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經文：「耶和華必然等候，要施恩給你們。」（賽30:18） 雨水最多的地方，青草最綠。愛爾蘭（Ireland）素來多霧，結果得到「翡翠島」（Emerald Isle）的尊稱。同樣，甚麼時候我們遭受了「苦難的霧」或「悲哀的霧」，甚麼時候我們就會擁有一顆充滿了神的安慰，和神的愛的翡翠之心。 各位讀者，請不要說：「燕子不見，是因為牠們死了。」；牠們並不是死了；牠們只是掠過大海飛往遠方，不久還會再回來的。 請不要說：「花朵凋謝，是嚴冬將它們扼殺了。」；並非如此！雖然嚴冬為它們穿上白鼬色的大衣，不久它們仍要抬頭吐氣的。 請不要說：「太陽已熄，是黑雲將它撲滅了。」；並非如此！太陽仍在黑雲背後為我們預備夏天。 請不要說：「神已經忘記我了。」；祂並非忘記，而是遲延，為要使你愛祂更深。 神讓我們等候，為要操練我們的忍耐，試驗我們的信心；因此，我們應該繼續在盼望中等候；應許雖然遲延，卻不會誤時的。--司布眞 C. H. Spurgeon 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you" (Isa. 30:18). Where showers fall most, there the grass is greenest. I suppose the fogs and mists of Ireland make it "the Emerald Isle"; and whenever you find great fogs of trouble, and mists of sorrow, you always find emerald green hearts; full of the beautiful verdure of the comfort and love of God. O Christian, do not thou be saying, "Where are the swallows gone? They are gone; they are dead." They are not dead; they have skimmed the purple sea, and gone to a far-off land; but they will be back again by and by. Child of God, say not the flowers are dead; say not the winter has killed them, and they are gone. Ah, no! though winter hath coated them with the ermine of its snow; they will put up their heads again, and will be alive very soon. Say not, child of God, that the sun is quenched, because the cloud hath hidden it. Ah, no; he is behind there, brewing summer for thee; for when he cometh out again, he will have made the clouds fit to drop in April showers, all of them mothers of the sweet May flowers. And oh! above all, when thy God hides His face, say not that He hath forgotten thee. He is but tarrying a little while to make thee love Him better; and when He cometh, thou shalt have joy in the Lord, and shalt rejoice with joy unspeakable. Waiting exercises our grace; waiting tries our faith; therefore, wait on in hope; for though the promise tarry, it can never come too late. --C. H. Spurgeon ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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