艰难中寻求平安
没有人喜欢自己的生活停滞不前。被困在一个自己不想要的境地中，同时渴望着你无法到达的地方，这感觉很不好受。我碰到过许多这种情况的人。有时我自己也有这种感受。有时它会持续一小段时间，而另一些时候，它会持续更长的时间。
在神的百姓经历很深痛苦的时候，神呼召了耶利米做祂的先知。许多人被放逐——远离家乡，远离他们知道和热爱的一切。神透过耶利米勉励百姓活在盼望中，养育家室，安顿其中，并信靠耶和华为他们定了计划和前程。
我们也是一样，要常常庆祝神为我们定了计划和前程，不可忘记即使我们感觉被困住了，神仍与我们同在。正如神和祂被放逐百姓的故事还没有结束，神和我们的故事也没有结束。
或许你知道被困住的感受有多么艰难。今天，你怎样才能活出神儿女的样子呢？此刻，祈求平安和兴盛意味着什么呢？
神能够在你的境遇中祝福你。而且，你也能够成为别人的祝福。神与你同在——就在现在。
全能的神，此时此刻，求祢坚固我们做祢的百姓，无论我们的环境如何。使我们确信自己有属天国民的身份，我们也为此时此地的社区祈求平安和兴盛。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
耶利米书 29:4-14
4 信上说：“万军之耶和华以色列的神对一切被掳去的，就是我使他们从耶路撒冷被掳到巴比伦的人，如此说：
5 你们要盖造房屋住在其中，栽种田园吃其中所产的。
6 娶妻生儿女，为你们的儿子娶妻，使你们的女儿嫁人，生儿养女，在那里生养众多，不致减少。
7 我所使你们被掳到的那城，你们要为那城求平安，为那城祷告耶和华，因为那城得平安，你们也随着得平安。
8 “万军之耶和华以色列的神如此说：不要被你们中间的先知和占卜的诱惑，也不要听信自己所做的梦。
9 因为他们托我的名对你们说假预言，我并没有差遣他们。这是耶和华说的。
10 “耶和华如此说：为巴比伦所定的七十年满了以后，我要眷顾你们，向你们成就我的恩言，使你们仍回此地。
11 耶和华说：我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。
12 你们要呼求我，祷告我，我就应允你们。
13 你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。
14 耶和华说：我必被你们寻见，我也必使你们被掳的人归回，将你们从各国中和我所赶你们到的各处招聚了来，又将你们带回我使你们被掳掠离开的地方。这是耶和华说的。
Seeking Shalom In Hardship
“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” — Jeremiah 29:7
Nobody likes to feel as if their life is stuck on hold. It does not feel good to be trapped in a situation where you don’t want to be, while longing for a place you can’t reach. I’ve encountered many people in situations like that. I have also felt that way myself at times. Sometimes it lasts for a short season; other times it lasts much longer.
God called Jeremiah to be his prophet during a deeply painful time for his people. Many of the people were in exile—taken far from home, away from everything they knew and loved. Through Jeremiah, God urged the people to live in hope, raising families, settling in, and trusting that the Lord had plans and a future for them.
We, too, often celebrate that God has plans and a future for us, and we mustn’t forget that he is with us even if we feel that our life is stuck. Just as God wasn’t finished with his people in exile, he isn’t finished with us.
Perhaps you know how tough it can be to feel stuck on hold. How can you live into that as a child of God today? What does praying for peace and prosperity look like right now?
God can bless you in your situation. What is more, you can be a blessing to others. God is still with you—even now.
Mighty God, strengthen us to live as your people here and now, regardless of our circumstances. Assured of our kingdom citizenship, we pray for the peace and prosperity of our community here and now too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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