生活只能是跛著腳行走？
By Jim Langley
你有沒有覺得自己的生活像是跛著腳，只能一瘸一拐的行走？有時候昨天比今天還難過，每天都要面對許多看似沒有辦法克服的挑戰。我從事保險業時，經歷過很多大月、小月和慘澹的時期。低迷的經濟對銷售特定產品的業務員尤其造成極大的損失。
但也因為有這些經驗，我現在更了解，在困難的時候焦點更要放在專業上，以及堅持下去。為了要生存，你必須更勤奮地工作，實現每天的目標而不是氣餒。
大多數成功的商人在生活中都遭遇過很多挫折。他們需要強大的心理力量來面對困難，以便在機會出現時的從谷底跳起。這樣的成功可以在不欺騙他人或公平和對手競爭的情況下達到。他們善用聰明才智、努力工作，在自己專業領域獲得豐厚回報。有些人允許周遭的環境決定他們的生活，但我們不必如此。
在所有的體育項目中，棒球是我童年一直到成年時的最愛。作為第一棒打擊手，我的目標是盡可能上壘。所以我努力訓練自己，有技巧地盡可能靠近下一個壘包、提升對打擊區的理解、能夠好好地控制球棒，以及設定自己的打擊策略。
但是，我記得在一個棒球賽季裡，因為腿筋撕裂讓我不良於行，但這並沒有阻礙我在那個夏天的每場比賽中出席，因為我拒絕陷在受傷所帶來的低潮裡。
在過去的30年裡，無論是在工作、在嘗試得到和培養特定的技能時，或甚至只是過日常的生活，我發現深入的信仰可以帶來很大的不同。而這種信仰來自願意面對試煉以及相信上帝能透過那些困難做奇妙的事。就像體育訓練一樣，一個人如果想要這樣的信仰也只有透過不斷的運用才能得到。
在創世記32章22-32節中，聖經記載中描述了雅各與主的使者摔跤。雅各的生活充滿了各種困難，但在這個特殊的場合，他沒有放棄上帝。雅各請求上帝祝福他，上帝實現了他的願望。但是，上帝也摸了雅各的臀部，使他在餘生中跛行。上帝確實祝福雅各，甚至給了他一個新名字，以色列。並使他成為以色列民族的祖先，直到現在。
另一個最好的例子就是使徒保羅的一生。在逆境中他對上帝始終保有極大的信心，並且用行動表現出來。在過去的2000年裡，他的教導和個人榜樣激勵了千千萬萬的人來跟隨和降服於耶穌。
使徒保羅為基督的聖工遭受了極大的痛苦，直至死亡。我們大多數人不會因為信仰而必須要面對死亡，但我們必須為了祂的緣故，也為了祂賜給我們同奔天路的人堅持下去。
你仍然可以為了高舉基督堅持下去，去體驗祂所承諾的豐富生命（約翰福音 10章10節）。
Jim Langley擔任人壽和健康保險經紀人期間已有30多年，他的寫作經歷也是。近年來，他的熱情轉向寫下他與上帝的個人關係。他的目標是鼓勵其他人來親近上帝。他是CBMC的長期會員，在2014年開始撰寫「終場四分之一戰略」。
反省與問題討論
你現在是否正在「跛行」生活？無論是由於某些身體上的疾病或殘疾，還是因為環境阻礙？如果是，請簡要描述你現在的處境。 你是否忽視了那些導致你「跛行」的問題？或你沒有堅持下去面對這些挑戰？對你來說什麼是最大的困難？ 你是否熟悉聖經當中關於雅各與上帝的使者摔跤，最後得到祝福的故事？你會考慮那樣做嗎？請分享你的理由。 你對逆境的典型反應是什麼？你是否因為困難看起來很大就心灰意冷，甚至放棄？
備註: 如果你手上有聖經，希望閱讀更多相關的經文，請參考:
創世記32章22-28節
32:22 他夜間起來，帶著兩個妻子，兩個使女，並十一個兒子，都過了雅博渡口，
32:23 先打發他們過河，又打發所有的都過去，
32:24 只剩下雅各一人。有一個人來和他摔跤，直到黎明。
32:25 那人見自己勝不過他，就將他的大腿窩摸了一把，雅各的大腿窩正在摔跤的時候就扭了。
32:26 那人說：「天黎明了，容我去吧！」雅各說：「你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。」
32:27 那人說：「你名叫甚麼？」他說：「我名叫雅各。」
32:28 那人說：「你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列；因為你與 神與人較力，都得了勝。」
箴言24章16節
24:16 因為，義人雖七次跌倒，仍必興起；惡人卻被禍患傾倒。
羅馬書 12章3節
12:3 我憑著所賜我的恩對你們各人說：不要看自己過於所當看的；要照著 神所分給各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道。
希伯來書 11章21節
11:21 雅各因著信，臨死的時候，給約瑟的兩個兒子各自祝福，扶著杖頭敬拜 神。
雅各書1章2-4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。
彼得前書1章6-7節
1:6 因此，你們是大有喜樂；但如今，在百般的試煉中暫時憂愁，
1:7 叫你們的信心既被試驗，就比那被火試驗仍然能壞的金子更顯寶貴，可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候得著稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。
ARE YOU SIMPLY LIMPING THROUGH LIFE?
