我同事打電話過來，與我討論一件事，也問我近況如何。我跟她說，我有嚴重的鼻竇炎，吃藥也不管用。她就問我：「要我為妳禱告嗎？」我欣然答應，她就簡短地求上帝醫治我。我向她坦承：「有時候我會忘記禱告。我太專注於痛苦，而沒有向上帝求助。」

這讓我反思：我是專注於自身的困境和苦處，還是專注於上帝？那天，我只專注於鼻竇炎帶來的劇烈痛苦。但以賽亞書26章3節提醒我們，當我們把心思專注於這位能醫治和扶持我們的上帝時，就能得到平安：「堅心倚賴祢的，祢必保守他十分平安，因為他倚靠祢。」即使痛苦可能不會立即消失，或在今生無法痊癒，但以賽亞提醒我們要「倚靠」那位信實的上帝，祂能供應我們所需的一切（4節）。

這段以賽亞書的經文提醒以色列民，無論是在被擄期間還是歸回之後，都要謹記上帝的應許。如果他們持守信心並仰望上帝的供應，必會再次高唱讚美上帝的詩歌（1-2節）。這也同樣提醒我們，無論正承受什麼痛苦，只要專注於信靠上帝、向祂呼求，我們便能獲得安慰。

My  coworker made a quick call to discuss an issue. She asked how I was doing, and I admitted that I had a really painful sinus infection, and the medicine wasn’t working. My coworker simply asked, “May I pray for you?” After I agreed, she offered a thirty-second prayer to God for my healing. I admitted, “Sometimes I forget to pray. I was so focused on the pain I didn’t turn to God.”

My confession made me think about where I place my focus—on my struggles and problems or on God. On this day, my thoughts centered on the pain because of its intensity. But Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that when we keep our minds focused on God, our healer and sustainer, we can find peace: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” While the pain may not go away instantly, or perhaps ever in this life, the prophet reminds us to place our “trust in” the one who is faithful and able to provide what we need (v. 4).

This passage from Isaiah pointed the Israelites to God’s promises during and after their exile. They would sing songs of praise to Him again as they clung to their faith and hope in what He would provide (vv. 1-2). And the prophet’s words also remind us that whatever pain we may endure, we too can find comfort as we focus on trusting in God and calling out to Him.