【双语灵修】神是堡垒God, the FORTRESS

「神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时的帮助。」 ― 诗 46:1

小时候我常常惧怕雷暴。闪电和轰隆的雷声很吓人和可怕，若听到将会有雷暴，我便会感到越来越焦虑。我不肯定我对雷暴的恐惧是从哪里来的，但可能是因为我害怕风暴来临时，无法预料会有甚么事情发生。

幸而我有一个可作荫庇的家，以及在床上能够保护我的被子。在可怕的风暴中，像被子那样脆弱的东西，也可以被视为有保护能力的，实在令人啧啧称奇。然而，对小时的我来说，那舒适的被子，代表无可比拟的稳妥、安全和保护，这都是我害怕时所需要的。

在生命的风暴中，当痛苦闪过我们的心房，危机震荡着我们的骨头时，神能为我们提供更有效的保护和安全。像一张大棉被那样，比坚固堡垒还要稳固，我们的神邀请我们在祂那里找寻荫庇，被祂的爱保护，祂温柔的爱比一切可怕的力量或灾祸更强而有力。

祷告

安慰我们的父，当我们因生命中的风暴和挣扎感到手足无措时，感谢祢为我们提供安全和稳妥。当逆境和挑战临到，而我们在祢大能的保护之下寻求荫庇时，求祢以祢的怜悯浇灌在我们身上，并使我们重新得力。阿们。

诗篇 46:1-3
1神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时的帮助。

2 所以地虽改变，山虽摇动到海心，

3 其中的水虽砰訇翻腾，山虽因海涨而战抖，我们也不害怕。（细拉）

God, the FORTRESS

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” - Psalm 46:1

When I was a young child, I was often afraid of thunderstorms. The lightning flashes and the rumbling thunder were startling and scary, and I would grow anxious if I heard that a storm was coming. I’m not sure where my fear of thunderstorms came from, but I think it may have been rooted in the uncertainty of what would happen as a storm rolled through.

Fortunately I had a home to shelter me and a blanket to protect me. It’s strange to think that something as frail as a blanket could feel strong during a dreadful storm. But that comfortable blanket of my childhood represented an unmatched level of security, safety, and protection that I needed when I was afraid.

God offers us even more effective security and safety from the storms of life when pain flashes through our hearts and crises rattle us to the bone. Like a great comforter and yet stronger than a mighty fortress, our God invites us to take shelter in him and to be protected by his love, which is gentle and yet stronger than any force or calamity that may threaten.

prayer
Comforting Father, thank you for providing us safety and security when we are overwhelmed by the storms and struggles of life. Shower us with your mercy when hard times and challenges arise, and restore our strength as we shelter under your mighty protection. Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