Inconvenient Faith (Part 2)
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith."Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
Christian faith is not about avoidance but endurance. Perseverance is a recurring theme in the Bible, and I deeply resonate with the concept of endurance. From a young age, I’ve had to endure daily challenges. Walking with a prosthetic leg was a constant struggle as my hip and lower back ached with every step.
In school, there were no elevators, so I had to drag my heavy prosthetic leg up four to five flights of stairs daily. Each year, as I moved to a higher grade, it meant climbing one more flight of stairs. Those days were dreadful and painful, but unknowingly, they built within me resilience and endurance.
Years later, I channeled that endurance into sports. I completed a 10K run, won a three-hour extreme spinning competition, and even finished a Spartan Race—an obstacle course race that pushes participants to their limits. That year’s Spartan Race wasn’t just about obstacles but also climbing steep 5-kilometer mountains. The mountains were so steep that I couldn’t use my crutches at all. My teammates lifted me up side by side, helping me hop uphill.
At one vertical mountain, even my teammates struggled to lift me. But then, a man who looked athletic appeared and piggybacked me to the summit. The view at the top was breathtaking. Later, at another mountain, the same man reappeared to carry me again. It was extraordinary, he said he had gotten lost both times, but I believe God allowed him to get lost just so he could help me.
Then I went through a muddy water obstacle where participants must fully submerge themselves in muddy water to get under the wall. I was fully soaked in mud, water dripping from my eyes, and my teammates weren’t nearby. I walked toward the race's highest wall. Yet, I felt supernatural strength lift me over the highest wall in one leap. It was my “leaping over a wall” moment.
At the finish line, my teammates walked beside me, even though the race took much longer because of me. That moment reminded me of our faith journey. God walks with us through the valleys and the mountains. His grace sustains us supernaturally.
The trials may leave us weary and dirty, but they lead to glory and make us stronger in the Lord. The finish line is worth every trial. As Paul says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). Keep the faith!
Reflection Question:
What trials have you endured that led to a glorious moment? How did God help you through it?
Prayer:
Abba Father, teach me to endure with faith and not avoid difficulties, trusting in Your grace to sustain me. Strengthen me to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
信仰不易行（第二部）
「就當放下各樣重擔，脫去容易纏累我們的罪，存心忍耐奔那擺在我們前頭的路程，仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌。」 希伯來書 12:1-2
基督信仰是需要建立「忍耐」。聖經中多次提到「忍耐」，我對這詞深有共鳴。因為從小時候，我的生命就展開一段忍耐的旅程。
作為天生截肢者，我不得不面對生活上的挑戰。走路對我來說，是每一步都伴隨著義肢所帶來的疼痛，我的髖骨與下腰會隱隱作痛。
尤其在學校沒有電梯的日子裡，我得拖著沉重的義肢，每天一階一階地爬上四至五層樓的教室。每升一個年級，就意味著又要爬多一層樓梯。
那些日子是難熬的，但它們在我生命悄悄築起了「堅韌」與「忍耐」。
多年後，我將這份忍耐轉化在運動上。我用拐杖完成了一場10公里的長跑，贏了三小時室內極限單車賽，甚至挑戰了「斯巴達障礙賽」——一場挑戰體能的障礙賽。
那一年，斯巴達賽不只是障礙賽，更是一場5公里的陡峭登山賽。坡度之陡，使我根本無法使用拐杖，我的隊友們一左一右扶我，幫我一步步跳上山坡。
有一次，面對一段幾乎垂直的山，連隊友們也難以幫我上山。突然，一名看起來十分健壯的男子出現，毫不猶豫地背起我，將我帶上山頂。
接著，在另一段幾乎垂直的山上，我又遇見了同一位男子，他再次背起我上山。他說他兩次都迷路了，但我深信，那不只是迷路，是神的安排好讓他能在我最需要幫助的時候出現。
後來，我來到一個必須全身浸入泥水之下，潛入牆底的障礙。我全身泥濘，泥水從眼睛滴下，不能開眼，隊友們也不在附近。前方，是要跨過整個障礙賽最高的牆。
就在那一刻，我感受到一股不可思議的力量將我整個人提起，我一躍而過，翻到高牆第二邊。我感受到詩篇「*跳過牆垣*」的超自然時刻。
我的隊友陪到最後，到達終點。雖然他們因為我而花了很長的時間，但沒有抱怨。
我的經歷讓我聯想到信仰的旅程。神與我們同行，無論是在山頂，或在低谷。祂的恩典，是我們的力量來源。
雖然試煉會讓我們疲憊，，但這些歷程將我們鍛鍊得更加堅強。
正如保羅所說：
「那美好的仗我已經打過了，當跑的路我已經跑盡了，所信的道我已經守住了。」 提摩太後書 4:7（和合本）
親愛的弟兄姊妹，守住信心吧！keep the faith! 🔥
默想問題：
你曾經經歷過哪些試煉，最終帶來了得勝的時刻？上帝是如何幫助你度過的？
禱告：
親愛的阿爸父， 求祢教導我學會用信心去忍耐， 不逃避困難， 倚靠祢的恩典而得力量。 加添我力量，讓我打那美好的仗、跑完當跑的路、守住那寶貴的信仰。 奉主耶穌的名禱告，阿們。
