Our Place of Safety 安全之处

[Dexu Xia]

Retired teacher Debbie Stephens Browder is on a mission to convince as many people as possible to plant trees. The reason? Heat. Extreme heat in the United States is the number one weather-related cause of death. In response, she says, “I’m starting with trees.” The canopy of heat protection that trees provide is one significant way to protect communities. “It’s life or death. It’s not just about beautifying the community.”

The fact that shade isn’t just refreshing but potentially lifesaving would have been well known to the psalmist who wrote Psalm 121; in the Middle East, the risk of sunstroke is constant. This reality adds depth to the psalm’s vivid description of God as our surest place of safety, the One in whose care “the sun will not harm [us] by day, nor the moon by night” (v. 6).

This verse can’t mean that believers in Jesus are somehow immune to pain or loss in this life (or that heat isn’t dangerous!). After all, Christ tells us, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). But this metaphor of God as our shade does vividly reassure us that, whatever comes our way, our lives are held in His watchful care (Psalm 121:7–8). There we can find rest through trusting Him, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love (John 10:28; Romans 8:39).

By:  Monica La Rose

How have you experienced life-saving shade in God’s care? How does remembering you’re always held in His care give you courage?

Loving God, thank You for being my place of shade and safety. Help me to find rest and courage as I grow in trusting You.

保护你的是耶和华，耶和华在你右边荫庇你。—诗篇121篇5节

美国一位居住在南加州的退休教师怀抱强烈的使命感，尽最大的努力说服更多人种植树木，对抗极端高温的天气。在美国，极端高温已成为与天气有关的头号死亡原因。为了应对这个问题，她说：“我从种植树木开始。”树木具有遮荫防热的效果，是保护社会大众免受热浪侵袭的一个重要方式。她说：“种植树木不仅仅是为了美化社区，而是一个攸关生死的事。”

撰写诗篇121篇的诗人应该清楚知道，树荫不只能供人乘凉，也可能保全性命。中东地区高温炎热，人们随时都可能会中暑，这首诗生动地形容上帝是我们最可靠的安全处所，此一事实使人对这些描绘能感同身受。诗人说，在上帝的荫庇下，“白日，太阳必不伤你；夜间，月亮必不害你”（6节）。

这节经文并不是说，基督徒可以免于今生的痛苦或心碎；也不是说，极度高温不会对我们造成危害。毕竟，基督告诉我们：“在世上你们有苦难”（约翰福音16章33节）。不过，上帝作为我们的树荫，这比喻生动地让我们确信不论发生什么事，你我的生命都在上帝的保守之中（诗篇121篇7-8节）。我们藉着信靠祂而心得平安，因为知道没有任何事物能使我们与祂的爱隔绝（约翰福音10章28节；罗马书8章39节）。

作者：  白茉妮

上帝的看顾曾如何拯救你，使你的生命得荫庇？
谨记上帝时刻看顾你，如何给你勇气？

慈爱的上帝，感谢祢荫庇我，保护我。
当我愈发信靠祢，请帮助我得到平安与勇气