歐文在國外度假時，收到他同事傳來的一條壞消息：「老闆正打算找人取代你。」歐文深感沮喪，一天清晨，他向上帝禱告，並問上帝：「祢在哪裡？」然後他走到窗邊，拉開窗簾。沒想到，他竟然看到湖面上有一道又大又美麗的彩虹，頓時一股暖流使他的心得到安慰。後來，他回憶說：「那時，我感覺好像是上帝在對我說：『別怕，我在這裡！』」

創世記第9章記載，上帝應許不再用洪水毀滅地球。祂說：「彩虹在雲彩中出現，我看見了就記念我與地上一切有生命的活物，所立的永約」（16節，新譯本）。這永恆且毫無附加條件的盟約，是完全出於上帝慈愛的保護和供應，而不是人類的行為表現，這也是上帝給祂子民的第一個應許。到了新約，耶穌說：「我就常與你們同在。」（馬太福音28章20節）

上帝並沒有應許我們不會遭受苦難。但祂確實應許，會一直與我們同在，親自陪伴我們，安慰我們。或許，上帝不會用「彩虹」來回應我們的禱告，然而，祂已向我們保證：無論我們在生活中遭遇什麼事，祂都會在你我身邊，陪伴著我們，並使我們得到力量和安慰。

Owen was on holiday abroad when he received a disturbing message from a colleague: “The boss is looking to replace you.” Deeply upset, he prayed one morning at dawn and asked God, “Where are You?” Then he went to the window to open the curtains—and spotted a huge, beautiful rainbow suspended above the lake outside. Immediately a comforting warmth gushed over him. “It was as if God was simply telling me, ‘It’s okay; I’m here,’ ” he recounted later.

In Genesis 9, God promised not to destroy the earth through a flood again. He promised, “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth” (v. 16). This covenant was everlasting and unconditional. It depended totally on God’s protection and provision, not on humanity’s performance. And it was just the first of many promises God would make to His people. Jesus, too, said, “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).  

God doesn’t promise that we won’t suffer. But He does promise His ever-present comfort and personal presence. We may not get “rainbow answers,” but we have His assurance that no matter what happens to us in life, He’s always there for us, and we can draw on His strength, comfort, and presence.