God’s answers are wiser than our prayers.

上帝的回应比我们的祈求更有智慧。

I call on the  in my distress, and he answers me. Psalm 120:1

我在急难中求告耶和华，祂就应允我。-诗篇120篇1节

I thanked God for the privilege of serving as my mom’s live-in caregiver during her battle against leukemia. When medicines began to hurt more than help, she decided to stop treatment. “I don’t want to suffer anymore,” she said. “I want to enjoy my last days with family. God knows I’m ready to go home.”

在母亲治疗白血病期间，感谢上帝让我能贴身照顾她。后来，药物所带来的副作用却远超过疗效，于是母亲决定停止治疗，她说：“我不想再受折磨了，我想跟家人一起享受生命最后的时光，上帝知道我已预备好要回天家了。”

I pleaded with our loving heavenly Father—the Great Physician—confident He could work miracles. But to say yes to my mom’s prayers, He would have to say no to mine. Sobbing, I surrendered, “Your will be done, Lord.”

当时我恳求慈爱的天父，这位全能的大医生医治母亲，并相信祂必能施行神迹。但祂若应允了母亲的祈求，就势必要拒绝我的祷告。最后，我哭着降伏在主的面前，说：“主啊，愿祢的旨意成全。”

Soon after, Jesus welcomed my mama into a pain-free eternity.

不久之后，上帝接母亲进入永恒的国度，她永远不再痛苦了。

In this fallen world, we’ll experience suffering until Jesus returns (Rom. 8:22–25). Our sinful nature, limited vision, and fear of pain can distort our ability to pray. Thankfully, “the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (v. 27). He reminds us that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (v. 28), even when His yes to someone else means a heartbreaking no for us.

生活在这个堕落的世界，我们在耶稣再来之前都会遭受苦难（罗马书8章22-25节）。我们的罪性、有限的目光，以及害怕面对痛苦的心态，都会妨碍我们的祷告。但感谢主，“圣灵照着上帝的旨意替圣徒祈求”（27节）。虽然上帝应允某些人的祷告，也许意味着祂必须拒绝另一个人的祈求，但圣灵提醒我们万事都互相效力，叫爱上帝的人得益处（28节）。

When we accept our small part in His greater purpose, we can echo my mom’s watchword: “God is good, and that’s all there is to it. Whatever He decides, I’m at peace.” With confidence in the Lord’s goodness, we can trust Him to answer every prayer according to His will and for His glory.

当我们愿意接受自己在上帝伟大旨意中的角色时，就能像我母亲那样说：“只要相信上帝是美善的就够了。无论祂的旨意如何，我心中都有平安。”当我们相信主的美善，也就能相信上帝会按着祂的旨意与荣耀，回应每一个祷告。

Romans 8:22-28New International Version (NIV)

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 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.

罗马书 8:22-28Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

22 我们知道，一切受造之物一同叹息、劳苦，直到如今。 23 不但如此，就是我们这有圣灵初结果子的，也是自己心里叹息，等候得着儿子的名分，乃是我们的身体得赎。 24 我们得救是在乎盼望。只是所见的盼望不是盼望。谁还盼望他所见的呢？[a]25 但我们若盼望那所不见的，就必忍耐等候。

爱神者万事得益

26 况且，我们的软弱有圣灵帮助。我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。 27 鉴察人心的，晓得圣灵的意思，因为圣灵照着神的旨意替圣徒祈求。 28 我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。

整理：于姊妹