上帝能引导我们度过难关。

When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. Isaiah 43:2

你蹚过江河，水必不漫过你。-以赛亚书43章2节

The rafting guide escorted our group to the river’s edge and directed us all to put on life jackets and grab paddles. As we climbed into the boat, he assigned us seats to balance the boat’s weight, providing stability when we encountered rapids. After highlighting the thrills the watery voyage ahead would hold for us, he detailed a series of directions we could expect to hear—and would need to follow—to effectively steer the boat through the white water. He assured us that even though there might be tense moments on the way, our journey would be both exciting and safe.

急流泛舟的导游护送我们这一群人来到河边，要我们穿上救生衣、拿好船桨。我们上了船，他为我们分配座位以平衡船的重量，好让船在急流中仍能保持稳定。他在强调前方的河道会让我们感到惊险刺激之后，详细说明了一连串我们必须遵守的指示，好有效地操纵船只平安通过急流。导游向我们保证，虽然途中可能会有令人紧张的时刻，但我们的行程绝对是又安全又刺激的。

Sometimes life feels like a white-water rafting trip, one that contains more rapids than we might like. God’s promise to Israel, through the prophet Isaiah, can guide our feelings when we fear the worst is happening: “When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2). The Israelites faced an overwhelming fear of rejection by God as they went into exile as a consequence of their sin. Yet instead, He affirms them and promises to be with them because He loves them (vv. 2, 4).

有时候，人生的旅程就像是一趟白浪急流泛舟之旅，随时可能碰到许多我们不太喜欢的急流。上帝透过先知以赛亚对以色列民的应许，可以帮助我们在担心会发生最坏的情况时，不必忧虑战兢，因上帝说：“你蹚过江河，水必不漫过你”（以赛亚书43章2节）。当以色列民因犯罪而被掳到外邦时，他们担心自己被上帝弃绝，然而，上帝坚定地应许必与他们同在，因为祂爱他们（2、4节）。

God won’t abandon us in the rough waters. We can trust Him to guide us through the rapids—our deepest fears and most painful troubles—because He also loves us and promises to be with us.  

上帝不会在急流中离弃我们。我们可以相信祂会引导你我渡过急流，也会陪伴你我面对最深的恐惧和最痛苦的难处，因为祂爱我们，且应许会与我们同在。

主啊，谢谢祢，因祢引导我们渡过急流。当人生的旅程波涛汹涌、风雨飘摇时，求祢帮助我们仍能信靠祢。

Isaiah 43:1-7    NIV

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

以赛亚书 43:1-7 

43 雅各啊，创造你的耶和华，以色列啊，造成你的那位，现在如此说：“你不要害怕，因为我救赎了你；我曾提你的名召你，你是属我的。 2 你从水中经过，我必与你同在；你趟过江河，水必不漫过你；你从火中行过，必不被烧，火焰也不着在你身上。 3 因为我是耶和华你的神，是以色列的圣者，你的救主。我已经使埃及做你的赎价，使古实和西巴代替你。 4 因我看你为宝为尊，又因我爱你，所以我使人代替你，使列邦人替换你的生命。 5 不要害怕，因我与你同在。我必领你的后裔从东方来，又从西方招聚你。 6 我要对北方说‘交出来！’，对南方说‘不要拘留！’，将我的众子从远方带来，将我的众女从地极领回， 7 就是凡称为我名下的人，是我为自己的荣耀创造的，是我所做成、所造做的。”

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

In today’s passage, God declares, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2). In the New Testament, we see this promise of God’s care displayed in two stories of literal storms. In one, Jesus is sound asleep in a boat when awakened by His disciples who are frightened by a sudden storm. He calms the storm and the disciples’ fears (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). In a similar story, the disciples are alone in a boat when a furious squall begins. Jesus walks out to them on the water (Matthew 14:22-33; John 6:16-21) and assures them, “It is I; don’t be afraid” (v. 20). The Lord “commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him” (Luke 8:25).

在今天阅读的经文中，上帝宣告说：“你从水中经过，我必与你同在”（以赛亚书43章2节）。我们可以从新约圣经所记载两次的风暴中，看见上帝持守应许，看顾保护。其中一次是耶稣在船上睡觉，风暴突然袭来，门徒慌张地把祂叫醒了。过后耶稣平静了风浪，也抚平了门徒的恐惧（马太福音8章23-27节；马可福音4章35-41节；路加福音8章22-25节）。在另一起类似的事件中，门徒在船上遇到极大的风暴，而耶稣在水面上走向他们（马太福音14章22-33节；约翰福音6章16-21节），并向他们表明，说：“是我，不要怕！”（约翰福音6章20节）那位“吩咐风和水，连风和水也听从祂了”（路加福音8章25节）的主，必与我们同在。

整理：于姊妹