Scroll down to read this article in English.

在上一篇文章里,我们谈到那种想要逃避责任、躲进娱乐或放纵世界里的冲动。圣经告诉我们,面对压力和焦虑,有一条比逃避更好的路——就是凭着信心去面对困难。这正是神学发挥作用的地方;我们所持守的信念,能帮助我们用敬虔又有果效的方式来回应困难。

想想看,当我们真心相信、并且时常思想这些真理时,会带来怎样的改变:

• 你不再需要在别人面前表现得完美或配得,因为你的价值是在基督里
• 你是那位满有慈爱、掌管万有、又充满智慧的天父所疼爱的孩子,祂连自己所爱的儿子都没有留下不给你
• 神已经应许,祂的恩典够你用,祂只会容许你有能力承受的试炼临到你身上
• 神正在万事中动工,要使你越来越反映耶稣的荣耀

与其把困难当作要逃开的怪物,不如换一个更好的方式来面对它们。把每一个想要逃避的冲动,都转化为敬拜神、拥抱福音真理的提醒。

让我们想象一下这是怎样的。你刚吃完晚饭,坐在书桌前,想到那份你一直不想动笔的报告。这时手机来简讯了,提醒你要交团队项目里自己负责的部分。家人经过你的房门,请你明天帮忙跑一趟腿。压力像一块石头压在你的胸口上。

一种反应是,干脆把一切都丢开,躺在床上滑手机、漫无目的地刷信息。两个小时后,你感觉更糟了。那些问题依然摆在那里等着你,可你现在的精力和时间却更少了。这是典型向下沉沦的恶性循环。

更好的反应是说:“我现在压力好大。我需要那位满有能力又爱我的神来帮助我。祂掌控一切。”就在当下,敬拜神。翻开诗篇139篇,读读神如何在你生命中天天彰显祂无所不在、无所不知的看顾。以祷告把你的忧虑带到神面前。甚至唱一首敬拜诗歌。然后,凭着信心迈出下一步。一遇到难处，就继续祷告着。

耶稣有时也会“脱离”世界。但祂这样做,总是为了敬拜天父、享受正当的休息。当我们被疲惫和压力压得喘不过气时,神才是我们该奔向的地方。让我们学习用神所定意的眼光,来看待自己的困难——它们是提醒我们凭信心敬拜的时刻,也是神用恩典与我们相遇的地方。

Flight Instinct: A Call to Worship

In a previous article, we confronted the urge to run away from responsibilities and hide in the world of entertainment or indulgence. Scripture provides a better way out of our stress and anxiety than escapism – engaging our difficulty by faith. This is where our theology makes a difference; our convictions enable us to respond to difficulty in a godly and fruitful way.

Consider the difference these truths make, when we truly believe them and focus on them:

• You no longer have to appear perfect or worthy to other people because your worth is in Christ
• You are the precious child of a loving, sovereign, and wise Father, who did not withhold even His beloved Son from you
• God has promised that His grace is sufficient for you, and that He only allows tests that you have been empowered to handle to fall upon you
• God is working in all things to make you more and more glorious like Jesus

Instead of making them monsters to escape from, here is a better use of our difficulties. Turn every impulse to run away into a prompt to worship God and embrace the truths of the gospel.

Let’s imagine how this works out. You’ve just finished your dinner. You sit down at your desk and think about the report you have been dreading to write. Then a text comes in reminding you to send in your part for the team project. A family member passes by your door and asks for your help with an errand tomorrow. Stress builds like a weight on your chest.

One response is to abandon it all and doomscroll on your bed. Two hours later, you feel worse. The problem are still lying in wait, but you now have less energy and time for them. This is a classic downward spiral.

The better response is to say, “I’m so stressed now. I need help from the powerful God who loves me. He is in control.” Worship God there and then. Turn to Psalm 139 and read about God’s all-present and all-knowing providence every day in your life. Bring your cares to God in prayer. Perhaps sing a worship song. And then take the next action in faith, praying through the difficulties you meet along the way.

Jesus did “escape” from the world at times. But it was always to worship His Father and to take legitimate rest. God is the right place to run to, when we are overwhelmed by tiredness and stress. Let us learn to see our difficulties as God intends them to be –promptings for faith-filled worship and places where God meets us with His grace.