Hope for the Blues 除憂良方

Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. —Psalm 62:8

You've felt it yourself, or at least listened to other people talk about it—the blues, times of dark discouragement. Lynette Joy, in an article for christianwomentoday.com, tells of several steps we can take during those dark times to turn toward Jesus, the Light of the World:

• Light up your heart through prayer. Pour out your heart to God when you're feeling overwhelmed (Psalm 62:8). Take your anxieties to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). And if you journal or write down your prayers, you can look back later to see how the Lord has answered you.

• Light up your mind with truth. Read the Word of God every day, at least for a few minutes. Let His truth challenge, permeate, and transform your incorrect thinking that life is hopeless (Psalm 46:1; Romans 12:2).

• Light up your life by doing God's will. His will for you is to worship and serve Him. Stay involved in your church where you can worship and fellowship with others and serve Him (Hebrews 10:25). This will help you grow in your trust of God.

When we feel darkness begin to close in on us, we need to turn to Jesus, the Light. He will be a refuge (Psalm 62:7-8) and will give us the strength to keep going.

Lord, give us strength to trust You when Life's burdens seem too much to bear; Dispel the darkness with new hope. And help us rise above despair. —Sper

You won't stumble in the dark if you walk in the light of God's Word.

在他面前傾心吐意。上帝是我們的避難所。（詩篇62篇8節）

幾乎每個人都經歷過憂鬱，就算沒經歷過，至少也聽人談論過。憂鬱是不斷湧來的沮喪氣餒的情緒。喬琳（Lynette Joy）為今日婦女基督徒網站（christianwomentoday.com）撰寫過一篇文章，提到在憂鬱時可採取的幾個步驟，使你能把目光轉向耶穌──這世上的真光：

用禱告趕走憂鬱。當你感覺無法承受時，要到上帝面前，向他傾心吐意（詩篇62篇8節）。藉著禱告，把你的憂慮卸給上帝（腓立比書4章6-7節）。順便記下禱告的內容，過些日子再回頭看看，上帝是怎樣回應了你的禱告。

用真理照亮心房。應當每天勤讀上帝的話，哪怕幾分鐘也好。你以為人生沒有指望，就要讓上帝的真理來滋潤你，指正你，激勵你改變不正確的想法（詩篇46篇1節；羅馬書12章2節）。

遵行上帝旨意。上帝的旨意很簡單，就是要我們敬拜他，事奉他。應當積極參與教會崇拜，和弟兄姊妹交往，一同服事上帝（希伯來書10章25節）。這樣一來，你就會更信靠上帝。

我們感覺黑暗襲來時，趕緊回頭轉向耶穌──那唯一的真光。他是我們的避難所（詩篇62篇7-8節），他必賜力量，讓我們勇敢前行。

千鈞重擔，力不能勝，賜我力量，靠你大能！ 更新希望，祛除黑暗，

不再絕望，展翅上騰。Sper

上帝之道，真光照耀，遇到黑暗，也不跌倒。