Trials and tests can draw us closer to Christ.

试炼与试探能让我们更亲近基督。

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life.  James 1:12

忍受试探的人是有福的，因为他经过试验以后，必得生命的冠冕。-雅各书1章12节

Last winter while visiting a natural history museum in Colorado, I learned some remarkable facts about the aspen tree. An entire grove of slender, white-trunked aspens can grow from a single seed and share the same root system. These root systems can exist for thousands of years whether or not they produce trees. They sleep underground, waiting for fire, flood, or avalanche to clear a space for them in the shady forest. After a natural disaster has cleared the land, aspen roots can sense the sun at last. The roots send up saplings, which become trees.

去年冬天，我参观了科罗拉多州的自然历史博物馆，了解一些关于白杨树惊人的科学真相。一整片修长、银白的白杨树林，竟是从同一颗种子生根发芽，并享有相同的根部系统。这些根部系统能够存活几千年之久，不论白杨树是否还在繁衍新的生命。这些树根沉睡于地底，等待着火灾、洪水或雪崩在成荫的森林中清出一隙空间。当自然灾害开拓出新的空地之后，白杨树的树根也终于可以再次感受到阳光的温暖。于是，树根长出了树苗，并茁壮长成大树。

For aspens, new growth is made possible by the devastation of a natural disaster. James writes that our growth in faith is also made possible by difficulties. “Consider it pure joy,” he writes, “whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2–4).

对白杨树而言，自然灾害的破坏可能会带来新生。雅各也说，困难能够让我们的信心增长：“你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐；因为知道你们的信心经过试验，就生忍耐。但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全完备，毫无缺欠。”（雅各书1章2-4节）

It’s difficult to be joyful during trials, but we can take hope from the fact that God will use difficult circumstances to help us reach maturity. Like aspen trees, faith can grow in times of trial when difficulty clears space in our hearts for the light of God to touch us.

在试炼的过程中，保持喜乐并非易事。但若相信上帝能用困境令我们变得更加成熟，就能让我们得着盼望。好像白杨树一样，当困难在我们心中清出一隙空间，让上帝的明光照耀我们的心，那么信心就能在试炼中有所成长。

Thank You, God, for being with us in our trials, 

and for helping us to grow through 

difficult circumstances.

上帝啊，当我们落在试炼之中，
感谢祢仍与我们一路同行，
也感谢祢透过艰难的困境使我们有所成长。

James 1:1-12New International Version (NIV)

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faithproduces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

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.

雅各书 1:1-12Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

门徒当以试炼为喜乐

1 做神和主耶稣基督仆人的雅各，请散住十二个支派之人的安！

2 我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐， 3 因为知道，你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。 4 但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全、完备，毫无缺欠。

要凭着信心求

5 你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐于众人也不斥责人的神，主就必赐给他。6 只要凭着信心求，一点不疑惑；因为那疑惑的人就像海中的波浪，被风吹动翻腾。7 这样的人不要想从主那里得什么， 8 心怀二意的人在他一切所行的路上都没有定见。

9 卑微的弟兄升高，就该喜乐； 10 富足的降卑也该如此，因为他必要过去，如同草上的花一样。 11 太阳出来，热风刮起，草就枯干，花也凋谢，美容就消没了；那富足的人在他所行的事上，也要这样衰残。

忍受试探的人是有福的

12 忍受试探的人是有福的！因为他经过试验以后，必得生命的冠冕，这是主应许给那些爱他之人的。

整理：于姊妹