我們用最溫和的語氣告訴祖母，祖父很可能在幾天後就會離開世間，我們都擔心祖母會因此陷入沮喪或焦慮。有人問她：「你會擔心嗎？」他們認為她可能想知道我祖父的身體狀況，或者是她可能需要一些幫助。我祖母想了一下，平靜地回答說：「我不擔心，我知道他要去哪裡，在那裡上帝會與他同在。」

我祖母確信我祖父會到上帝那裡，正呼應詩篇139篇詩人大衛說：「我若升到天上，祢在那裡；我若在陰間下榻，祢也在那裡。」（8節）

詩篇139篇中的描述確定上帝的同在，雖然帶着隱約的警告，那就是無論我們去到何處都無法躲避上帝的靈，但這也帶給那些愛祂又渴望能確知祂同在的人極大的安慰，因為大衛說：「我往哪裡去躲避祢的靈？我往哪裡逃躲避祢的面？」（7節）我們這些身為上帝救贖的子民能得安慰，因為無論我們在何處，上帝都在那裡引導我們，並且扶持我們（10節）。

當我們處於艱難、憂愁的景況中，感受不到上帝在那裡的時候，我們仍能肯定上帝會與所有祂愛的人，以及愛祂的人同在。期盼當你明白祂必定與你同在時，能帶給你今日所需的安慰與盼望。

When my grandmother was gently informed that my grandpa would likely pass away in the next few days, we were concerned that she’d be upset and anxious. “Are you worried?” someone asked her, thinking that she might have questions about her husband’s physical condition or need help for her own needs. She thought for a moment. “No,” she calmly answered, “I know where he’s going. God is there with him.”

Her expression of God’s presence with her husband echoes a similar one in Psalm 139, made by the psalmist David: “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (v. 8).

Although the certainty of God’s presence described in Psalm 139 carries a subtle warning that we can’t escape His Spirit no matter where we go, it also brings great comfort to those who love Him and desire the assurance of His presence: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence” (v. 7). As God’s redeemed people, we can be consoled that no matter where we are, He’s there guiding us and holding us in His hands (v. 10).

When we go through tough, worrisome situations and don’t feel that God is with us, we can be assured that He’s present with all those whom He loves and who love Him. May this knowledge of His certain presence bring you the comfort and hope you need today.