God is with us even when we can’t see Him.

虽然我们看不见上帝，但祂依然同在。

The  your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

你无论往哪里去，耶和华你的上帝必与你同在。-约书亚记1章9节

As we ventured home from a family vacation, the road took us through some desolate parts of central Oregon. For nearly two hours after dusk we drove through deep canyons and across desert plateaus. Fewer than twenty sets of headlights punctuated the darkness. Eventually the moon rose on the horizon, visible to us when the road crested hills but eclipsed when we traveled through the lowlands. My daughter remarked on its light, calling it a reminder of God’s presence. I asked whether she needed to see it to know He was there. She replied, “No, but it sure helps.”

我们在结束家庭旅游返家的途中，经过奥勒冈中部的荒芜之地。在日落后的两小时里，我们在幽暗中驾驶，行经深谷、穿越荒原，少过二十辆车子的车头灯偶尔出现在黑暗中。后来，月亮缓缓升起，当我们行驶在山坡上时，可看见皎洁的月亮，但行经低地时，月亮就被遮掩了。女儿说，那月光就像在提醒我们上帝的同在。我问她，是否要看见月光才能确信上帝的同在。她回答：“不用，但这样也挺有帮助的。”

After Moses’s death, Joshua inherited leadership of the Israelites and was charged to take God’s chosen people into the Promised Land. Despite his divine commission, Joshua must have felt challenged by the daunting nature of his task. God graciously offered Joshua assurance to be with him on the journey ahead (Josh. 1:9).

摩西死后，约书亚继承了领导以色列人的任务，负责率领上帝的选民进入应许之地。虽然约书亚知道这使命是来自上帝，但想必他仍会觉得这任务十分艰巨。于是，上帝慈爱地应许约书亚，必定与他一同前往（约书亚记1章9节）。

The road of life often travels through uncharted territory. We voyage through seasons when the path ahead isn’t clearly visible. God’s plan may not always be apparent to us, but He has promised to be with us “always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). What greater assurance could we hope for, no matter what uncertainty or challenge we might face? Even when the path is unlit, the Light is with us.

人生的道路常会经过未知的境地，有些时候我们必须穿过前头幽暗不清的路径。上帝的计划对我们而言或许晦涩难解，但祂已应许将常与我们同在，“直到世界的末了”（马太福音28章20节） 。有了这美好的应许，无论未来我们会面对多少挑战和未知数，都无需担忧。即使前方道路幽暗不明，那真光永远与我们同在。

Lord, thank You for being near me 

even when I cannot see You. 

Please comfort me with Your presence.

亲爱的主，我虽眼不能见祢，

但感谢祢总在我身旁，
求祢以祢的同在，

使我心得安慰。

Joshua 1:1-9New International Version (NIV)

Joshua Installed as Leader

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lordyour God will be with you wherever you go.”

约书亚记 1:1-9Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

耶和华勉励约书亚

1 耶和华的仆人摩西死了以后，耶和华晓谕摩西的帮手，嫩的儿子约书亚，说：2 “我的仆人摩西死了，现在你要起来，和众百姓过这约旦河，往我所要赐给以色列人的地去。 3 凡你们脚掌所踏之地，我都照着我所应许摩西的话赐给你们了。 4 从旷野和这黎巴嫩，直到伯拉大河，赫人的全地，又到大海日落之处，都要做你们的境界。 5 你平生的日子，必无一人能在你面前站立得住。我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在。我必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。 6 你当刚强壮胆，因为你必使这百姓承受那地为业，就是我向他们列祖起誓应许赐给他们的地。 7 只要刚强，大大壮胆，谨守遵行我仆人摩西所吩咐你的一切律法，不可偏离左右，使你无论往哪里去，都可以顺利。 8 这律法书不可离开你的口，总要昼夜思想，好使你谨守遵行这书上所写的一切话。如此，你的道路就可以亨通，凡事顺利。 9 我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！不要惧怕，也不要惊惶，因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华你的神必与你同在。”

整理：于姊妹