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經文：「似乎憂愁，却是常常快樂的。」（林後6:10） 主張苦行主義的人，就連流淚也在禁止之列；基督徒卻不是如此，許多時候我們憂悶得發昏；當剪毛的剪刀碰到顫抖的身體，當仇敵的欺負已經達到極點，當我們幾乎心碎時；很自然地我們迫切尋找機會痛哭一場，好釋放胸中的憂鬱。但是，還有一個比痛哭更好的方法。 航海者知道，甘泉是在苦鹹的海水中找到的；旅行家知道，最美的花朵生長在最偏僻崎嶇的山路；屬靈人知道，最寶貴的詩篇是在最痛苦的時候寫成的。所以請讓我們在黑暗中讚美我們主耶穌基督的父神。試煉越深，願我們的歌聲越高昂。 親愛的讀者，你沒有學會這個功課呢？我們不只要忍受、揀選、遵行神的旨意，並且要用讚美來歡迎祂的旨意。-- 火的試煉 Tried as by Fire 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10). The stoic scorns to shed a tear; the Christian is not forbidden to weep. The soul may be dumb with excessive grief, as the shearer's scissors pass over the quivering flesh; or, when the heart is on the point of breaking beneath the meeting surges of trial, the sufferer may seek relief by crying out with a loud voice. But there is something even better. They say that springs of sweet fresh water well up amid the brine of salt seas; that the fairest Alpine flowers bloom in the wildest and most rugged mountain passes; that the noblest psalms were the outcome of the profoundest agony of soul. Be it so. And thus amid manifold trials, souls which love God will find reasons for bounding, leaping joy. Though deep call to deep, yet the Lord's song will be heard in silver cadence through the night. And it is possible in the darkest hour that ever swept a human life to bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you learned this lesson yet? Not simply to endure God's will, nor only to choose it; but to rejoice in it with joy unspeakable and full of glory. --Tried as by F ire ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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