有时，我们会因为遇到这样的基督徒而感到愉快：他们尽管生活的环境有某些局限，或有着令人痛苦的疾病，却散发着平静、平和和满足感。又或许他们以前经历过令人心碎的悲惨境遇 – 然而看他们现在，在他们的信仰中几近沉静，在每个层面都十分喜乐。
当我们看到这样的人时，有时会得出结论，认为神把他们造得很好。我们以为这样的人一定天生就很阳光，有着知足的天然性情。但我们这样的想法通常都是错的。与这些人多交谈一会儿，你就会发现保罗写给腓立比人的内容：知足是需要去学习的。你不会天生拥有它。这对任何人来说都不容易。但靠着恩典，我们会成长，会学习，会成熟。当我们这样做时，知足就成了一种生活方式。
但事情并不总是这样。我们许多人都认识一两个被很久以前的伤害所困住的人，他们转过身去，蜷缩成一个愤怒、怀恨的人。
没有人能避免生活中一定的痛苦、困难或匮乏。我们祈求，当我们面对困难时，可以学到保罗长期以来所学到的东西：一种锚在基督里的满足感。
亲爱的神，我们承认，有些时候我们所拥有的资源似乎不能满足我们的需要。但无论日子如何，在一天的末了，都求祢帮助我们在祢的里面满足和喜乐。奉基督的名，阿们。
腓立比书 4:10-11
10 我靠主大大地喜乐，因为你们思念我的心如今又发生；你们向来就思念我，只是没得机会。
11 我并不是因缺乏说这话，我无论在什么景况都可以知足，这是我已经学会了。
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." — Philippians 4:11
Sometimes we have the pleasure of meeting a Christian who exudes calm, peace, and contentment even though they are living with limitations or ailments that are difficult and painful. Or maybe they have faced heart-wrenching tragedy in the past—and yet there they are, almost serene in their faith and utterly joyful on every level.
When we see such people, we sometimes conclude that God must have wired them really well. We figure that such people must have been born sunny-side up with a personality and disposition that lends itself to a contented nature. But if we think that way, we are usually wrong. Talk to such folks long enough, and you will discover what Paul wrote to the Philippians: contentment is a learned behavior. You are not born with it. It does not come easily for anyone. But by grace we grow, we learn, we mature. And as we do, contentment becomes a way of life.
But it is not inevitable. Many of us know someone who got trapped by their suffering long ago. They turned inward and curdled into an angry, resentful person.
None of us can avoid some level of pain, hardship, or deprivation in life. Our prayer is that when we face difficult times, we can learn what Paul learned over the long haul: a contentment anchored in Christ.
Some days, dear God, we confess that our needs seem to outnumber our resources. But whatever the day brings, in the end, help us to be content and joyful in you. In Christ, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
