After I clumsily knocked over my glass on the restaurant counter, the spilled beverage began to cascade over the edge and onto the floor. Out of sheer embarrassment, I tried to catch the waterfall with cupped hands. My efforts were largely unsuccessful; most of my beverage rushed through my fingers. In the end, my upturned palms held little more than a meager tablespoon each, while my feet stood in puddles.

我不小心弄翻了放在餐厅吧台上的杯子，翻倒的饮料沿着桌缘流泻到地上。我尴尬地捧着双手，试着把饮料接在手心里。但这种作法起不了什么作用，大部分的饮料都从我的指缝之间流下来。到头来，双手所承接的只不过是少少一汤匙的饮料，而脚下却已经是流了一滩水。

My life feels similar on many days. I find myself scrambling to solve problems, oversee details, and control circumstances. No matter how hard I try, my feeble hands are incapable of managing all the pieces and parts. Something invariably slips through my fingers and pools on the floor at my feet, leaving me feeling overwhelmed. No amount of contorting my hands or squeezing my fingers more tightly together makes me able to handle it all. 

我的生活也总是这样，我想要尽快解决问题，抓住每个细节，又要掌控环境。然而，无论多么努力地尝试，我软弱的双手仍无力掌管每个环节，有些东西总是从我的指缝间流过，在我的脚所踏之地形成一滩水，令我感到灰心沮丧。即使我更用心地捧着双手，或更紧密地将手指并拢，仍无法掌握一切。

Yet God can. Isaiah tells us that God can measure the globe’s waters—all the oceans and rivers and rain—in the hollow of His hands (40:12). Only His hands are large enough to hold them all. We needn’t try to hold more than the tablespoon He’s designed our hands to carry. When we feel overwhelmed, we can entrust our cares and concerns into His capable hands.

然而，上帝却能够。以赛亚告诉我们，上帝可以衡量全球的水，无论是海洋、江河或雨水都在祂的手心里（40章12节），只有上帝的手大到足以掌握诸水。祂创造我们的双手本来就是这么小，所以我们不需要尝试承接超过一汤匙的量。当我们觉得不胜负荷的时候，可以将担忧和挂虑都交托在祂大有能力的手中。

Help me, Lord, to stop trying to hold 

everything in my hands,

but instead to trust my needs and

concerns into Your perfect care.

主啊，求祢帮助我，
使我不再试着以双手掌握每一件事，
而是将需要和担忧交托在

祢的万能双手之中。

Isaiah 40:9-17New International Version (NIV)

9 You who bring good news to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,

 lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?
13 Who can fathom the Spirit[b] of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
    or showed him the path of understanding?

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.

以赛亚书 40:9-17Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

主为善牧

9 报好信息给锡安的啊，你要登高山！报好信息给耶路撒冷的啊，你要极力扬声！扬声不要惧怕，对犹大的城邑说：“看哪，你们的神！” 10 主耶和华必像大能者临到，他的膀臂必为他掌权。他的赏赐在他那里，他的报应在他面前。 11 他必像牧人牧养自己的羊群，用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在怀中，慢慢引导那乳养小羊的。

12 谁曾用手心量诸水，用手虎口量苍天，用升斗盛大地的尘土，用秤称山岭，用天平平冈陵呢？ 13 谁曾测度耶和华的心[a]，或做他的谋士指教他呢？ 14 他与谁商议，谁教导他？谁将公平的路指示他，又将知识教训他，将通达的道指教他呢？ 15 看哪，万民都像水桶的一滴，又算如天平上的微尘，他举起众海岛，好像极微之物。 16 黎巴嫩的树林不够当柴烧，其中的走兽也不够做燔祭。 17 万民在他面前好像虚无，被他看为不及虚无，乃为虚空。

整理：于姊妹