「人非有信，就不能得神的喜悅；因為到神面前來的人，必須信有神，且信祂賞賜那尋求祂的人。」－希伯來書11:6
記得神在曠野中，給一對老朽夫婦的偉大應許嗎？神向他們應許，他們的後裔要如同天上的星，海邊的沙。
記得神如何帶領以色列人經過紅海嗎？記得他們扛著約櫃，踏入約旦河水，卻如同行過乾地的故事嗎？
危難總勝過絕望。
信心不會使我們危難的時期縮減，但信心能使我們在其中穩固，不致搖動。在困境中，我們只有兩個選擇：孤注一擲的信心，或一蹶不振的絕望。
危難中仍能靠著信心而穩固的例子中，莫過如火焰中三個希伯來人的故事了。
情勢是十萬火急，千鈞一髮，他們卻還能堅定的回答：「即便如此，我們所事奉的神，也能將我們從烈火的窯中救出來；王阿，祂必救我們脫離你的手。即或不然，王阿，你當知道，我們決不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。」（但以理書3:17-18）這是多麼令人讚賞的「即或不然」啊！
我還想再提一點客西馬尼中主的禱告。耶穌那時所說的「然而」是多麼的別具深意啊！祂說：「若是可能，就叫這杯離開我；然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」（馬太福音26:39）因著祂在「然而」中的信靠，令祂付上了祂生命的代價。
現在，拿起你的詩歌本，唱一首危難中你最喜愛的信心之歌吧！－查維
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:6).The faith for desperate days.
The Bible is full of such days. Its record is made up of them, its songs are inspired by them, its prophecy is concerned with them, and its revelation has come through them.
The desperate days are the stepping-stones in the path of light. They seem to have been God's opportunity and man's school of wisdom.
There is a story of an Old Testament love feast in Psalm 107, and in every story of deliverance the point of desperation gave God His chance. The "wit's end" of desperation was the beginning of God's power. Recall the promise of seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sands of the sea, to a couple as good as dead. Read again the story of the Red Sea and its deliverance, and of Jordan with its ark standing mid-stream. Study once more the prayers of Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah, when they were sore pressed and knew not what to do. Go over the history of Nehemiah, Daniel, Hosea, and Habakkuk. Stand with awe in the darkness of Gethsemane, and linger by the grave in Joseph's garden through those terrible days. Call the witnesses of the early Church, and ask the apostles the story of their desperate days.
Desperation is better than despair.
Faith did not make our desperate days. Its work is to sustain and solve them. The only alternative to a desperate faith is despair, and faith holds on and prevails.
There is no more heroic example of desperate faith than that of the three Hebrew children. The situation was desperate, but they answered bravely, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." I like that, "but if not !"
I have only space to mention Gethsemane. Ponder deeply its "Nevertheless." "If it is possible?nevertheless!" Deep darkness had settled upon the soul of our Lord. Trust meant anguish unto blood and darkness to the descent of hell--Nevertheless! Nevertheless!!
Now get your hymn book and sing your favorite hymn of desperate faith. --Rev. S. Chadwick
