吉城罹患運動神經元疾病（漸凍症）已超過一年。他肌肉中的神經元出現病變，肌肉逐漸萎縮。他無法做一些精細動作，例如沒辦法扣上扣子、綁鞋帶，更沒辦法用筷子，而且漸漸無法運用四肢。吉城在這樣的困境中苦苦掙扎，禁不住問上帝：為什麼祢允許這樣的事發生？為何是我？

吉城和許多信靠上帝的人一樣，把困惑帶到上帝面前。在詩篇13篇，大衛呼求：「耶和華啊！祢忘記我要到幾時呢？要到永遠嗎？祢掩面不顧我，要到幾時呢？我心裡籌算不安，內心終日愁苦，要到幾時呢？」（1-2節，新譯本）

同樣地，我們也可以將困惑和疑問帶到上帝面前。當我們心中吶喊：「要到幾時呢？」和「為什麼？」上帝都明瞭。祂透過耶穌以及耶穌勝過罪惡與死亡，向我們顯明那終極的答案。

當我們想到十字架和空墳墓時，我們就能得著信心來倚靠上帝的「慈愛」（5節），並因祂的救恩而歡喜快樂。即使在最幽暗的黑夜裡，我們仍能「向耶和華歌唱，因祂用厚恩」待我們（6節）。因著相信基督，我們的罪已得赦免，成為上帝的兒女，並且祂要在我們身上，成就祂永恆美好的旨意。

Jim has been battling a motor neuron disease for more than a year. The neurons in his muscles are breaking down, and his muscles are wasting away. He’s lost his fine-motor skills and is losing his ability to control his limbs. He can no longer button his shirt or tie his shoelaces, and using a pair of chopsticks has become impossible. Jim struggles with his situation and asks, Why is God allowing this to happen? Why me?

He’s in good company with many other believers in Jesus who have brought their questions to God. In Psalm 13, David cries out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” (vv. 1-2).

We too can take our confusion and questions to God. He understands when we cry out “How long?” and “Why?” His ultimate answer is given to us in Jesus and His triumph over sin and death.

As we look at the cross and the empty tomb, we gain confidence to trust in God’s “unfailing love” (v. 5) and rejoice in His salvation. Even in the darkest nights, we can “sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to [us]” (v. 6). Through our faith in Christ, He’s forgiven our sins, adopted us as His children, and is accomplishing His eternal good purpose in our lives.