Peace in the Chaos 混乱中的平安

[Dexu Xia]

 [Our] help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:2

Something that sounded like firecrackers roused Joanne from sleep. Glass shattered. Wishing she didn’t live alone, she got up to see what was going on. The dark streets were empty and the house seemed to be okay—then she saw the broken mirror.

Investigators found a bullet only a half-inch from the gas line. If it had struck the line, she probably wouldn’t have made it out alive. Later they discovered it was a stray bullet from nearby apartments, but Joanne was afraid to be at home. She prayed for peace, and once the glass was cleaned up, her heart calmed.

Psalm 121 is a reminder for us to look to God in times of trouble. Here, we see that we can have peace and calm because our “help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (v. 2). The God who created the universe helps and watches over us (v. 3)—even while we sleep—but He Himself never sleeps (v. 4). He watches over us day and night (v. 6), “both now and forevermore” (v. 8).

No matter what kind of situations we find ourselves in, God sees. And He’s waiting for us to turn to Him. When we do, our circumstances may not always change, but He’s promised His peace in the midst of it all.

When have you experienced God’s peace in a troubling situation? How have you seen Him help others?

Loving God, thank You for Your peace. Please continue to calm my heart in the areas of my life that feel chaotic.

 我们]的帮助从造天地的耶和华而来。—诗篇121篇2节

突如其来的爆破声使乔安从梦中惊醒，只见玻璃碎落一地。她多么希望自己不是一个人住，但即使她惊魂未定，还是得起身去一探究竟。昏暗的街道上空无一人，房子也看似完好无损，只有镜子被打碎了。

不久，调查人员找到一颗子弹，只差一两公分的距离就击中瓦斯管线，万一子弹不偏不倚射中管线，后果恐怕是凶多吉少。他们也发现，那是从附近公寓射来的流弹，这个结果使乔安更害怕留在家里。她祷告求主赐下平安，在清扫完玻璃碎片之后，她的心开始平静下来。

诗篇121篇提醒我们在患难中要仰望上帝，并明确指出，我们能得着平安是因我们的“帮助从造天地的耶和华而来”（2节），这位创造宇宙的上帝会帮助和看顾我们（3节）；即使我们睡着了，祂也永不打盹（4节）；祂日以继夜地保护我们（6节），“从今时直到永远”（8节）。

不论我们陷入什么样的处境，上帝都看见，祂正等着我们求告祂。当我们转向祂时，也许情况没有立即改善，但祂已应许必在这当中赐下平安。

你何时曾在困境中经历上帝所赐的平安？
你曾看见上帝如何让人得帮助？

慈爱的上帝，感谢祢赐下平安。
当我在生活中感到心慌意乱时，
请祢继续让我的心能平静安稳。