「這樣,耶和華後來賜福給約伯,比先前更多。」(聖經約伯記四十二章 12 節)
約伯雖然遭遇了很多災禍,結果卻得到很多祝福。他受試煉,是為要證實他的敬虔。那麼,我們今天的災禍,豈非也是為要叫神得到榮耀嗎?榮耀原是從苦難中出來的。約伯的苦難使他更高看神,更低看自己。他喊叫說: 「我從前風聞有你,現在親眼見你。」(五節)
如果在痛苦失望中,我們能感覺神的同在而求告說:「願你的旨意成全」(聖經馬太福音二十六章 42 節),我們就有福了 。約伯在痛苦之中,竟能看見說:「我知道我的救贖主活著」(聖經約伯記十九章 25 節),這是多麼不容易啊!果然,耶和華後來賜福給約伯,比先前更多。 ── 譯自靜默的時候
患難每一次來找你,都是手裡拿著一塊黃金的。
如果我們能在患難中忍耐等候,患難至終必變成我們的祝福;如果我們不能忍受苦難,有很多祝福我們不能得到。有很多快樂是只能在憂傷中得到的,有很多真理的光是只能在屬地的光熄滅之後才啟示出來的。 ── 選
最屬靈的信徒都是從苦難中出來的;最偉大的人物都是佩戴著傷痕的;殉道者的冠冕都是閃著火花的,他們進入天門都是掛著憂傷帶著愁容的。
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"So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning." Job 42:12.)
Through his griefs Job came to his heritage. He was tried that his godliness might be confirmed. Are not my troubles intended to deepen my character and to robe me in graces I had little of before? I come to my glory through eclipses, tears death. My ripest fruit grows against the roughest wall. Job's afflictions left him with higher conceptions of God and lowlier thoughts of himself. "Now," he cried, "mine eye seeth thee."
And if, through pain and loss, I feel God so near in His majesty that I bend low before Him and pray, "Thy will be done," I gain very much. God gave Job glimpses of the future glory. In those wearisome days and nights, he penetrated within the veil, and could say, " I know that my Redeemer liveth." Surely the latter end of Job was more blessed than the beginning. --In the Hour of Silence.
"Trouble never comes to a man unless she brings a nugget of gold in her hand."
Apparent adversity will finally turn out to be the advantage of the right if we are only willing to keep on working and to wait patiently. How steadfastly the great victor souls have kept at their work, dauntless and unafraid! There are blessings which we cannot obtain if we cannot accept and endure suffering. There are joys that can come to us only through sorrow. There are revealings of Divine truth which we can get only when earth's lights have gone out. There are harvests which can grow only after the plowshare has done its work. --Selected.
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars; martyrs have put on their coronation robes glittering with fire, and through their tears have the sorrowful first seen the gates of Heaven. --Chapin.
I shall know by the gleam and glitter Of the golden chain you wear, By your heart's calm strength in loving, Of the fire you have had to bear. Beat on, true heart, forever; Shine bright, strong golden chain; And bless the cleansing fire And the furnace of living pain! -- Adelaide Proctor.
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