Nearness to God is our conscious security. A child in the dark is comforted by grasping its father’s hand. --Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go. Psalm 71:3

On September 11, 2001, Stanley Praimnath was working on the 81st floor of the World Trade Center South Tower when he saw an airplane flying directly toward him. Stanley prayed a quick prayer as he dove under a desk for protection: “Lord, I can’t do this! You take over!”

The terrible impact of the plane crash trapped Stanley behind a wall of debris. But as he prayed and cried for help, Brian Clark, a worker from another office, heard and responded. Making their way through rubble and darkness, the two found their way down 80 flights of stairs to the ground floor and out.

When encountering terrible threats, David asked God for help. He wanted to be assured of God’s nearness as he faced enemies in battle. In a heartfelt petition David said, “Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go . . . . Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me” (Ps. 71:3, 12).

We aren’t promised deliverance from every difficult situation we face. But we can be confident that God hears our prayers and will walk alongside us through everything.

Whatever comes my way, please come near to me, Lord, to help. I cannot make it through anything without You. Thank You.

亲近上帝心中得平安，正如孩子在黑暗中，只要握住父亲的手就不害怕。

–司布真

求祢作我常住的磐石。-诗篇71篇3节

在2001年的9月11日，史坦利·普拉姆纳斯（Stanley Praimnath）正在世界贸易中心南塔的八十一楼工作。忽然他看见一架飞机向他迎面飞来，他立即躲到桌子底下，赶紧祷告说：“主啊！救我！”

坠机带来的猛烈冲击，使史坦利被卡在一道倒塌墙垣的后面，他只能祷告并呼救。另一个办公室里一个名叫布莱恩·克拉克（Brian Clark）的工作人员，听见了史坦利呼救的声音，立即伸出援手。过后，两人一起在黑暗中摸索，从瓦砾堆里找到出路，从八十层楼的高楼走下来，成功地脱离险境。

面对惊恐威逼的时候，大卫即刻向上帝祈求帮助。当大卫面对敌人的攻击时，为了要确定上帝与他同在，于是他恳切地祈求上帝，说：“求祢作我常住的磐石……上帝啊，求祢不要远离我！我的上帝啊，求祢速速帮助我！”（诗篇71篇3、12节）

上帝并没有应允我们每次都能脱离困境，但我们可以确信，上帝倾听我们的祷告，无论我们面对任何情况，祂都会陪伴我们一同度过。

亲爱的主啊，无论我遭遇何种处境，
让我知道祢就在身边帮助我。若是没有祢，
我就无法度过任何难关，为此我感谢祢。

Psalm 71:1-12New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 71

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
    I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many;
    you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long.

9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
    those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue him.”
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help me.

整理：于姊妹