0. Manna issue 90 - EDITORIAL_In the Day of Trouble 在這艱難的日子裡
Marian Shek—Leicester, UK 英國萊斯特 Marian Shek
Back in December 2019,
we could never have imagined how COVID-19 would transform the world so utterly, and so swiftly.
Our notion of normality has been upended, economies have seized up,
social unrest and inequalities have been exacerbated,
and, most tragically, lives have been cut short by this virus.
In late September, the world passed a sobering milestone
—over 1 million COVID-19 deaths reported worldwide.[1]
在 2019 年 12 月的時候，
我們永遠想不到，新冠病毒會如何改變世界，這麼的徹底、迅速。
我們對於正常生活情況的認知被推翻，經濟停滯不前，
社會動盪，和社會不公的情況，更加惡化，
最可悲的是，這種病毒縮短了人的生命。
九月下旬的時候，這個世界走過了令人深省的里程碑
—全球新冠病毒報告的死亡人數超過 100 萬人。[1]
The world has faced era-defining crises before
—but nothing on such a truly global scale.
Behind the catastrophic statistics
are hidden the many millions of smaller, personal tragedies brought on or intensified by lockdown
—untreated illness, stress and anxiety, isolation, tensions at home,
disintegrating social bonds, financial insecurity, future uncertainty,
and many more unforeseen consequences over the horizon.
We are truly in the day of trouble.
以前，世界曾經遇過這種跨世紀的重大危機
—但是，從來沒有真正遇過這種全世界大規模發生危機的情況。
而災難統計數據的背後，
隱藏了，由於封城產生的許許多多小規模的個人悲劇，或是讓情況更加嚴重，
—疾病得不到治療、壓力和焦慮、孤獨、家人關係緊張，
社會連結崩解、收入沒有保障、未來充滿變化、
以及有更多即將來臨，人所不能預見的後果。
我們的日子確確實實處於患難之中。
In March 2020, as the first wave of coronavirus infections surged in the West,
the Manna team decided to put together an unscheduled special issue around the pandemic
and its impact on believers.
Christians are certainly facing the same challenges as everyone else,
and we may wonder why God puts us through these tribulations,
both collectively and individually.
2020 年 3 月，隨著第一波新冠病毒感染在西方國家激增，
Manna 嗎哪團隊，決定籌集計劃外的特刊，探討大流行病，及其對信徒的衝擊。
基督徒誠然與其他人一樣，要面臨同樣的挑戰，
我們可能想知道，為什麼神讓我們經歷這些磨難，
整體大社會及個人。
The Bible is overflowing with teachings on the correct view of such situations,
and how we should respond when we find ourselves in the day of trouble.
In this issue, we explore these teachings through three sub-themes.
聖經中充滿了，關於正確看待這種情況的教導，
以及我們發現了自己身處困境時，應該如何應對。
本期中，我們通過三個副主題來探索這些教導。
Firstly, in the day of trouble, we should reflect, repent and return to our sovereign Lord
(Jer 4:1, 4, 29:13–14, 31:18; Joel 2:12–13);
secondly, we can, and should, find peace in God to face all hardships
(Isa 30:15; Phil 4:6–7);
and finally, we should be refined through our afflictions,
and use this God-given time to draw closer to Him through spiritual cultivation
—to pursue spiritual transformation
(Ps 66:10; Isa 48:10; Zech 13:9; 2 Cor 12:7–10; Jas 1:2–4).
第一，在患難的日子裡，我們應該反省、悔改，回到我們的主耶和華那裡
（耶 4：1、4，29：13-14，31：18，珥 2：12-13）；
其次，我們可以，也應該在神裡面，找到平安來面對一切困難
（賽 30：15；腓 4：6-7）；
最後，我們應該在自已的苦難中，得到精煉，
並利用這神所賜的時機，通過靈修更親近祂，
—追求靈性的轉變。
（詩 66:10；賽 48:10；亞 13:9；林後 12:7-10；雅 1:2-4）。
The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.
(Nah 1:7)
7耶和華本為善，在患難的日子為人的保障，並且認得那些投靠他的人。
(鴻 1：7)
Come, and let us return to the LORD;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
(Hos 6:1)
6來罷，我們歸向耶和華！他撕裂我們，也必醫治；他打傷我們，也必纏裹。
(何 6：1)
Many of us in the True Jesus Church
have already experienced the truth of these verses amid the turmoil of this pandemic,
as witnessed in the reports, testimonies, and reflections found in the following pages.
We can truly attest to God’s faithfulness and mercy upon His beloved children in times of trial,
and see that God has His plan for us
(Jer 29:11; Rom 8:28).
我們真耶穌教會有許多人，
身處這場大流行病的混亂不安之中，已經體會到這些經節中的真理，
就如以下幾篇的報告、見證和反省，所發現的。
我們真的可以證實，在試煉之時，神給祂疼愛兒女的信實和憐憫，
看到神對我們有祂的旨意
（耶 29:11；羅 8:28）。
While this pandemic has taken away many things,
it has provided opportunities for personal growth, spiritual cultivation and re-evaluating our service to God.
It has also brought to the fore the things that really matter
—our physical and mental health, our family bonds,
fellowship with brethren, worshiping in spirit and truth,
and, most importantly, our relationship with God.
雖然這次疫情帶走了很多東西，
它提供了個人成長、靈性培養和重新評估我們對上帝的服務的機會。
它還使真正重要的事情脫穎而出
——我們的身心健康，我們的家庭紐帶，
與弟兄相交，用心靈和誠實敬拜，
最重要的是，我們與上帝的關係。
As we go to print,
many countries have re-entered national lockdown under the crushing resurgence of COVID-19,
which scientists predict will be more severe than the initial wave of infections.
Since we do not know how this crisis will unfold in the coming months and years,
we can only prayerfully submit and entrust our lives to the One who knows all things,
and works all things for the good of those who love Him
(Rom 8:28).
當我們付印本期文章之時，
由於新冠肺炎死灰復燃的情況之下，許多國家重新進入了鎖國的狀態，
而科學家預測，這次將比最初一波的感染，更加嚴重。
由於我們不知道，這場危機將於未來幾個月幾年之內，如何擴展，
我們只能虔誠地將自已的生命交託給神，因為神無所不知，
而且會因為對那些愛神的人有所幫助，而出手完成任何事
（羅 8:28）。
In this day of trouble, let us never forget the lessons we have learned,
and let us never return to the way things were before.
May this fiery trial be the crucible in which we are transformed for good.
在這艱難的日子裡，我們永遠不要忘記自已學到的功課，
永遠不要回到以前的樣子。
祈求這次火熱嚴厲的試煉，成為我們永遠轉變更好的機會。
[1] “WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard,” World Health Organization, covid19.who.int.
[1] “世界衛生組織新冠病毒 (COVID-19) 監測表”，世界衛生組織網址，covid19.who.int。
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