God is the master of turning burdens into blessings.

上帝能化困境为祝福。

If calamity comes . . . [we] will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us. 2 Chronicles 20:9

倘有祸患临到我们……我们在急难的时候……向祢呼求，祢必垂听而拯救。-历代志下20章9节

French artist Henri Matisse felt his work in the last years of his life best represented him. During that time he experimented with a new style, creating colorful, large-scale pictures with paper instead of paint. He decorated the walls of his room with these bright images. This was important to him because he had been diagnosed with cancer and was often confined to his bed.

法国艺术家亨利·马谛斯（Henri Matisse）认为他最后几年的作品，最具代表性。在那段时间，他尝试新的艺术创作，以彩色纸张取代颜料，创作出各样色彩缤纷的大型画作。他房间的墙壁上，满是这些明亮的图像。这对他深具意义，因为当时他已罹患癌症，只能长期卧床。

Becoming ill, losing a job, or enduring heartbreak are examples of what some call “being in the valley,” where dread overshadows everything else. The people of Judah experienced this when they heard an invading army was approaching (2 Chron. 20:2–3). Their king prayed, “If calamity comes . . . [we] will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us” (v. 9). God responded, “Go out to face [your enemies] tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you” (v. 17).

有些人将经历生病、失业或各种打击称为“生命低谷”，因为所有的事物都笼罩在恐惧的阴影下。正如犹大百姓听到有大军入侵时，就陷入恐惧的阴影（历代志下20章2-3节）。他们的王向上帝祷告说：“倘有祸患临到我们……我们在急难的时候……向祢呼求，祢必垂听而拯救”（9节）。上帝回应他们说：“明日当出去迎敌，因为耶和华与你们同在。”（17节）

When Judah’s army arrived at the battlefield, their enemies had already destroyed each other. God’s people spent three days collecting the abandoned equipment, clothing, and valuables. Before leaving, they assembled to praise God and named the place “The Valley of Berakah,” which means “blessing.”

当犹大的军队来到战场，他们的敌人早已互相厮杀、尸横遍野。上帝的百姓花了三天的时间，拾取敌人遗留的装备、衣物和财物。他们在离开战场之前，集结在一起赞美上帝，并将那地命名为“比拉迦谷”，意为“称颂”或“祝福”。

God walks with us through the lowest points in our lives. He can make it possible to discover blessings in the valleys. 

我们经过生命的低谷时，当记得上帝依然与我们同行。我们虽在低谷中，祂依然可以让我们看见恩典与祝福。

Dear God, help me not to be afraid when I encounter difficulty. Help me to believe that Your goodness and love will follow me.

亲爱的上帝，求祢帮助我面对困难时不致惊恐丧胆，帮助我相信祢的恩惠与慈爱，将一生伴随我。

2 Chronicles 20:1New International Version 

Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon

20 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites[a]came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Chronicles 20:13-22New International Version 

13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.

14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord.19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[a] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his love endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

整理：于姊妹