你不要害怕，因為我與你同在，不要驚惶，因為我是你的神!
我必堅固你，我必幫助你，我必用我公義的右手扶持你。~以賽亞書41:10
2020年不是平順的一年，但是2021不只不平順，反而更加險峻。疫苗的出現，給了世界一絲的希望，然而隨著變種病毒的出現，疫情重新升溫，又重新回到防疫緊張的心情。而看著台灣，因為防疫成果不凡，加上蕊片與外銷產業的表現，讓世界看到了台灣的存在。而第408班次的太魯閣號出事，五十人意外喪生，是悲劇，是痛心，但是看到國際社會對台灣火車意外的關心，似乎感受到世界對台灣的重視，對比海峽對岸用軍事武力威嚇繞台的態度，實在有天壤之別。我們不經感慨，苦難什麼時候會結束。
一本根據集中營經歷而寫的書「活出意義來」，作者弗蘭克提到「苦難」是在一種無可避免的、不能逃脫的情境，必須面對一個無法改變的命運。而「苦難的意義」，就是在此情況下，得到一個最後的機會去實現最高的價值與最深的意義。在這種情境下的思考使人重新在「受苦」中找到價值，而不是白白受苦。其中最重要的是，你對苦難採取了什麼樣的態度？態度不能改變苦難的結果，但是態度可以使苦難轉化成祝福。我們因著苦難所學到的人生功課，可以讓我們更有信心去面對苦難。
你如何去面對人生的苦難？是孤單一人忍受著他人的冷眼和嘲笑？你如何走過苦難的路？是帶著害怕和驚惶？只要時間夠，路是一定會走過，然而走過苦難的過程才是我們真正的重點。當我們內心有足夠強大的力量時，我們面對這苦難會迎刃有餘，甚至能戰勝苦難、一無所懼，若有正確的方向，我們不會繞遠路，如果神是我們的應許、是我們的力量，我們能在面對苦難中，磨練出人生極緻的光芒。這是苦難的意義，找到生命的價值。
朋友，神應許與我們同在，使我們不是用害怕的心情來走過苦難。也不用驚慌失措，因為祂必堅固我們，幫助我們，更以公義的右手來扶持。當我們看著在風暴中的世界，被吹的亂七八糟而失去秩序時，要記得，神是我們的幫助，我們的磐石。倚靠耶和華的人，就如同把房子建立在磐石上，我們前行，就無所懼怕。
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
2020 was not a smooth year, as for 2021, not only is it not going smoothly, but it is more treacherous. The development of vaccines has given the world a glimmer of hope, however, with the emergence of new strains of the virus, we are back to the nervous stages of the pandemic. Looking at Taiwan, with their extraordinary results from epidemic prevention, coupled with the performance of the electronic chip and the export industry, the world has seen the existence of Taiwan. On the Taroko Train number 408, 50 people were killed unexpectedly, it was a heart-aching tragedy. However, seeing the concerns towards Taiwan’s train accident from the international community, it shows the significance of Taiwan within this world; and then there’s a world of difference from across the strait, using military force to throw threatening measures at Taiwan. We cannot help but feel, when will the suffering end.
In the book “Man’s Search for Meaning” based on the experience of concentration camps, the author Frankl mentioned that “suffering” is the fate that one must face in an inevitable and inescapable situation. And “the meaning of suffering” is the last chance to realize the highest value and deepest meaning under this circumstance. Instead of suffering in vain, the people that thinking under this situation find the value in “suffering”. Most importantly, what is your attitude towards suffering? Attitude cannot change the outcome of suffering, but attitude can turn suffering into a blessing. The life lessons we learn from suffering grants us more confidence when facing sufferings.
How do you face the suffering of life? Is it enduring the cold eyes and ridicule of others all by yourself? How do you walk through the road of suffering? Is it with fear and panic? As long as there is enough time, the road will come to pass, but the process of going through the suffering is our real focus. When we have enough strength in our hearts, we will be able to face this suffering with ease, and even overcome it without fear. If we have the right directions, we will not fall into a detour. If God is our promise and our strength, we can hone the ultimate brilliance of life in the face of suffering. This is the meaning of suffering, to find the value of life.
My friend, God promises to be with us so that we don’t go through suffering with fear. There is no need to panic, because He will strengthen us, help us, and support us with a righteous right hand. When we look at the world caught in a storm, being blown up in chaos and out of order, we must remember that God is our guide and our rock. Those who trust in the Lord are like building a house on a solid rock, for we can walk forward without fear.