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經文：「我們受患難呢，是為叫你們得安慰...這安慰能叫你們忍受我們所受的那樣苦楚。我們為你們所存的盼望是確定的。因為知道你們既是同受苦楚、也必同得安慰。」（林後1:6-7） 在你的身邊有沒有誰是特別會幫助你；當你在試煉中或憂傷時，是你特別會去向他尋求安慰的呢？這個人所說的話，每次都很有幫助，又合乎你的需要。你只知道他很能幫助你，但知不知道為甚麼他可以呢？ 他這樣善於包紮人的傷口與拭乾人的眼淚，絕非偶然的事，是曾經付上相當的代價。如果去了解他以往的經歷，就會發現他曾受過多少苦難。他曾眼見喜樂的金碗被摔在地上；他曾站在怒潮旁與烈日下；但是這些都是使他成為保姆與醫生所必需經歷的過程。 苦難固然難以忍受，可是卻隱藏著極其寶貴的教導；教導我們怎樣幫助別人。 所以讀者們，請不要動怒也不要咬牙；只要看見這一切是為了訓練你成為安慰使者；因此當甘心順服地在神的旨意裡面接受。--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "If I am in distress, it is in the interests of your comfort, which is effective as it nerves you to endure the same sufferings as I suffered myself. Hence my hope for you is well-founded, since I know that as you share the sufferings you share the comfort also" (2 Cor. 1:6, 7). Are there not some in your circle to whom you naturally betake yourself in times of trial and sorrow? They always seem to speak the right word, to give the very counsel you are longing for; you do not realize, however, the cost which they had to pay ere they became so skillful in binding up the gaping wounds and drying tears. But if you were to investigate their past history you would find that they have suffered more than most. They have watched the slow untwisting of some silver cord on which the lamp of life hung. They have seen the golden bowl of joy dashed to their feet, and its contents spilt. They have stood by ebbing tides, and drooping gourds, and noon sunsets; but all this has been necessary to make them the nurses, the physicians, the priests of men. The boxes that come from foreign climes are clumsy enough; but they contain spices which scent the air with the fragrance of the Orient. So suffering is rough and hard to bear; but it hides beneath it discipline, education, possibilities, which not only leave us nobler, but perfect us to help others. Do not fret, or set your teeth, or wait doggedly for the suffering to pass; but get out of it all you can, both for yourself and for your service to your generation, according to the will of God. --Selected ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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