人生中我們都曾走過一些時刻：在最破碎、最無助、最需要神的時候，禱告似乎沒有回應，神好像沉默。我們心裡可能會出現疑問——「主啊，你在哪裡？」這樣的經歷，並不是只有我們才會遇到，聖經裡的信徒也曾走過同樣的黑暗。
詩篇一二一篇提醒我們：「看哪，那看守以色列的，也不打盹，也不睡覺。」（詩121:4）神從來不是一位忽略我們的主。然而，在詩篇四十四篇，詩人卻帶著傷痛向神呼喊：「主啊，求你睡醒！為何儘睡？起來，不要永遠丟棄我們！」（詩44:23 ）這兩段經文平行地存在聖經裡，正向我們揭示一個重要屬靈事實：即便最敬虔、最愛神的人，也會在生命某些階段深深感到神的沉默與距離。
詩篇四十四篇是一段毫不修飾的禱告。詩人沒有假裝剛強，也沒有用屬靈用語掩飾內心的痛楚。他誠實把自己的困惑、質疑和委屈呈現在主的面前，這提醒我們：禱告不是表演，也不是背誦屬靈語彙，而是把我們最真實的心交給神。神從來不被我們的眼淚嚇退，也不因我們的疑問而責怪我們。相反，祂歡迎我們帶著破碎、軟弱、甚至矛盾的情緒來到祂面前。
更深一層地，詩篇四十四篇顛覆了一個我們常陷入的想法——「苦難一定是因為我做錯了事。」詩人自省後坦白說：「我們的心沒有退後，我們的腳步也沒有偏離你的路。」（詩44:18 ）也就是說，他們的苦難並不是罪的後果，而是人生真實的挑戰。弟兄姊妹，這對我們來說是一個重要的釋放：你的痛苦，不是神不愛你的證據。敬虔的人也會受苦，忠心的人也會落淚，而這些經歷並不表示神遠離了。
雖然詩篇沒有給出所有的「為什麼」，但詩人的信心仍然緊緊抓住神的慈愛。他在結尾呼求：「求你起來幫助我們！憑你的慈愛救贖我們！」（詩44:26）信心不是沒有疑問，而是在疑問中仍然選擇相信。信心不是沒有眼淚，而是帶著眼淚仍然呼求：「主啊，我仍然需要你，我仍然信靠你。」
在這樣的背景下，我們重新進入聖誕的信息，就會更深明白神的心。當人覺得神沉默時，神其實已經在預備最大的回應。祂沒有用雷聲回答世界的痛苦，祂選擇以最安靜、最卑微、最貼近人心的方式來到我們中間——成為一個嬰孩，住進我們的黑暗與破碎裡。馬太福音記載：「他們要給他起名叫以馬內利。」（太1:23）意思就是「神與我們同在」。
神溫柔的宣告：
「我沒有離開你。」
「我沒有沉默。」
「我就在你身邊。」
耶穌的降生，使每一個黑暗角落都有了光，使每一個沉默時刻都有了盼望，使每一段痛苦旅程都有了同行的主。願以馬內利的主親自將祂的同在、祂的平安、祂的力量帶進你的生命。無論你正走在哪一段路上，願你在這個聖誕，再一次確信：神與你同在！
The Comming of Immanuel
We have all experienced moments in life when we feel most broken, helpless, and in need of God—yet our prayers seem unanswered, and God appears silent. Questions may arise in our hearts: “Lord, where are you?” Such experiences are not unique to us; believers in the Bible also walked through similar darkness.
Psalm 121 reminds us: “Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:4). God is never a Lord who ignores us. Yet in Psalm 44, the psalmist cries out in pain: “Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!” (Psalm 44:23). These two passages exist side by side in Scripture, revealing an important spiritual truth: even the most devout and God-loving people can, at certain stages of life, deeply feel God’s silence and distance.
Psalm 44 is an unvarnished prayer. The psalmist does not pretend to be strong or use spiritual language to mask inner pain. He honestly lays his confusion, doubts, and distress before the Lord. This reminds us that prayer is not a performance or a recitation of spiritual vocabulary—it is offering our most genuine hearts to God. God is never frightened by our tears or angered by our questions. Instead, He welcomes us to come before Him with our brokenness, weakness, and even conflicting emotions.
On a deeper level, Psalm 44 challenges a common assumption: “Suffering must be because I did something wrong.” After introspection, the psalmist admits: “Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way.” (Psalm 44:18). In other words, their suffering was not a consequence of sin but a real-life challenge. Brothers and sisters, this is an important reassurance for us: your pain is not proof that God does not love you. The devout also suffer, the faithful also weep, and these experiences do not mean God is distant.
Although the psalm does not provide all the “whys,” the psalmist’s faith still clings tightly to God’s steadfast love. He concludes by pleading: “Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!” (Psalm 44:26). Faith is not the absence of doubt but choosing to believe in the midst of doubt. Faith is not without tears but crying out with tears: “Lord, I still need you, I still trust in you.”
In this context, we can enter more deeply into the message of Christmas and understand God’s heart. When people feel God is silent, He is already preparing the greatest response. He does not answer the world’s pain with thunder but chooses to come to us in the quietest, most humble, and most intimate way—as a baby, dwelling in our darkness and brokenness. Matthew records: “And they shall call his name Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23), which means “God with us.”
God gently declares:
“I have not left you.”
“I am not silent.”
“I am right here with you.”
The birth of Jesus brings light to every dark corner, hope to every silent moment, and a walking companion for every painful journey. May the Lord Immanuel Himself bring His presence, His peace, and His strength into your life. Wherever you are walking, may you be reassured this Christmas: God is with you!