Trust in God’s Providence
We live in deeply unsettling times. Conflicts in the Middle East threaten to draw superpowers into direct confrontation, deadly diseases like Ebola continue to surface, power struggles and deep-rooted enmity drive atrocities that turn cities into rubble, displacing millions and millions of people, and racial discrimination further oppresses the downtrodden. These realities expose how fragile life, as we know it, can be, and can easily stir fear, confusion, or even despair. Yet as followers of Christ, we are called to anchor our hearts in a deeper truth: God remains sovereign, and His providential hand has not been withdrawn from the world.
When it feels as though the fate of nations rests in the hands of whimsical and egotistic state leaders who have control of vast nuclear weapons, Scripture reminds us that ultimate authority does not belong to them. “In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him” (Proverbs 21:1). God is never surprised by world events. His purposes remain steady, and His love for humanity is unchanging. Trusting in His providence does not mean ignoring suffering; it means believing He is working through it to accomplish His good and perfect will.
Joseph’s story, which we have been studying in our sermon series, illustrates this clearly. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and unjustly imprisoned, Joseph’s life appeared to unravel at every turn. Yet at the end he could say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good… the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). God was at work all along, weaving a story of redemption and blessing out of pain and suffering. What looked like chaos was, in God’s hands, preparation for something far greater.
This truth speaks not only to global turmoil but also to our personal struggles. Many of us face uncertainty about the future, health concerns, financial pressures, strained relationships, or hidden inner battles. In such moments, it is natural to wonder where God is. Yet the Psalmist assures us: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). His providence means our hardship is never meaningless. He sees us, knows our pain, and is working—even now—for our good.
So let us hold fast to hope in Christ. Let us pray with renewed faith, support others in suffering with Christlike compassion, and trust that God is still writing a story of redemption in our world and in our lives. The darkness may be real, but it will not have the final word. In God’s providence, light will prevail.
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信靠神的護佑
我們正處於一個令人深感不安的時代。中東地區的衝突威脅著將世界強權捲入直接對抗；伊波拉等致命疾病持續出現；權力鬥爭與根深蒂固的仇恨驅使人們犯下暴行，使城市淪為廢墟，導致數以百萬計的人流離失所；而種族歧視更進一步壓迫弱勢群體。這些現實讓我們看見，我們所熟悉的生活其實何等脆弱，也很容易令人感到恐懼、困惑，甚至絕望。然而，作為基督的跟隨者，我們蒙召將心靈錨定在一個更深的真理上：神仍然掌權，祂護佑萬有的手從未離開這個世界。
當我們感覺國家的命運似乎掌握在那些反覆無常、自我中心，且擁有龐大核武庫的國家領袖手中時，聖經提醒我們，最終的權柄並不屬於他們。「王的心在耶和華手中，好像隴溝的水，隨意流轉。」（箴言 21:1）神從不會因世界所發生的事而感到意外。祂的旨意始終堅定不移，祂對人類的愛也從未改變。信靠祂的護佑，並不意味著忽視苦難；而是相信祂正在苦難之中工作，成就祂美善而完全的旨意。
我們在講道系列中所研讀的約瑟故事，正清楚說明了這一點。約瑟被兄長出賣，被販賣為奴，又遭受不公義的監禁；他的人生似乎在每一個轉折點都走向崩潰。然而到了最後，他卻能說：「從前你們的意思是要害我，但神的意思原是好的……為要保全許多人的性命。」（創世記 50:20）原來神一直都在其中工作，從痛苦與苦難中編織出一個充滿救贖與祝福的故事。那些看似混亂無序的遭遇，在神手中卻成了成就更大計劃的預備。
這真理不僅適用於世界性的動盪，也適用於我們個人的掙扎。許多人正面對對未來的不確定、健康問題、經濟壓力、緊張的人際關係，或隱藏在心中的爭戰。在這樣的時刻，我們自然會問：「神在哪裡？」然而，詩人向我們保證：「我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因為祢與我同在。」（詩篇 23:4）神的護佑意味著，我們所經歷的苦難絕非毫無意義。祂看見我們，知道我們的痛苦，並且即使在此時此刻，仍然在為我們的益處而工作。
因此，讓我們緊緊持守在基督裡的盼望。讓我們以更新的信心來禱告，以基督般的憐憫去扶持那些受苦的人，並且相信神仍然在我們的世界和生命中譜寫救贖的故事。黑暗或許真實存在，但它絕不會擁有最後的話語權。在神的護佑之下，光明終必得勝。
Rev. Christopher Chan
