我的Facebook回憶庫出現了一張照片，展示我五歲的女兒洋洋得意的模樣，那時她剛贏了一場有趣的蛇梯棋。我將這照片轉發給我的兄弟姐妹，因為我們小時候也經常玩這種遊戲。蛇梯棋是一種流行了數百年的益智遊戲，這種遊戲能幫助孩子們學數字，還可以讓人體驗到藉著爬梯子迅速攀升，並以最快速度到達「100」而獲勝的興奮和刺激。但要特別小心，一旦你落在「98」那一格，就會沿著巨蛇往下滑得很遠，使你遠遠落在後頭，甚至或無法獲勝。

像這樣的跌宕起伏，不就是人生嗎？然而，愛我們的耶穌已預先讓我們做好準備，去面對人生中的跌宕起伏。在約翰福音16章33節，耶穌說，我們會經歷「苦難」，但祂應許必賜下平安。我們不必因種種考驗而動搖，為什麼呢？因為基督已勝過這世界！祂的能力遠勝於任何事物，因此我們也可以藉著祂所賜「浩大」的能力去面對一切（以弗所書1章19節）。

正如玩蛇梯棋一樣，在你我的人生中，有時也會出現一個梯子，讓我們快樂地往上爬，但有時也會碰到巨蛇而跌至低谷。即便如此，在人生這場棋局中，你我仍可心存盼望，因耶穌的大能可以幫助我們勝過一切。

A Facebook memory popped up, showing me a picture of my triumphant five-year-old when she’d won a fun and competitive game of Chutes and Ladders. I’d tagged my brother and sister in the post because we’d often played this board game when we were kids. Chutes and Ladders is based on a game that’s been played for centuries, helping people learn to count and providing the thrill of being able to climb a ladder and win the game by getting to 100 the fastest. But watch out! If you land on spot 98, you slide far down the chute, delaying—or even prohibiting—victory.

Isn’t that just like life? Jesus lovingly prepared us for the ups and downs of our days. He said we’d experience “trouble” (John 16:33), but He also shared a message of peace. We don’t have to be shaken by the trials we face. Why? Christ has overcome the world! Nothing is greater than His power, so we too can face whatever comes our way with “the mighty strength” He’s made available to us (Ephesians 1:19).

Just like in Chutes and Ladders, sometimes life presents a ladder allowing us to happily ascend, and other times we tumble down a slippery slide. But we don’t have to play the game of life without hope. We have the power of Jesus to help us overcome it all.