上帝在我家

(圖片為Christin Ditchfield版權所有)

註：本文轉自https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/4-reasons-to-thank-god-when-you-don-t-feel-blessed.html，本文非商業用途且相關版權歸該網站及作者所有。

4 Reasons to Thank God When

You Don't Feel Blessed
當你覺得不被祝福的時候

感謝上帝的四個理由

作者

Kathy Howard

Christians often say, “God is good!” Then in the next breath, we thank God for His goodness in a specific situation. I heard it when the life of a sick child was spared. And when a biopsy returned benign. And when a job in jeopardy was saved. And when a rebellious teen turned back to God.
基督徒常說: "上帝是好的!"。然後下一秒，我們在特定的狀況下感謝神的好。我常聽到這樣的感謝，當孩子的病痊癒了。以及當腫瘤是好的。或是一個岌岌可危的工作保住了。以及當一個叛逆的孩子回轉到上帝面前。
 

But what about when the child dies or the test results come back “cancer” or the job is lost or the teenager never returns? Is God good then? Can we still be grateful to God?
但是，當一個孩子死了，或是檢查結果是癌症，或是工作沒有了，或是年輕人沒有回轉呢? 那上帝還是好的嗎? 我們還能感謝上帝嗎?
 

Yes. God is good all the time. The Bible says so. God cannot be good one moment and not the next. He cannot be good in one situation and not another.
是的。上帝永遠都是好的。聖經如此說。上帝不會是時好時壞。祂不會在一種狀況下是好的，而在另一種狀況下又是不好的。
 

A Facebook post I read not long ago caused me to reflect on this truth. The Facebook friend wrote, “God is good!” And then she detailed all the recent positive happenings in her life as the proof. 
我之前看到一個臉書的發文反映了這個事實。我臉書朋友寫到: "上帝是好的!"。然後她詳細寫出最近所有在她身上發生的正面的事情。

 

This really troubled me. But then I realized I’ve done it too. I’ve thanked God and declared His goodness when things turned out the way I’d hoped. But was that because my circumstances were easy? What about the times when my circumstances are hard? Should I only thank God when my life is free of trouble and difficulty? Is that the only time God is good?
這讓我感到疑惑。但是後來我發現，我也是這樣做。
 

The Bible teaches that our circumstances do not dictate or define God’s goodness. God’s character dictates His goodness. God is good all the time. Therefore, we can live with a constant attitude of gratitude no matter our circumstances.
聖經教導到，我們的處境不會決定或是定義上帝的好。上帝的本質決定祂的好。上帝永遠都是好的。所以，不管我們狀況如何，我們都能一直以感謝的態度來生活。

God is Good All the Time 上帝永遠是好的

Here are a few truths from Scripture to help us develop a correct understanding of the goodness of God:
以下是聖經的一些真理，幫助我們發展出對於上帝的好一套正確的觀念:

• God’s will for our lives is good (Romans 12:2). Sometimes – in fact, often – His will includes trials and difficulty that He uses for our refinement.
  上帝對我們生活的旨意是好的(羅馬書12:2-不要效法這世代，要藉著理性的更新而改變，使你們可以分辨什麼是神的旨意——那美善、可喜悅、完美的旨意。) 有時候，
  事實上，很多時候，祂的旨意也包括試煉，以及困境，為了要讓我們更精盡。
  
   
• In all things, in all circumstances, our good God is working for our good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
  在所有的事情上，在任何情況下，我們的上帝都是為我們的好而運行。(我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。(羅馬書8:28))
  
   
• The assurance of God’s goodness enables us to “give thanks in all circumstances”(1 Thessalonians 5:18) and to declare in easy times and hard times, “God is good!”
  上帝的好的確據讓我們凡事謝恩，因為這是神在基督耶穌裡向你們所定的旨意 (帖撒羅尼迦前書5:18)，以及讓我們在順境還有逆境中，都可以大聲宣告, "上帝是好的!"

Living in the Truth of God’s Goodness 活在上帝是好的真理之中

Since God is good all the time, no matter our circumstances, let’s allow that truth to impact our daily lives and the way we talk and relate to others. Here are a few suggestions:
既然上帝永遠都是好的，無論我們狀況如何，我們就讓真理影響我們的生活，以及我們說話還有跟別人建立關係的方式。以下是幾點建議:
 

• Remember that God is good all the time. Not just when things are going the way we want them to. 
  記得上帝永遠是好的。而不是只有當事情照著我們的想法走的時候。
   
• Thank Him for His goodness in every life situation.
  在任何生活的狀況下都感謝祂的好。
   
• Be sensitive to those around us who are facing difficult and painful circumstances. 
  對於我們周圍正在面對困難還有痛苦的情況的人，保持敏銳。
   
• Declare His goodness in every circumstance, particularly in the hard times.
  在所有情況裡都大聲宣告祂的好，尤其在困難的時候。

Changing our understanding about God’s goodness can change how we approach every circumstance of life and each person we encounter. God is good all the time!
改變我們對上帝的好的了解可以改變我們如何面對生活各種情況，以及我們遇到的每個人。上帝永遠是好的!

