Within God’s Reach 上帝可及之处
Dexu Xia
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7
After an officer searched me, I stepped into the county jail, signed the visitor’s log, and sat in the crowded lobby. I prayed silently, watching adults fidgeting and sighing while young children complained about the wait. Over an hour later, an armed guard called a list of names including mine. He led my group into a room and motioned us to our assigned chairs. When my stepson sat in the chair on the other side of the thick glass window and picked up the telephone receiver, the depth of my helplessness overwhelmed me. But as I wept, God assured me that my stepson was still within His reach.
In Psalm 139, David says to God, “You know me. . . ; you are familiar with all my ways” (vv. 1–3). His proclamation of an all-knowing God leads to a celebration of His intimate care and protection (v. 5). Overwhelmed by the vastness of God’s knowledge and the depth of His personal touch, David asks two rhetorical questions: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (v. 7).
When we or our loved ones are stuck in situations that leave us feeling hopeless and helpless, God’s hand remains strong and steady. Even when we believe we’ve strayed too far for His loving redemption, we’re always within His reach.
By: Xochitl Dixon
How has knowing the vastness of God’s extensive reach affected your faith? How has He comforted you during a time when you felt hopeless and helpless?
Loving Father, help me to remember that You’re always willing and able to reach me and my loved ones.
我往哪里去躲避祢的灵？我往哪里逃躲避祢的面？—诗篇139篇7节
在经过一名警官的搜身之后，我走进郡立监狱，填写了访客日志，在拥挤的大厅坐下等候探视。我默默地祷告，看见周围许多成年人坐立不安、连连叹息，而年幼的孩子们抱怨怎么等那么久。一个多小时后，一位武装警卫念了一串名字，包括我的在内。他带领我们这组人进入会客室，让每个人都坐在被安排好的座位上。当我的继子坐在厚玻璃窗另一边的椅子上，拿起对讲机时，一阵很深的无助感几乎把我淹没。但是在我哭泣时，上帝安慰我，让我知道我的继子仍然在祂伸手可及之处。
在诗篇139篇中，大卫对上帝说：“[祢]认识我。⋯⋯祢也深知我一切所行的”（1-3节）。大卫宣告这是一位全知的上帝，接着赞美上帝亲身的照顾与保护（5节）。大卫因上帝长阔浩瀚的所知与深切地亲自看顾而感动不已，不禁两次发出无需答案的感叹：“我往哪里去躲避祢的灵？我往哪里逃躲避祢的面？”（7节）
当我们或至亲陷入令人深感绝望且无助的景况时，上帝的手仍旧强壮稳定。即使我们认为自己已经远远离开上帝，无法得到祂慈爱的救赎，但其实我们依然在祂伸手可及之处。
作者： 邓书琪
知道上帝的大能广袤无边，对你的信心有何影响？
在你感到绝望无助时，祂如何安慰你？
慈爱的天父，求祢帮助我不忘记祢愿意向我施恩，我和我所爱的人总是在祢伸手可及之处。