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香港的海员传道会和大部分传道机构不同，他们不会等待船上的人在港口登岸，他们乃是差遣牧师登船探访停泊在港内船只上的海员，而牧师则要乘坐小船才能来到船旁。当有船只停泊在港内时，访客需要爬上船旁边的绳梯才能登船。尽管绳梯是安全的，但它却时常会在风浪中左摇右摆。

我曾探访在香港的海员传道会，并且有机会登上停泊在港内的船只。在前往第一艘船时，我们的小船每每以几米的幅度快速上下浮动。有人给我一个关键性的提示：“你必须委身去做这事。”当你伸手准备扶绳梯时，疑惑会令你半途暂停，你便不能成事的了。你需要从小船上探身出去抓紧绳梯，如果你稍稍怀疑是否能够抓住绳梯，你便可能会掉进冰冷的海浪里。

雅各明白疑惑引起的问题。我们心里的疑惑能够在我们里面制造风暴，当我们的生命被自己制造的风浪吹动翻腾时，我们便找不到稳固的立足点。委身于主能帮助我们走过生命中的挑战，因为我们知道信心能生忍耐。

There is a seafarers’ mission in Hong Kong that, rather than waiting for ships to come to the dock as most missions do, sends chaplains out to visit seafarers anchored in the harbor. The chaplains travel to the ships on small boats. When a ship is out in the harbor, visitors need to climb up the side on a rope ladder in order to get on board. Though it is safe, the rope ladder can sway back and forth a lot, out in the midst of the wind and waves.

I once visited the Hong Kong mission and had the opportunity to board ships out in the harbor. At the first ship, our small boat bobbed up and down several meters at a time. I was given one key piece of advice: “You must commit.” It would not work to let your doubts stop you halfway while reaching out for the ladder. You had to lean out of the boat to grab on, and if you had doubts about grabbing the ladder, you could plunge into the cold swells of the ocean.

James understood the problems of doubt. Doubts in our hearts can create our own internal storms. We cannot find solid footing when our lives are blown and tossed about by winds of our own making. Committing to the Lord helps us to move through the challenges of life, knowing that the testing of faith produces perseverance.