 

Why Should We Be Thankful?為什麼我們要感謝?

Several Hebrew and Greek words are translated as “thank,” “thanks,” and “thanksgiving” in the Bible. However, they all reflect the truth that our good God deserves the gratitude and praise of His people. Thankfulness is the right response to God and His grace in our lives. 
許多希伯來文以及希臘文在聖經裡面被翻譯成"謝謝"，"感謝"，以及"感恩"。但是，他們全部都反映我們的好上帝應該得到祂子民的感謝以及讚美。感恩是對於上帝給予我們生活裡的恩典的正確反應。

God wants our thanksgiving and commands us to be thankful. He doesn’t need anything from us but He does expect us to respond to who He is and what He does with gratitude. 
上帝要我們感恩，還有命令我們要感謝。祂不需要我們提供祂任何東西，但是祂期待我們以感謝回應身為上帝的祂，還有祂成就我們的事情。

“I don’t need the bulls you sacrifice; I don’t need the blood of goats. What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” (Psalm 50:13-15, NLT)
"我 豈 吃 公 牛 的 肉 呢 ？ 我 豈 喝 山 羊 的 血 呢 ？你 們 要 以 感 謝 為 祭 獻 與 神 ， 又 要 向 至 高 者 還 你 的 願 ， 並 要 在 患 難 之 日 求 告 我 ； 我 必 搭 救 你 ， 你 也 要 榮 耀 我 。" (詩篇50:13-15)
 

We don’t deserve anything, yet God provides. We don’t deserve forgiveness or salvation, yet God extends it. Every good thing in our lives is an act of grace from our loving and merciful heavenly Father. Even strength and endurance in times of difficulty are grace gifts from God.
我們理應不該得到任何東西，但是上帝仍舊供給。我們理應不該得到原諒或是救贖，但是上帝還是給予。我們生命中任何一件恩賜，都是從我們慈愛的天父而來。就連困境時候的力量還有忍耐也是上帝的恩賜。
 

Giving thanks to God for His mercy and kindness is a blessing and a privilege. It shifts our attitude and makes us more aware of God’s activity in our lives. It humbles us and allows us to see just how truly great our God is! 
感謝上帝的慈愛還有美善是一種祝福還有特權。那讓我們的態度改變，讓我們對於上帝在我們生命中的工作更有感知。那讓我們變得謙虛，讓我們看見上帝真正是多麼的偉大! 

 

Should We Thank God Even When Times Are Hard? 在困難的時候我們應該感謝上帝嗎?

The Apostle Paul showed us how to give thanks to God despite our circumstances. Trials, difficulty, and persecution filled Paul’s life, yet he purposefully practiced thanksgiving. He called the church to a constant attitude of gratitude even in times of difficulty. For instance, when the church in Thessalonica suffered persecution, Paul wrote:
使徒保羅讓我們看到如何感謝上帝，就算我們身處困境。試煉，困難，還有迫害一直存在於保羅的生命中，但是他有意義性的練習感謝。他告訴教會，就算在困難的時候，也該持續的保有感激的態度。例如，當帖撒羅尼迦的教會被迫害，保羅寫到:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).
"要 常 常 喜 樂 ，不 住 的 禱 告 ，凡 事 謝 恩 ； 因 為 這 是 神 在 基 督 耶 穌 裡 向 你 們 所 定 的 旨 意 。" (帖撒羅尼迦前書5:16-18)。

And from prison in Rome, Paul encouraged the Philippians:
當他在羅馬的監獄裡，保羅鼓勵了腓立比人:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).
"應 當 一 無 罣 慮 ， 只 要 凡 事 藉 著 禱 告 、 祈 求 ， 和 感 謝 ， 將 你 們 所 要 的 告 訴 神 。神 所 賜 、 出 人 意 外 的 平 安 必 在 基 督 耶 穌 裡 保 守 你 們 的 心 懷 意 念。" (腓立比書4:6-7)。
 

