【弗2:8-9】你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信。这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。【Eph2:8-9】For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

 我曾以为死亡是唯一的解脱。在没有得救的那些年，我活在无望中，只想把孩子抚养长大，然后离开这个世界。I used to think death was the only way out. In those years before I was saved, I lived in hopelessness — just wanting to raise my child and then leave this world.每天支撑我的，只有母亲的责任。死亡在我眼里不是恐惧，而是渴望，是唯一的归宿。What kept me going each day was only the duty of being a mum. Death wasn’t scary to me; it was something I longed for, the only resting place.感谢神的恩典，祂在苦难中拣选了我，让我经历祂话语的光照和圣灵的责备，把我从死荫的幽谷中带出来。Thank God for His grace — He reached into my suffering, let His Word shine on me and the Spirit correct me, and pulled me out of the valley of death’s shadow.

神为我预备牧者，引导我进入真理，提醒我放下仇恨与自义。God set a pastor before me, who led me into the truth and reminded me to let go of hatred and self-righteousness.过去我总想靠自己的力量改变，结果一次次跌倒。I used to try to fix things by my own strength and fell over and over.如今我明白：得救不是靠我，乃是神的恩典。Now I see salvation isn’t up to me but is God’s grace.原来我只是个蒙恩的罪人，连能悔改、能盼望复活，都是祂的赐予。若不是祂拣选和保守，我早已灭亡。I’m just a sinner who’s been shown mercy — even the ability to repent and to hope in resurrection is His gift. If He hadn’t chosen and kept me, I’d be gone.

过去，我把孩子当作活下去的唯一理由。如今，我把他交托在神的恩典里，知道他的生命也在祂手中。I once made my child the sole reason to live. Now I’ve entrusted him into God’s grace, knowing his life is in His hands.我不再以死亡为解脱，而是因基督复活的大能得着新生命。I don’t see death as release any more; I have new life by the mighty power of Christ’s resurrection.耶稣说：“复活在我，生命也在我，信我的人虽然死了，也必复活。” Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”我深知，生死都在祂手中，我在世的日子，可以因信靠祂活出真实的盼望。I know life and death are in His hands. In the days I have here, I can live out real hope because I trust Him.

信仰路上，我依然软弱，常常跌倒。On the road of faith I’m still weak and I still stumble.但感谢神的恩典，总有牧者的提醒和圣灵的责备，使我及时转回。But praise God for His grace — there’s always the pastor’s warning and the Spirit’s correction to set me back on course.祂让我学习不再自恃，不再自夸，而是凡事感恩，单单信靠祂。若不是祂的恩典，我仍困在死亡的渴望里，毫无出路。He’s taught me not to lean on myself or boast, but to be thankful and trust Him alone. Without His grace I’d still be wanting death with no way out.

如今我学会把神放在生命的首位：祂必兴旺，我必衰微。Now I put God first: He must increase, I must decrease.我的角色不是掌控，而是顺服；不是倚靠自己，而是倚靠祂。My part is not to control but to submit; not to rely on myself but on Him.生命不再是沉重的担子，而是恩典中的礼物。孩子也不再是绝望的寄托，而是恩典的见证。Life isn’t a crushing burden anymore — it’s a gift of grace. My child isn’t a desperate lifeline now but a sign of God’s grace.

死亡不再是我的逃避，而是与基督同得荣耀的盼望；生命也因祂的恩典而充满意义。Death isn’t my escape any longer but the hope of sharing Christ’s glory; life is meaningful because of His grace.即便软弱，我仍要转向祂，求祂加力量。因为祂救我脱离了死亡的辖制，使我在绝望里得活泼的盼望。Even in my weakness I’ll turn to Him and ask for strength. He rescued me from death’s rule and gave me living hope in the middle of despair.我愿用余生见证祂的恩典，活出因信称义的生命。得救本乎恩，也因着信，不出于行为，免得有人自夸。I’ll spend the rest of my days testifying to His grace, living out justification by faith. Salvation is by grace and through faith, not by works, so no one can boast.一切荣耀都归于神。All glory to God.

（郭牧师Pastor Guo）