我朋友珊蒂三歲的兒子施洛已經住院好幾個月了，世界各地有成千上萬的基督徒一直為他祈禱。當醫生表示施洛已經完全喪失腦部功能時，珊蒂打電話給我說：「有時候，我擔心自己對上帝沒有完全的信心，我知道上帝能醫治施洛，讓他和我們一起回家。但若上帝要將他帶回天家，讓他完全得醫治，我也能接受。」我向她保證上帝最瞭解她的掙扎，並且說：「妳已順服上帝，這就是完全的信心！」幾天後，上帝將她的寶貝兒子帶回天家。雖然珊蒂因失去孩子而深感悲痛，但她仍舊感謝上帝，以及所有為他們代禱的人。珊蒂說：「我相信上帝依然美善，依然掌權。」

在耶穌再來之前，我們活在這世界上都會面對「百般的試煉」（彼得前書1章6節）。我們需要處理悲傷所引發的真實情緒。然而，每一個在基督裡經歷「重生」的人（3節），都能因著對耶穌的愛，在生活中站立得穩，並「有說不出來、滿有榮光的大喜樂」（8節）。我們相信基督的最終結果，就是得到「靈魂的救恩」（9節）。

聖靈能賜給我們力量，使我們有完全的信心，在生活中藉著禱告將我們的處境全然交給基督。

Thousands of people around the world prayed for Sethie’s three-year-old son, who’d been hospitalized for months. When doctors said Shiloh had “no meaningful brain activity,” Sethie called me. “Sometimes, I’m scared I’m not living with full faith,” she said. “I know God can heal Shiloh and let him come home with us. I’m also at peace if God heals him by taking him to heaven.” Assuring her that God understands like no one else can, I said, “You’ve surrendered to God. That is full faith!” A few days later, God took her precious son to heaven. Though struggling with the grief of losing him, Sethie thanked God and the many people who prayed. She said, “I believe God is still good and still God.”

In this world, until Jesus comes again, we’ll “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6). We’ll need to process real emotions caused by real pain. However, everyone who experiences “new birth” in Christ (v. 3) can be anchored in life by love for Jesus and be “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (v. 8). The end result of our faith in Christ is this: “the salvation of [our] souls” (v. 9).

The Holy Spirit empowers us to have full faith—living with our prayers and our situations confidently surrendered to Christ.