Paul knew that even when our physical circumstances are dire, God is present and God is working for our good and His glory. Purposefully focusing on giving Him thanks opens the door to joy and peace even in the midst of heartache and struggle.
保羅知道就算我們的情況對生命有威脅，上帝還是存在，上帝也在為了我們的好，為了祂的榮耀在工作。有意義性的專注在感謝祂，會打開喜樂以及平靜的大門，算就在心痛還有掙扎之中。

4 Reasons to Thank God in Times of Trouble 在困境的時候感謝上帝的四個理由

Even if we’re in the midst of some trial, difficulty, or heartache right now we can still thank the Lord for who He is and what He has done for us.
就算我們正在一些試煉，困難或是心痛之中，我們還是可以感謝上帝，還有祂為我們所作的一切。
 

The writer of Psalm 118 sets the example for us. He knew trouble. His life had not been easy. He had been betrayed and attacked. And he had felt caught in a hopeless and dangerous situation with no way out.
詩篇118篇的作者給了我們一個例子。他知道困難是甚麼。他的生活並不容易。他曾被背叛還有攻擊。他曾在一個絕望還有危險而又沒有辦法逃離的狀況之中。

But in the middle of those trials, he also experienced God’s personal intervention on his behalf. In Psalm 118:8-14, the psalmist testified to God’s deliverance and expressed his gratitude. In this passage, we find multiple reasons to thank God when we face times of trouble: 
但是就在那些試煉裡面，他也經歷了上帝親自替他運行。在詩篇118:8-14章內，作者見證了上帝的救贖，也表示了他的感謝。在這篇裡面，我們在面對困難的時候，找到很多感謝上帝的理由:
 

1. God is our refuge – When storms are raging all around us, we can always find safety in God’s presence. He is our shelter from the storm. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Other people may not be fully trustworthy, but God can always be trusted. Other people may not always be dependable, but we can depend on God in any and every situation. Like the psalmist, when we’re in the midst of trouble, let’s thank God that He is our refuge. When we hide ourselves in Him, He will be our shelter!
   上帝是我們的避難所- 上帝是我們的避難所，是我們的力量，是我們患難中隨時的幫助。其他人也許可能無法完全被信任，但是上帝永遠能被信任。其他人也許不能一直被依靠，但是我們可以在任何還有所有情況依靠上帝。就像創作詩篇的人一樣，當我們遇到困難，我們要感謝上帝是我們的避難所。我們可以藏匿在祂裡面，祂可以是我們的庇護。
   
   2. God is our protector – When people and circumstances fight against us, we do not have to wonder or worry about victory. God Himself goes with His people and fights for them (Deuteronomy 30:3-4). When the psalmist was surrounded and swarmed by his enemies, victory came through the name of the LORD. Do you ever feel “swarmed by enemies?” Call on the name of the LORD. Thank Him that He is your protector! 
   上帝是我們的保護者- 當人以及情況與我們相爭，我們不用思考如何贏得，或是擔心會不會贏。上帝會跟著祂的子民親自出征 (申命記30:3-4: 祂必改變你們被擄的境遇，憐憫你們，把你們從祂驅逐你們去的列國招聚回來。 4 即使你們被驅逐到天涯，你們的上帝耶和華也會把你們帶回來)。當詩篇創作者被敵人四面包圍，以上帝的名贏了。你感到被敵人四面包圍嗎? 呼求神的名字吧。感謝祂是你的保護者。
   
   
   3. God is our strength – “The LORD is my strength, and my song; He has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14). God saves! He will deliver us through trouble with the strength of His might. He is our reason to sing, so let us lift a song of praise and thanksgiving to the God who is our strength! 
   上帝是我們的力量- "耶和華是我的力量，是我的詩歌；祂拯救了我。" (詩篇118:4)。上帝會拯救! 祂會用祂的大能把我們從困難中救出。祂是我們歌唱的理由，所以讓我們唱起讚美詩歌，感謝上帝成為我們的力量!
   
   
   4. God is good all the time! – Because God is good, He is working in all our circumstances for our ultimate good and for His glory!
   上帝永遠都是好的- 因為上帝是好的，祂在我們所有的情況下都在運行，為了我們最高的益處，以及祂的榮耀!
    

Our good God is our refuge, our protector, and our strength! If we can name no other blessings in our life today, we can thank God for these. Let’s thank Him today, especially in the midst of trouble. 
我們好的上帝是我們的保護者，我們的力量! 如果我們沒有辦法指出今天生活有甚麼恩賜，我們可以為了上帝保護我們，成為我們力量而感謝上帝。今天就讓我們感謝祂，尤其在困難的時候。