「我從哪裡來？」 「為什麼我要在這裡？」「我將要往哪裡去？」這是任何人，都可以隨時問自己的，三個最重要的問題。在五十年前，當我認知到這些問題時，我並沒有答案。久而久之，這讓我越來越困擾。

透過我的推論，我一直相信有一位上帝 – 但我本身並不認識祂。人們只能在神選擇啟示祂自己的時候認識這位上帝，祂選擇透過祂的話語所寫成的書，也就是聖經來啟示祂自己。五十年前，我接觸了聖經，那是經由一位朋友，相信聖經是上帝所默示的話語，他逐章逐節、一頁一頁的介紹給我，我也專心的聆聽，當時得到了轉化性的認識。

我最後做了決定，如果這個人教導我的是真的，而且我實際上可以親自認識上帝，那麼我想認識祂，甚至願意按照祂的方式而不是我的，來遇見祂。基本上，正如有人描述的那樣，「我舉起雙手從山洞裡出來了。」耶穌說：「看哪，我站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。」（啟示錄 3章20節）

我透過一個簡單的禱告，作為對這個邀請的回應，請求基督進入我的生命 – 並掌管我的生命，讓我成為祂希望我成為的人。然後我開始自己閱讀和研究聖經，最終找到了上述三個重要問題以及許多其他問題的答案。

我經常聽到人們說，如果你讓上帝掌管你的生命，一切都會變得很美好。然而，這並不是我的經驗。自從信主以來，我經歷了許多人生中最艱難的時刻。對我來說，自從成為基督徒以後，我所面臨的挑戰比在北越上空作戰時還要困難。

我的第一次嚴重信仰危機，牽涉到一段對我來說似乎很令人不安的經文。它說：「凡事謝恩；因為這是　神在基督耶穌裏向你們所定的旨意。」（帖撒羅尼迦前書 5章18節）。我會在困難和痛苦的情況下禱告，甚至感謝，但我不得不告訴上帝：「上帝祢知道我真的不想這樣說，但是對於這種景況，我怎麼還能感謝呢？」 

然後我開始思考希伯來書中的一節經文：「人非有信，就不能得　神的喜悅；因為到　神面前來的人必須信有　神，且信他賞賜那尋求他的人。」（希伯來書11章6節 ）我發現自己大部分的生活，都不需要很大的信心。當事情按照我的方式進行時，不需要太多的信心就可以繼續過我的生活。然而，當我覺得我的世界要分崩離析時，情況就完全不同了。

在這種時候，我只能透過相信上帝並將結果交給祂才能繼續。這需要很大的信心。當我們明白信心是唯一能取悅上帝的事情時，我們每個人遇到的那些艱難時期都可以被視為取悅上帝的機會，而不是阻礙。我發現自己才能在面臨困難，以及所有其他不同的情況下，獻上感謝，並且是很真誠地 ， 因為上帝一定真的愛我，才會給我這麼多機會來取悅祂，並讓我在信仰中成長和成熟。 

那你呢？當你面臨困難的挑戰時，當你面對無法輕易克服的逆境時，你是否把這些困難看成為阻礙 ， 還是取悅上帝的機會呢？

William “Fritz” Klumpp 曾在美國海軍擔任飛行員，包括參與越南戰爭期間的多項戰鬥任務，曾任商業航空公司飛行員、房地產主管和 CBMC 前任常務理事。

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多與這個主題相關的內容，請參考下面的經文：

箴言 3章5-6節
3:5 你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，
3:6 在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。
耶利米書 29章11-13節
29:11 耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。
29:12 你們要呼求我，禱告我，我就應允你們。
29:13 你們尋求我，若專心尋求我，就必尋見。
耶利米書33章3節
33:3 你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。
羅馬書 5章3-5節
5:3 不但如此，就是在患難中也是歡歡喜喜的；因為知道患難生忍耐，
5:4 忍耐生老練，老練生盼望；
5:5 盼望不至於羞恥，因為所賜給我們的聖靈將　神的愛澆灌在我們心裏。
腓立比書 4章6-7節
4:6 應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴　神。
4:7 　神所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裏保守你們的心懷意念。
雅各書 1章2-7節
1:2 我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；
1:3 因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。
1:4 但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。
1:5 你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的　神，主就必賜給他。
1:6 只要憑著信心求，一點不疑惑；因為那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪，被風吹動翻騰。
1:7 這樣的人不要想從主那裏得甚麼。

