抗拒沮喪－2
上個月我寫了一個會影響到我們每個人的主題：沮喪。這個月我要再次談這個主題，但是用一個稍微不一樣的角度。
有許多事都會使我們氣餒，無法完成我們的使命。這幾年來，我經常想，到底我們最大的敵人是拖延或是沮喪。若撒旦無法讓我們拖延我們的使命，那麼牠就會使我們放棄所有的使命。
在聖經中，使徒保羅告訴我們，當面臨沮喪時，應該要怎麼辦：「我們行善，不可喪志；若不灰心，到了時候就要收成」（加拉太書6章9節）。
你是否厭倦了做正確的事？我想我們都會如此。有時去做錯誤的事比做正確的事似乎更容易。當我們沮喪時，我們就變得沒有效力。當我們覺得沮喪，我們會發現自己所做的事違反我們的信念。
當我沮喪時，我發現自己會說：「那一定無法做到。」這與「我相信上帝能做到，因為祂說…」完全相反。
問你自己以下問題：
我如何處理失敗？ 當事情不順利，我是否會發脾氣？ 當事情不順利，我是否會失望？ 當事情不順利，我是否會開始抱怨？ 我是否會把已做到一半的事做完？ 我的堅忍度如何？
讓我提供你一個建議：若你覺得沮喪，不要還沒努力就放棄。若沒有努力與堅忍，就不會產生有價值的事物。
當一個藝術家開始雕塑作品，他必須不斷地劈鑿。他不可能只用鐵鎚敲鑿子一次，多餘的石頭就自動落下，露出一個美麗作品。他必須不斷地敲鑿石頭，除去所有不適合他作品的部份。
生命也是如此：生命中有價值的事物都不是輕易得到的。你必須不斷地向著你的目標努力，一點一點地，你的生命就變成上帝恩典的作品，如以弗所書2章10節所說：「我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裡造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是神所預備叫我們行的」。
偉大的人只是尋常的人，但他們有超乎尋常的決心。偉大的人不知道如何放棄 －－ 而且拒絕向沮喪屈服。
思想 / 討論題目
你或你的親友是否現在正面對沮喪的環境？是什麼樣的情況造成你的沮喪？ 本文作者說沮喪有時會讓我們逃避現況，甚至向環境妥協，去做錯誤的事。你是否曾經歷那樣的情況？請解釋。 你認為堅忍可以克服沮喪嗎？ 當你抗拒沮喪，且繼續邁向你的目標，「一點一點地，你的生命就變成上帝恩典的作品」。你對這句話有何看法？
註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：馬太福音6章25-34節，11章28-30節；哥林多前書15章58節；腓立比書3章12-14節，希伯來書10章24-25節
RESISTING DISCOURAGEMENT – Part 2
By: Rick Warren
Last month I wrote about a topic that affects us all at one time or another: Discouragement. This month I would like to revisit that topic, but from a slightly different angle.
There are many things that work to discourage us, to prevent us from completing our life-missions. Over the years, I have often wondered whether our worst enemy is procrastination or discouragement. If Satan cannot get us to postpone the pursuit of our life missions, then he will try to get us to abandon them altogether.
In the Bible, the apostle Paul offers these words of counsel when we confront discouragement: “So don”t get tired of doing what is good. Don”t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time” (Galatians 6:9, New Living Translation)
Do you ever get tired of doing what is right? I think we all do. Sometimes it seems easier to do the wrong thing than the right thing. When we are discouraged, we become ineffective. When we feel discouraged, we often find ourselves working against our own faith.
When I am discouraged, I find myself saying, “It can”t be done.” That”s the exact opposite of declaring, “I know God can do it because He said ….“
Ask yourself these questions:
How do I handle failure? When things do not go my way, do I get grumpy or short-tempered? When things do not go my way, do I become frustrated? When things do not go my way, do I start complaining? Do I finish what I start? How would I rate myself on persistence – or perseverance?
Let me offer you some advice: If you are feeling discouraged, don”t give up without a fight. Nothing worthwhile ever happens without endurance and energy.
When an artist starts to create a sculpture, he has to keep chipping away. He does not hit the chisel with the hammer only once to suddenly see all the excess stone falling away to reveal a beautiful masterpiece. He keeps hitting it the stone and hitting it, chipping away at everything that does not fit his image of the sculpture.
And that is true of life, too: Nothing really worthwhile ever comes easily in life. You keep striking at your goal and going after it, and little by little, your life becomes a masterpiece of God”s grace, as Ephesians 2:10 assures us: “For we are God”s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“
The fact is that great people are really just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination. Great people do not know how to quit – and refuse to yield to discouragement.
Adapted from a column by Dr. Rick Warren, the author of numerous books, including the highly acclaimed, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life. He also has written a number of other books, including The Purpose of Christmas.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Are you or someone close to you facing any discouraging circumstances right now? What about that situation is causing the most discouragement? Dr. Warren suggests that discouragement can sometimes cause us to do anything to escape the circumstances, even compromising our convictions by doing the wrong thing. Has that ever been true for you? Explain your answer. How do you think endurance and perseverance can help in overcoming discouragement? What is your reaction to the statement that as you resist discouragement and press on toward your chosen goals, “little by little, your life becomes a masterpiece of God”s grace”?
NOTE: If you have a Bible, consider these other passages that deal with this topic: Matthew 6:25-34, 11:28-30; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Philippians 3:12-14; Hebrews 10:24-25
