Romans 5:2a,5 (AMP) Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand…..Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
We are privileged because we have access by faith to God’s grace in the midst of adversity. In this scripture God reveals to us that when His grace is available, His strength is also made available to us. And we access this grace by faith. God’s Grace = God’s Strength. We need God’s strength to be resilient, especially when surrounded by negative news and experiences.
We also need faith and patience when we are walking out God’s plan and calling for our lives. When we are experiencing an economic downturn which affects our investments and business, our hearts can remain immovable if our faith is established on the spoken word that He had given us before we ventured into a business or made an investment. We can remain unmoved by our circumstances, and continue to seek God’s counsel and leading in our spirit. We can remain stable, strong and resilient. Our relationship with God cannot stay at a superficial level, it needs to deepen into a firm conviction and incorporated into the foundation of our lives. No one can help us to know and experience God except ourselves. There will be a tendency to be overcome by fear and anxiety if we have not built a foundation of knowing Him and His love for us in our lives.
Our faith will be put to the test if we are easily affected by information perceived and received through our senses. We can quickly lose our peace and joy and even start thinking in terms of worst-case scenarios, stay in negativism or spiral into depression if we do not replace negative thoughts flooding our minds with the promises of God. We need God and His word to stabilize us. One of the best decisions we can make when we are in the midst of an adversity, affliction or tribulation is to lean on and trust in the Lord completely. Oftentimes, we need to come to the end of ourselves in order to experience His strength, grace and peace. What keeps us focused, resilient and consistent during these times is knowing God, His love and His calling for us.
Sermon Series: Resilience (Part 4)
在苦难中经历祂的恩典
罗马书5:2a,5我们又藉着祂，因信得进入现在所站的这恩典中（又坚固，又安全，又放心）。这神应许的盼望决不会叫我们失望，因为所赐给我们的圣灵，将神的爱浇灌在我们心里。
我们很荣幸享有在逆境中因着信得以进入神的恩典中的特权。在这节经文中神向我们启示祂的恩典是可以支取的，祂的力量是可供依靠的。我们要凭信心进入恩典中。神的恩典=神的力量。我们需要神的力量保持韧性，特别是被负面的消息和经历包围住的时候。
当我们行在神对我们生命中的呼召和旨意的时候，也需要信心和耐心。当我们经历经济衰退，影响我们的投资和生意时，如果我们的信心是建立在我们创业或投资之前神所赐我们的话语基础上，我们的心就不会摇动。我们可以不被所处的环境所撼动，而是继续寻求神在我们灵里的旨意和带领。我们可以保持安稳、坚固，有韧性。我们与神的关系不能仅仅停留在肤浅的表面上，它需要深化成一个坚定的信念，并融入我们生命的根基。除了我们自己，没有人能帮助我们认识和经历神。如果我们没有在生活中建立认识祂和祂爱我们的根基，就一直会被焦虑和恐惧胜过。
如果我们很容易被外界和感官所接收的信息所影响，我们的信心就会受到考验。如果没有用神的应许替代负面的思绪，我们的平安和喜乐的便很容易迅速失去，总是去思想最糟糕的情况，处在消极中或陷入抑郁。我们需要神和神的话语稳定我们。在逆境，困难和痛苦中的最好的一个决定是完全地依靠和信任神。我们常常需要在走投无路的地步，才会深刻经历神的大能，恩典和平安。在这段时间里，使我们专注，坚韧和始终如一的方法就是认识神，认识祂的爱和祂对我们的呼召。
讲章系列: 韧性(第四部分)