Bowl of Tears / 一碗泪水

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Dexu Xia

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May 14, 2019, 11:18:59 PM5/14/19

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Bowl of Tears

As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Psalm 55:16

In Boston, Massachusetts, a plaque titled “Crossing the Bowl of Tears” remembers those who braved the Atlantic to escape death during the catastrophic Irish potato famine of the late 1840s. More than a million people died in that disaster, while another million or more abandoned home to cross the ocean, which John Boyle O’Reilly poetically called “a bowl of tears.” Driven by hunger and heartache, these travelers sought some measure of hope during desperate times.

In Psalm 55, David shares how he pursued hope. While we’re uncertain about the specifics of the threat he faced, the weight of his experience was enough to break him emotionally (vv. 4–5). His instinctive reaction was to pray, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” (v. 6).

Like David, we may want to flee to safety in the midst of painful circumstances. After considering his plight, however, David chose to run to his God instead of running fromhis heartache, singing, “As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me” (v. 16).

When trouble comes, remember that the God of all comfort is able to carry you through your darkest moments and deepest fears. He promises that one day He Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). Strengthened by this assurance, we can confidently trust Him with our tears now. By Bill Crowder

Reflect & Pray

What causes you to want to run away? What’s your instinctive reaction when trouble comes?

Father, when life feels overwhelming, give me strength. Give me Your presence and comfort, for without You, I’m lost.

一碗泪水

至于我，我要求告上帝，耶和华必拯救我。-诗篇55篇16节

在麻州的波士顿市有一块石碑，标题是《横渡那碗泪水》，是纪念1840年代后期爱尔兰马铃薯大饥荒中，为了逃出生天而勇敢横渡大西洋的先民。那场饥荒夺走上百万人的性命，另有超过百万人被迫抛弃家园，横渡大海求生，爱尔兰诗人欧莱礼称这浩瀚的大西洋为“一碗泪水”。这些人在面临绝境时，因为饥饿和伤痛，被迫离乡背井，寻找盼望。

在诗篇55篇，大卫描述他如何寻求盼望。我们不确定当时他面对何种威胁，但可以确定这段经历让他痛苦难熬（4-5节）。他本能的反应就是祷告说：“但愿我有翅膀像鸽子，我就飞去得享安息。”（6节）

如同大卫，我们在痛苦中也想要逃到安全之地。但大卫思想自己的困境后，选择奔向上帝，而不是逃离伤心之地，他写道：“至于我，我要求告上帝，耶和华必拯救我。”（16节）

面临困境时，当记得那赐下各样安慰的上帝能托住你，带你走过最黑暗的时刻和最深的恐惧。上帝应许我们，有一天祂将擦去我们一切的泪水（启示录21章4节）。这个确据能让我们得着力量，纵然现在淌着眼泪，也能坚定信靠祂。

亲爱的天父，当生活让人难以承受时，求祢赐给我力量，让我得着祢的同在与安慰。

若是没有祢，我将惶惶无助。感谢祢在乎我的泪水、我心中的伤痛。