Drawn by Disaster 灾难中的祷告
Dexu Xia
Lord, help us! Joel 1:19 nlt
In 1717, a devastating storm raged for days, leading to widespread flooding in northern Europe. Thousands of people lost their lives in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. History reveals an interesting and customary—for that time—response by at least one local government. The provincial authorities of the Dutch city of Groningen called for a “prayer day” in response to the disaster. A historian reports that the citizens gathered in churches and “listened to sermons, sang psalms, and prayed for hours.”
The prophet Joel describes an overwhelming disaster faced by the people of Judah that also led to prayer. A massive swarm of locusts had covered the land and “laid waste [its] vines and ruined [its] fig trees” (Joel 1:7). As he and his people reeled from the devastation, Joel prayed, “Lord, help us!” (1:19 nlt). Directly and indirectly, both the people of northern Europe and Judah experienced disasters that originated with the effects of sin and this fallen world (Genesis 3:17–19; Romans 8:20–22). But they also found that these times led them to call out to God and seek Him in prayer (Joel 1:19). And God said, “Even now . . . return to me with all your heart” (2:12).
When we face difficulties and disaster, may we turn to God—perhaps in anguish, perhaps in repentance. “Compassionate” and “abounding in love” (v. 13), He draws us to Himself—providing the comfort and help we need.
Why do people often turn to God when they face disaster? How can He use difficult times to draw us to Himself?
Heavenly Father, in the face of difficulty, help me to call out to You and find the hope You alone can provide.
耶和华啊，我向祢求告。—约珥书1章19节
在1717年，一场长达数天的灾难性暴风雨，导致欧洲北部大部分地区洪水泛滥。在荷兰、德国及丹麦境内，数千人因此丧命。历史记载，至少有一个地方的政府做出很特别但却合乎当时惯例的回应，荷兰格罗宁根市的市政府就呼吁民众举行“祈祷日”，以应对这场灾难。历史学家写道：“市民聚集在教堂里听道、唱圣诗并祷告，长达数小时之久。”
同样地，在先知约珥向犹大人描述他们经历的巨大灾难时，也促使他们以祷告来应对。那时大群蝗虫压境，布满犹大全地，摧毁葡萄树和无花果树（约珥书1章7节）。约珥及众百姓都因蝗灾而受苦，所以约珥向上帝祷告说：“耶和华啊，我向祢求告”（1章19节）。欧洲北部的人们和犹大百姓所经历的灾难，都是直接或间接受到罪恶及堕落世界的影响（创世记3章17-19节；罗马书8章20-22节）。然而，他们也会发现，这些灾难使他们向上帝呼求，在祷告中寻求祂（约珥书1章19节）。因此上帝说：“虽然如此，你们应当……一心归向我。”（2章12节）
在面对困境与灾难时，愿我们都能求告上帝，或许带着悲苦，或许需要认罪悔改。这位满有怜悯与慈爱的上帝会吸引我们归向祂（13节），并赐给我们所需的安慰与帮助。
为何人们常在面临灾难时呼求上帝？
上帝如何用那些艰难时刻吸引我们归向祂？
天父上帝，当我面临困境时，
求祢帮助我能呼求祢，得着唯有祢能给予的盼望。