣。你的信心的晦暗，你的心中的黑蔭，你的盼望的消失，這一切都是神使你得以成熟的步驟，是在不久就能承受他基業的方法。這些苦難都是為了要試驗並加強你的信心一一它們是把你沖上磐石的波浪，它們是推著你的小船快快趕到所願去的海口的微風。大衛這樣對你說：“他就引他們到所願去的海口。”藉著尊榮和羞辱，美名和譭謗，豐富和缺乏，快樂和憂患，逼迫和平安，藉這一切保守你的生命，並幫助你行走你的道路。但，信徒啊！不要想你所受的愁苦的事都不是神的計劃，那些都包括在其中。“我們進入神的國，必須經歷許多艱難。”但是也要學會，“你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂。”我們的心雖然不明白主智慧而聖潔的旨意，但我們要知道他是不會錯的。

May 22

"He led them forth by the right way." -- Psalm 107:7

Changeful experience often leads the anxious believer to enquire "Why is it thus with me?" I looked for light, but lo, darkness came; for peace, but behold trouble. I said in my heart, my mountain standeth firm, I shall never be moved. Lord, thou dost hide Thy face, and I am troubled. It was but yesterday that I could read my title clear; to-day my evidences are bedimmed, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday I could climb to Pisgah's top, and view the landscape o'er, and rejoice with confidence in my future inheritance; to-day, my spirit has no hopes, but many fears; no joys, but much distress. Is this part of God's plan with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven? Yes, it is even so. The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your mind, the fainting of your hope, all these things are but parts of God's method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which you shall soon enter. These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith--they are waves that wash you further upon the rock--they are winds which waft your ship the more swiftly towards the desired haven. According to David's words, so it might be said of you, "so He bringeth them to their desired haven." By honour and dishonour, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty, by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace, by all these things is the life of your souls maintained, and by each of these are you helped on your way. Oh, think not, believer, that your sorrows are out of God's plan; they are necessary parts of it. "We must, through much tribulation, enter the kingdom." Learn, then, even to "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."

"O let my trembling soul be still,

And wait Thy wise, Thy holy will!

I cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see,

Yet all is well since ruled by Thee."