信心－在患难中找到帮助

“神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时的帮助。” - 诗 46：1

3,000多年以来，诗篇46篇的话一直在激励和鼓舞神子民的心；在今天，当遇到患难时，我们仍然会转向这篇诗篇求助。请允许我与你分享我们的三次经历，看看这篇诗篇如何坚固我们忧伤的心灵。

第一，1963年11月22日传来惊人的新闻：“美国总统肯尼迪遇剌身亡了。”我们非常震惊，不知所措到说不出话来。我当时就读的神学院，举行了一个特别的聚会，聚会中我们的教授诵读诗篇46篇：“神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时的帮助。”那些话大大坚固了我们软弱和受挫的心灵。

第二，在去年全球新冠状病毒疫情肆虐期间，对我们当中很多困扰和孤单的心灵来说，诗篇46篇所说的都是扣人心弦的话。面对令人焦虑的茫茫前路，以及与人隔离的生活状态，我们需要听神对我们说：“你们要休息，要知道我是神，”以此来支撑和安抚我们的心灵。

第三，我探访了一位受人爱戴的母亲，他的儿子刚刚因交通意外去世。她哀伤的脸上带着充满泪水的微笑，迎接我进入她打扫整洁的家。她在倾诉，我在聆听。然后我们翻开诗篇46篇－“神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时的帮助。”之后每当我探访她时，她时常都会提醒我，对她来说，诗篇46篇是何等有力和宝贵。

“所以，… 我们也不害怕。… 万军之耶和华与我们同在 …。”

1神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时的帮助。
2所以地虽改变，山虽摇动到海心，
3其中的水虽砰訇翻腾，山虽因海涨而战抖，我们也不害怕。（细拉）
4有一道河，这河的分汊使神的城欢喜，这城就是至高者居住的圣所。
5神在其中，城必不动摇，到天一亮，神必帮助这城。
6外邦喧嚷，列国动摇，神发声，地便熔化。
7万军之耶和华与我们同在，雅各的神是我们的避难所。（细拉）
8你们来看耶和华的作为，看他使地怎样荒凉。
9他止息刀兵，直到地极；他折弓断枪，把战车焚烧在火中。
10你们要休息，要知道我是神！我必在外邦中被尊崇，在遍地上也被尊崇。
11万军之耶和华与我们同在，雅各的神是我们的避难所。

Faith—Finding Help In Trouble

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1

英语音频 English Audio

For more than 3,000 years the hearts of God's people have been encouraged and bolstered by the words of Psalm 46. In our troubled times we still turn to this psalm. May I share with you about three experiences when this psalm strengthened our troubled hearts?

First, the awful news on November 22, 1963: "President Kennedy has been shot." We were stunned, numbed into silence. At the seminary I was attending we had a special chapel service, and our professor read Psalm 46: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Those words made our weak and wounded hearts sturdier.

Second, during the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic, Psalm 46 spoke to many of our troubled and lonely hearts. In times of anxious uncertainty and isolation, we needed to hear God say, "Be still, and know that I am God," anchoring and calming our souls.

Third, I visited a dear mother whose son had just been killed in a car accident. A tearful smile lined her sad face as she welcomed me into her neatly kept home. She talked. I listened. Then we turned to Psalm 46—"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." In later visits she often reminded me how powerful and precious Psalm 46 was to her.

"Therefore we will not fear. . . . The LORD almighty is with us. . . ."

Prayer

Thank you, O God, for being our ever-present help in trouble. Amen.