反省與問題討論

1. 當你的生活中出現挑戰或逆境時，你的第一反應通常是什麼？你能想出最近的一個例子並描述你是如何處理它的嗎？
2. 你有沒有聽人說過，一旦你下定決心把生命交託給神，你就會一切順利，事情會變得很美好，永遠充滿喜樂呢？你是否與上帝有個人的親密關係，在這方面你的經歷是什麼？
3. 你如何定義「信心」？信心能夠扮演什麼樣的角色呢 ?尤其是如聖經經文所說的，無論在任何情況，甚至在非常困難的情況下都能感謝。
4. 對於我們可以（或應該）將生命中的困難時期視為機會而非阻礙的建議，你如何回應？請解釋你的答案。

DIFFICULTIES – OPPORTUNITIES OR OBSTACLES?

By Fritz Klumpp

“Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?” These are the three most important questions anyone could ask themselves at any time. Fifty years ago, I came to the realization that for these questions, I had no answers. Over time, this troubled me more and more.

Through my process of reasoning, I had always believed there was a God – but I did not know Him personally. You can only know God as He chooses to reveal Himself, and He has chosen to reveal Himself through His written Word, the Bible. Fifty years ago, I was given transforming exposure to the Bible by someone who believed it to be God’s inspired Word. As my friend presented it, verse by verse and page by page, I listened.

I finally decided that if what this man was teaching me was true, and that I could in fact know God personally, I wanted to know Him, even being willing to meet Him on his terms, rather than my own. Basically, as someone has described it, “I came out of the cave with my hands up.” Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

In response to this invitation, by a simple prayer, I asked Christ to come into my life – to take control of my life and make me the person He wanted me to be.  I then began to read and study the Bible for myself and eventually found answers to the three important questions above and many other questions as well.

I often hear people say that if you will just allow God to take control of your life, everything will be wonderful. That, however, has not been my experience; I have known the hardest times in my life since coming to faith. To me, the challenges I have faced since becoming a follower of Jesus were a lot harder than flying combat over North Vietnam.

My first major faith crisis involved one Scripture verse that seemed very troubling to me. It said, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). I prayed during difficult and painful circumstances, and even gave thanks, but then I would have to tell God: “You know I don’t really mean it God, because how can I be thankful for this situation.”
 
Then I began to consider a verse in the book of Hebrews: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews11:6). I realized that I could live much of my life without needing to exercise a great deal of faith. It did not take much faith to move on in life when things are going my way. It was quite different, however, when it felt like my world was coming apart.

At those times I could continue only by trusting God and leaving the outcome in His hands. That requires a lot of faith. When we understand faith is the only thing that pleases God, those hard times we each encounter can be seen as opportunities to please Him, rather than obstacles. I discovered that I could then give thanks in difficulties and every other circumstance I might face and truly mean it – because God must really love me to give me so many opportunities to please Him and to grow/mature in my faith.
 
What about you? When you face difficult challenges, when times of adversity confront you that cannot be easily overcome, do you see these difficulties as obstacles – or as opportunities?

William “Fritz” Klumpp served as a pilot with the U.S. Navy, including numerous combat missions during the Vietnam War, is a former commercial airline pilot, real estate executive, and former Executive Director of CBMC.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. When challenges or times of adversity arise in your life, typically what is your first response? Can you think of a recent example and describe how you handled it? 
2. Have you ever heard someone say that once you determine to commit your life to God, then everything will go well for you, that things will be wonderful, always filled with joy? If you have a personal relationship with God, what has been your own experience in that regard?
3. How would you define “faith”? What role does faith play in being able to do what the Bible passage says, to give thanks in all circumstances, no matter how difficult they are?
4. What is your reaction to the suggestion that we can – or should – view difficult times in our lives as opportunities, rather than obstacles? Explain your answer.

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11-13, 33:3; Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 4:6-7; James 1:2-7

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• 荒漠甘泉
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