“A Journey of Faith”

As a Christian our walk with God is a journey of faith, and there will be times when our trust in God will be tested. There will be those days when your life will seem like you are in a storm and water, and winds of adversity are sweeping you away. Doubt threatens to crash down on you. It is at these times it is important to have a good foundation when everything around you is sinking. That foundation can be found in God’s Word during times of storms.

God’s Word has all kind of stories that show you how great men of faith survived their storms. I guess one of my favorite stories is the story of Joseph. You talk about having multiple bad days. First you are sold into slavery by your brothers (now that had to be a bad day). So, if that storm wasn’t bad enough, then later Potiphar's wife tried unsuccessfully to seduce him and after false accusations were levelled at Joseph he was imprisoned (another storm). How many of us would have doubts in our faith in God about this time, but Joseph still had faith in God. As you all know Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams and was made Governor of Egypt. During the famine Jacob's sons, the same ones that sold Joseph came to Egypt to plead with Joseph for supplies. None of this happened by chance and Joseph realized this. What his brothers meant for evil God uses for good. Joseph’s prayers were not immediately answered, but God used Joseph’s adversity as a steppingstone to fulfill God’s purpose of saving Jacob’s family that would become Israel.

So, when I look at stories like these in the bible, I look at the how Joseph’s faith was tested and how we can use his example of perseverance in our own faith challenges. Don’t give up trusting God, even though your storm seems to be lasting a long time. Keep up the faith and turn to God’s Word as an anchor in the storm. God’s Word is a resource for wisdom and truth. Pray for discernment when you read God’s Word. Discernment is the ability to decide between God’s truth and the world’s error. As a Christian it is important to have discernment so you can understand God’s Word and apply it in ways that honor Him.

James 1:12

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him

Lamentations 3:22-24

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'

Message in Chinese

《信心之旅》

作为基督徒，我们与神同行就是一段信心的旅程，而在这旅程中，我们对神的信靠必定会受到考验。有些日子，你会感觉自己仿佛身处风暴之中，逆境的风和水要把你吞没，怀疑似乎要向你扑来。在这种时候，当四周的一切都在沉陷时，拥有一个稳固的根基就显得极为重要。而在风暴中，这样的根基正可以在神的话语里找到。

神的话语中记载了各种经历风暴并靠信心挺过来的伟人。我最喜欢的故事之一就是约瑟的故事。你要说连续的糟糕日子，约瑟肯定算一个。首先，他被自己的兄弟们卖为奴隶（那必定是非常糟糕的一天）。如果这个风暴还不够严重，后来波提乏的妻子企图引诱他未果，便诬告他，使他被下在监里（又一个风暴）。换作我们中的许多人，可能早已在这个时候对神失去信心，但约瑟仍然坚信神。众所周知，约瑟后来为法老解梦，被立为埃及的宰相。在饥荒期间，雅各的儿子们——也就是当初卖掉约瑟的那些人——来到埃及向他求粮。这一切都不是偶然的，约瑟自己也明白，他的哥哥们意图害他，但神却使万事互相效力，化恶为善。约瑟的祷告并没有立即得到回应，但神使用了他的逆境，作为阶梯，成就了神拯救雅各全家的旨意，而这家族后来成为以色列。

因此，当我读到这些圣经故事时，我看到的是约瑟的信心如何被试炼，以及我们如何在自己的信仰挑战中效法他那坚持不懈的榜样。不要因为自己的风暴似乎久久不散就放弃信靠神。坚持信心，把神的话语作为风暴中的锚。神的话语是智慧和真理的宝库。阅读神的话语时，要祈求分辨力。分辨力就是分清神的真理与世俗错误的能力。作为基督徒，拥有分辨力非常重要，使你能明白神的话语，并以荣耀神的方式去实践。

雅各书 1:12“忍受试探的人是有福的，因为他经过试验以后，必得那生命的冠冕，这是主应许给那些爱他之人的。”

耶利米哀歌 3:22–24“耶和华的慈爱永不断绝，他的怜悯永不止息；每早晨，这都是新的，你的信实极其广大。‘耶和华是我的产业，’我的心说，‘因此我要仰望他。’”

如果你需要更文学化、更口语化，或用于讲道的版本，我也可以帮你调整。

Faith