“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14)
One day as I was helping my aunt, I learned about heart disease symptoms and noticed I had the same symptoms for months now. Unexpectedly, I didn’t know it was that bad. So, I went to do a heart stress test on Fri morning. I ended up in San Francisco Kaiser Cardiac division that evening, waiting for my quadruple bypass surgery that weekend. It all happened really fast. It was terrifying. A lot of different thoughts have gone through my mind.
Most importantly, God gave me peace. Not a promise that guarantees my recovery. It is a peace of knowing God is in control. That God is on my side. Regardless of what happens, I know God will handle my worries (mainly around my family).
Ecclesiastes 7:14 tells me that the “good” and “bad” in life are equally from God. It is not meant to toy with me. It is all meant for good. I may not understand it at the time or during my lifetime on earth. But I know God is good. Now it has been two years after the surgery. I can honestly say it was a “positive” experience. I learned to be more sympathetic toward people that are going through sickness. I learned that life is not all roses and apple pies, and it is ok. God is really there along the way.
“遇亨通的日子你當喜樂；遭患難的日子你當思想；因為神使這兩樣並列，為的是叫人查不出身後有甚麼事。” (傳道書 7:14)
有一天，我正在幫助我的阿姨同時，我也學到有關心臟疾病的症狀。然後我發現自己也有幾個月出現了這些相同的症狀。但是，我不知道它是如此嚴重。於是，那個星期五早上我去做了一個心臟負荷測試。當晚我便在三藩市 Kaiser 醫療中心的心臟科等待週末的四重搭橋手術。一切發生得那麼快，讓人感到非常惶恐。有許多不同的想法在我腦海中浮現。
但最重要的是，神給了我平安。這不是一個保證我康復的承諾，而是一種知道神掌握一切的平安。我知道神在我這邊，無論發生什麼事情，我知道神會處理我的憂慮（主要是關於我的家人）。
傳道書 7:14 告訴我，生命中的「好」和「壞」都是來自神。這不是為了玩弄我，而是要為了帶來好處。或許我當時甚至有生之年也無法理解它，但我知道神是良善的。現在手術已經過去了兩年，我可以肯定地說這是一個「好」的 經驗。我學會了對正在經歷疾病的人更有同情心。我學到了生命不都是一帆風順，但不要緊，神在這條路上真的一直都同在。