阅读经文 

教会青年小组最激动人心的出游活动之一是去游乐园玩。我记得我住在密歇根州时，曾带着一个小组参加过这样的活动。我不太喜欢过山车，但我爬上了一辆叫 “终极加速赛车”的车厢。那辆车厢在3.8秒内从每小时0加速到120英里，并将乘客带到420英尺高的空中。那是一次令人惊奇的体验，我再也不想去了。它让人兴奋，同时也让人害怕。

当妇女们在耶稣从死里复活的那天早上离开坟墓时，她们既害怕又欢喜。她们来到坟墓寻找耶稣的身体，却遇到了一位大能的天使，他说耶稣已经复活了。看到天使，却没有找到她们所指望的，这使她们感到害怕。但听到她们的朋友、老师和主已经从死里复活，她们又很欢喜。

惧怕往往可以伴随着喜悦。我们的生活可能充满了对各种事物的惧怕——对我们的健康、工作或未来的惧怕。但我们也可以对同样的事情——健康、事业和未来充满喜悦。我们既可以对我们的未来感到惧怕，也可以对我们未来的可能性感到喜悦。下次当惧怕笼罩着你的时候，求神帮助你找到一个理由，让你也变得喜乐起来。我们的未来在祂手中。

One of the most exciting outings for a church youth group is a trip to an amusement park. I remember taking a group on a trip like that when I lived in Michigan. I’m not a big fan of roller coasters, but I climbed onto one called the Top Thrill Dragster. That roller coaster went from 0 to 120 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds and would take its riders 420 feet up in the air. It was an amazing ride that I never want to go on again. It was exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

As the women left the tomb on the morning that Jesus had risen from the dead, they were filled with both fear and joy. They had come to the tomb looking for Jesus’ body, and instead they met a mighty angel, who said that Jesus had risen. Seeing the angel and not finding what they were figuring on made them afraid. But hearing that their friend, teacher, and Lord had risen from the dead gave them joy.

Fear can often be accompanied by joy. Our lives can be filled with fear about all sorts of things—fear about our health, our jobs, or our future. But our lives can be filled with joy about the same things as well—our health, careers, and future. We can be both afraid of our future and joyful about our future possibilities. The next time fear overtakes you, ask God to help you find a reason to be joyful as well. Our future is in his hands.