每年秋天，像豬草等植物會讓我兒子鼻子過敏。某天晚上，他的症狀非常嚴重，我覺得他需要去看醫生。我們全家人幾個月來都有嚴重的健康問題，剛剛才有所好轉。現在兒子又犯病，這讓我非常沮喪，甚至不想禱告。但我丈夫因著上帝過去曾引導我們渡過各種難關而仍有盼望，他祈求上帝指引我們。不久之後，透過藥物的幫助，我兒子的症狀好轉了。

當摩西派出12個人勘察迦南地回來之後，其中10人感到灰心沮喪，但迦勒和約書亞卻仍抱持盼望與樂觀的態度（民數記14章6-9節）。上帝早已應許將那片土地賜給以色列人，迦勒說：「我們立刻上去得那地吧！我們足能得勝」（13章30節）。但絕大多數的人卻認為這是不可能的，因迦南人又高又壯，他們的城鎮又大又堅固（28、31-33節）。

這些都是嚴峻的挑戰，但迦勒的信心是建立在上帝的信實，過去在困境中上帝依然眷顧祂的子民。多年以後，上帝的子民最終攻佔了迦南地，迦勒也得到他應得的那片土地，因他「專心」跟從上帝（約書亞記14章9節）。

許多處境可能會令人感到絕望，但那些認識上帝並相信祂信實的人，仍然可以存有盼望。因我們相信上帝的大能和恩典會帶領我們渡過重重難關。

Every fall, plants like ragweed irritate my son’s sinuses. One night, his symptoms became so severe I thought he should see a doctor. Our family had just recovered from months of serious health issues, and I was so discouraged I didn’t even want to pray. My husband, however, found hope in all that God had already helped us through. He prayed for direction. Shortly after, with the help of medicine, our son’s condition improved.

Though some of their companions were discouraged, Caleb and Joshua also showed hope and optimism after scouting out the land of Canaan (Numbers 14:6-9). God had promised the area to Israel, and Caleb said, “We should . . . take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (13:30). The others felt it was impossible, that the Canaanites were too powerful and their cities too well fortified (vv. 28, 31-33).

These were serious challenges, but Caleb’s faith rested on God’s past faithfulness to His people in their struggles. God’s people did eventually conquer Canaan, and Caleb received his share because he had followed Him “wholeheartedly” (Joshua 14:9).

Many situations feel hopeless, but for those who know God and believe in His faithfulness, there’s always a reason for hope as we trust His power and grace to carry us through.