科學家研究了全球16個社會的韌性，即他們在面對挑戰時的應變和復原能力，其中包括生存環境極其嚴峻的育空地區和澳洲內陸。他們分析了幾千年的考古記錄，追溯饑荒、戰爭、氣候變遷等因素造成的影響，而其中一個特別顯著的因素就是遭逢危難的頻率。人們大多認為，危難會削弱社會的穩定性。但研究結果卻剛好相反：那些經常遭逢危難的社會，反而更有韌性，能在未來面對挑戰時更快地恢復過來。由此可見，危難帶來的壓力能磨練出堅韌的特質。

先知哈巴谷理解這種堅韌的特質。當他想到猶大國即將遭到毀滅時，他描繪一幅淒慘的景象：莊稼歉收、沒有牛羊、田地荒蕪（哈巴谷書3章17節）。但儘管如此荒涼，哈巴谷依然宣告：「然而，我要因耶和華歡欣，因救我的上帝喜樂」（18節）。他的喜樂並非取決於周遭的環境或世上的快樂，而是扎根於上帝永不改變的特質和救恩。在最嚴峻的時期，哈巴谷選擇喜樂，從而變得更加堅韌。

就像哈巴谷和那些堅韌的社會一樣，我們屬靈的韌性也會在一次次逆境的淬鍊中成長。當我們經歷人生中的低谷，讓我們堅定地信靠、仰望上帝，謹記祂與我們同在。祂會用我們面對的困境，增強我們的喜樂和堅韌的信心。

Scientists studied the resilience of sixteen societies worldwide, including the Yukon and Australian Outback. They analyzed thousands of years of archaeological records, tracing the impact of famines, wars, and climate. One factor stood out—the frequency of downturns. One would think that they would weaken societies, but the researchers found the opposite to be true. Instead, they found that societies that faced frequent hardships developed resilience, bouncing back faster from future challenges. Stress, it appears, can forge resilience.

The prophet Habakkuk understood this kind of resilience. As he considered Judah’s impending devastation, he painted a bleak picture: “crop fails,” “no sheep . . . no cattle,” and barren land (3:17). Amid earthly securities being stripped away, however, the prophet declared, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (v. 18). His joy wasn’t tied to circumstances and earthly pleasures but anchored in God’s unchanging character and salvation. In the bleakest seasons, the prophet chose joy and became more resilient.

Like Habakkuk and those resilient societies, our spiritual endurance grows through repeated adversity. When we face difficult seasons in life, let’s cling to our hope in God and remember that He’s with us—using our challenges to grow our joy and resilient faith.