新年第一天凌晨三點，恐懼使我從睡夢中驚醒。未來一年的各種重擔壓得我喘不過氣，也使我焦慮不安。家人罹患重症早已讓我疲憊不堪，而現在我一想到未來就膽戰心驚。我不禁懷疑，還會發生更多不幸的事嗎？

耶穌的門徒瞭解遭遇患難時所產生的恐懼感。雖然他們的老師在祂受死之前，已讓他們有心理準備，也給了他們保證，但事情發生時，門徒仍舊害怕。當耶穌被逮捕的時候，他們四散逃跑（馬太福音26章56節）；彼得不承認是祂的門徒（約翰福音18章15-17、25-27節）；他們逃躲藏匿（20章19節）。在耶穌被逮捕、被釘十架的動亂中，門徒都很害怕，也怕遭遇逼迫。雖然耶穌曾告訴他們說：「你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界」（16章33節），但他們的反應卻違背了祂的吩咐和應許。

然而，基督的死亡與復活證明了祂掌管生死的權柄和能力，而且祂已全然得勝。雖然這個罪惡的世界必然會有苦難，但我們可以相信一個事實，就是這位滿有智慧與慈愛的上帝掌管萬事萬物。就像耶穌與後來有信心向人分享福音的門徒同在一樣，祂也會與我們同在（16章32-33節）。上帝確實掌管一切，願這事實能在新的一年裡使我們的心堅定地相信祂，即使我們不知道未來會發生什麼，仍能剛強勇敢。

Fear woke me at 3 a.m. on the first day of the new year. The year ahead weighed heavily on me, overwhelming me with dread. Illness in the family had long wearied me, and now, thoughts of the future made me afraid. Will more bad things happen? I wondered.

Jesus’ disciples understood the fear of bad things happening. Even though their Master had prepared and reassured them the day before He died, they were still afraid. They fled when He was arrested (Matthew 26:56); Peter denied Him (John 18:15-17, 25-27), and they went into hiding (20:19). Their fear during the upheaval of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, as well as of persecution, led them to act contrary to His command to “take heart” and His promise, “I have overcome the world” (16:33).

But Christ’s death and resurrection proved His authority and power over life and death. He has the ultimate victory. Even though the sinful state of our world makes suffering a certainty, we can rest in the truth that all things are subject to the authority of our wise and loving God. Jesus’ presence is with us (16:32-33), just as it was with His disciples, who later confidently went on to share the gospel to the world. May God’s promise that He’s in control strengthen our hearts to trust Him in this new year and be courageous even when we don’t know what the future will bring.