感恩是经由不断练习而增长的美德。

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

你们要称谢耶和华，因祂本为善，祂的慈爱永远长存！-诗篇118篇1节

On our wedding day, Martie and I gladly vowed to be faithful “in good times as well as in bad, in sickness as well as in health, for richer or for poorer.” In a way it may seem strange to include vows about the bleak reality of bad times, sickness, and poverty on a cheerful wedding day. But it underscores the fact that life often has “bad”times.

记得在我们结婚当天，玛蒂和我开开心心地立下誓约，“无论顺境或逆境、健康或疾病、贫穷或富贵”，都要对彼此忠诚。或许，在充满欢乐的大喜之日，要许下关于困境、疾病和贫穷这些冷酷现实的誓约，看来有点奇怪。但此举其实是在提醒我们，人生不如意事十之八九。

So what are we to do when we face life’s inevitable difficulties? Paul urges us on behalf of Christ to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). As difficult as that may sound, there is good reason why God encourages us to embrace a spirit of gratitude. Gratitude is grounded in the truth that our Lord “is good” and “his love endures forever”(Psalm 118:1). He is present with us and strengthens us in the midst of trouble(Hebrews 13:5–6), and He lovingly uses our trials to grow our character into His likeness (Romans 5:3–4).

那么，当人生中无可避免的困境来临时，我们该如何面对呢？保罗体会基督的心意，劝勉我们要“凡事谢恩”（帖撒罗尼迦前书5章18节）。虽然这听起来并不容易，但上帝勉励我们要存一颗感恩的心是有原因的。感恩的根基乃在于我们的上帝“本为善，祂的慈爱永远长存”（诗篇118篇1节）。在患难中，祂与我们同在，并加添我们力量（希伯来书13章5-6节）；祂慈爱地使用试炼来塑造我们的品格，让我们能更像祂（罗马书5章3-4节）。

When life hits us with hard times, choosing to be grateful focuses our attention on the goodness of God and gives us the strength to make it through our struggles. With the psalmist, we can sing,“Give thanks to the , for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm118:29). 

当患难临到，选择以感恩的态度来面对，能让我们专注于上帝的美善，使我们得着力量度过危难。我们也能和诗篇的作者一同高歌：“你们要称谢耶和华，因祂本为善，祂的慈爱永远长存！”（诗篇118篇29节）

Lord, we realize that focusing on our troubles causes us to forget that even in the midst of trials You are good. Teach us the art of a grateful heart.

主啊，我们知道若只专注于自己的困境，就会忘记即使在试炼中祢仍是美善的。求祢指教我们如何拥有一颗感恩的心。

Psalm 118:1-14 NIV

118 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
    “His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
    “His love endures forever.”

5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
    I look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
    but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
    but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:26-29 

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

诗篇 118:1-14 

118 你们要称谢耶和华，因他本为善，他的慈爱永远长存！
2 愿以色列说：“他的慈爱永远长存！”
3 愿亚伦的家说：“他的慈爱永远长存！”
4 愿敬畏耶和华的说：“他的慈爱永远长存！”
5 我在急难中求告耶和华，他就应允我，把我安置在宽阔之地。
6 有耶和华帮助我，我必不惧怕，人能把我怎么样呢？
7 在那帮助我的人中，有耶和华帮助我，所以我要看见那恨我的人遭报。
8 投靠耶和华，强似倚赖人。
9 投靠耶和华，强似倚赖王子。
10 万民围绕我，我靠耶和华的名必剿灭他们。
11 他们环绕我，围困我，我靠耶和华的名必剿灭他们。
12 他们如同蜂子围绕我，好像烧荆棘的火必被熄灭，我靠耶和华的名必剿灭他们。
13 你推我，要叫我跌倒，但耶和华帮助了我。
14 耶和华是我的力量，是我的诗歌，他也成了我的拯救。

诗篇 118:26-29

26 奉耶和华名来的是应当称颂的！我们从耶和华的殿中为你们祝福。
27 耶和华是神，他光照了我们。理当用绳索把祭牲拴住，牵到坛角那里。
28 你是我的神，我要称谢你；你是我的神，我要尊崇你。
29 你们要称谢耶和华，因他本为善，他的慈爱永远长存！

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

The writer of Psalm 118 knew about the struggles of living in a fallen world. Even when surrounded by enemies, the psalmist’s confidence in the Lord remained strong (vv. 8–9, 13–14, 28). Note the opening and closing verses. Despite the dangers he faced, the psalmist begins and ends by choosing to praise God: “Give thanks to the , for he is good; his love endures forever.”

诗篇118篇的作者深知生活在一个堕落世界中的挣扎。即使被敌人包围，诗人对上帝的信心依然坚定（8-9、13-14、28节）。请留意这首诗开头和结尾的经文，尽管诗人面对危险，但他在这首诗的开头和结尾，仍赞美上帝：“你们要称谢耶和华，因祂本为善，祂的慈爱永远长存！”

Are you in the midst of a trial? Meditate on the Lord’s goodness and His enduring love.

你正面临试炼吗？不妨默想上帝的美善和祂永远的慈爱。

整理：于姊妹