By Jim Langley
Have you ever felt like you were simply limping through life? Some days will be tougher than others, facing challenges that can seem insurmountable. My insurance career has seen exceptionally good months and some very good years, but there have been lean times as well. A lackluster economy can take a toll on anyone who sells a specific product or a service.
Through experience I have learned these difficult times require true dedication to your profession and perseverance. To survive, you must work more diligently, meet daily goals and not get discouraged.
Most successful businessmen have had multiple setbacks in life. Success has required tenacious ability to cope with difficult times and rebound as opportunities arise. This can be done without deceiving others or taking unfair advantage of your competition. Hard work and ingenuity can pay great rewards in any field of expertise. Some allow circumstances to dictate their lives, but we don”t have to limp through life.
In sports, baseball became my main focus during my boyhood and young adult years. As a lead-off hitter, my goal was to get on base as often as I could. I worked diligently on techniques that helped me reach base nearly half my plate appearances. Improving my understanding of the strike zone, developing good bat control and working on my bunting strategies helped greatly.
However, I recall limping through a portion of one baseball season with a torn hamstring, but that did not prevent me from playing every game that summer. I refused to let the injury keep me down.
Over the past 30 years, I have discovered deep faith can make a great difference, whether at work, trying to acquire and develop a specific skill, or just getting through everyday life. That faith is strengthened by confronting trials and realizing God desires to reveal Himself through those difficult timess. Like physical exercise, one”s faith can only be strengthened through putting it to use.
A biblical account recorded in Genesis 32:22-32 describes Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord. Jacob”s life was filled with struggles, but on this particular occasion he would not let go of God. Jacob asked Him to bless him and he got his wish. However, the Lord touched the socket of Jacob”s hip, causing him to walk with a limp the rest of his life. Nevertheless, God did bless him, even giving him a new name, Israel. He became the ancestral father of the nation of Israel, which traces its lineage to him even now.
One of the best illustrations for all who follow Jesus Christ is the life of the apostle Paul. His tenacity in remaining strong through adversity has shown us what faith looks like when it is put into action. His teachings and personal example have inspired countless millions over the past 2,000 years to follow Jesus and surrender to Him.
The apostle suffered greatly for the cause of Christ, to the point of his eventual death. Most of us will not have to face death for our faith, but we must persevere for His sake and the sake of those He puts into our path throughout this journey of life.
Consider your life precious to our Lord, as it is, and realize that even if you must “limp” in some way, you can still hold your head high and persevere for the sake of Christ, experiencing the abundant life He has promised (John 10:10).
Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God. His goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. A long-time member of CBMC, he started writing “Fourth Quarter Strategies” in 2014.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Are you “limping” through life now, whether due to some physical malady or disability, or because of circumstances that are hindering you in striving to advance through life? If so, briefly describe what you are presently dealing with. How easy have you found it to ignore the problems that cause you to “limp,” or to persevere through those challenges? What poses the greatest difficulty for you? Are you familiar with the story in the Bible about Jacob wrestling with the angel of God, His representative, to receive the Lord”s blessing? Would you ever consider doing something like that? Why or why not? What is your typical response to adversity, obstacles that can sometimes seem so formidable that you are tempted to lose heart and give up?
NOTE: If you would like to consider other things the Bible says about this topic, read and reflect on the following passages: Genesis 32:22-28; Proverbs 24:16; Romans 12:3; Hebrews 11:21; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7
