When Hard Pressed 急难中的倚靠

1 view

Skip to first unread message

Dexu Xia

unread,

Feb 15, 2023, 6:47:48 PM2/15/23

to dmcf_dailybread

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. Psalm 118:6

Many years ago, a friend told me how intimidated she was while trying to cross a street where several roads intersected. “I’d never seen anything like this; the rules I’d been taught for crossing the street seemed ineffective. I was so frightened that I’d stand on the corner, wait for the bus, and ask the bus driver if he’d please allow me to ride to the other side of the street. It would take a long time before I successfully learned to navigate this intersection both as a pedestrian and later as a driver.”

As complicated as a dangerous traffic intersection can be, navigating life’s complexities can be even more menacing. Although the psalmist’s specific situation in Psalm 118 is uncertain, we know it was difficult and just right for prayer: “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord” (v. 5), the psalmist exclaimed. And his confidence in God was unmistakable: “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. . . . The Lord is with me; he is my helper” (vv. 6–7).

It’s not unusual to be fearful when we need to change jobs or schools or housing. Anxieties arise when health declines, relationships change, or dollars disappear. But these challenges needn’t be interpreted as abandonment by God. When hard pressed, may we find ourselves prayerfully pressing into His presence.

By: Arthur Jackson

What difficulty has brought you closer to God? With whom can you share your experience of His gracious help?

Gracious Father, please help me to trust You when I’m hard pressed.

有耶和华帮助我，我必不惧怕。—诗篇118篇6节

许多年前，一位朋友告诉我，她曾经对穿越一个车水马龙的多岔路口感到惊恐万分。她说：“我从没看过这样的交通乱象，我过去所学到如何过马路的规则，似乎都完全派不上用场。我惊慌失措地站在街角，情急之下，我只好等公车，然后拜托公车司机让我搭车到对面的街道。不管是步行还是开车，我都花了很长时间才学会如何平安穿越这个多岔路口。”

比起危险的多岔路口，人生的种种关卡可能更为险恶，更难越过。虽然我们并不清楚诗篇118篇的写作背景，但我们知晓诗人必定是遭逢患难，而唯有祷告才能带来拯救，因此他疾呼：“我在急难中求告耶和华”（5节）。诗人更展现出对上帝坚定无疑的信心，“有耶和华帮助我，我必不惧怕，……在那帮助我的人中，有耶和华帮助我”（6-7节）。

我们经常会面对人生的交岔路口，如需要转换工作、学校或住处，这些都不免会让我们感到担心害怕。当健康出现问题、人际关系生变，或遇到财务损失，各式各样的问题都会使我们忧愁烦恼。然而，这种种考验并不代表上帝撇弃了我们。当我们面对急难时，愿我们以祷告的心来到上帝面前，全心全意地倚靠祂。

作者： 简恩德

什么样的困难让你更亲近上帝？
你何时曾经历上帝的帮助，你能与谁分享呢？