「我們經過水火；你卻領我們出到豐富之地。」－詩篇66:12
這種孕育自衝突的安息，不像風雨前了無生命的死寂；而是像風雨後，鼻息間乾淨的空氣與寧靜、富有生氣的大地。
那些生命平順，未經患難愁苦的人，絕不是最堅強的人，他們也沒有嘗過真正的安息，他們禁不起一點試驗的震盪。
未見過風暴的水手，就不能成為可靠的水手。風平浪靜時，他們或許可以掌舵遨遊；一旦風雨臨近，經驗老道的水手必要親手掌舵。因為他們深暗船隻的性能與堅固與否，他們知道繩索的韌度，他們知道錨鉤能扣住海底的脊樑。
生命的第一場患難臨到我們時，我們似乎禁不起一點打擊。
我們的心像被暴風凌虐過的葡萄藤，倒地不起；我們的希望像蔓藤被無情的折斷，無法攀附藤架。
但在患難的暴虐經過後，不久我們卻又能重新抬起頭來，說：「這是出於耶和華」（約書亞記11:20）。
信心不久就能舉起曾經幻滅的希望，並將它牢牢繫在神的腳上。隨之而來的，就是確據、穩妥，與平安。－選
"We went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place" (Ps. 66:12).Paradoxical though it be, only that man is at rest who attains it through conflict. This peace, born of conflict, is not like the deadly hush preceding the tempest, but the serene and pure-aired quiet that follows it.
It is not generally the prosperous one, who has never sorrowed, who is strong and at rest. His quality has never been tried, and he knows not how he can stand even a gentle shock. He is not the safest sailor who never saw a tempest; he will do for fair-weather service, but when the storm is rising, place at the important post the man who has fought out a gale, who has tested the ship, who knows her hulk sound, her rigging strong, and her anchor-flukes able to grasp and hold by the ribs of the world.
When first affliction comes upon us, how everything gives way! Our clinging, tendril hopes are snapped, and our heart lies prostrate like a vine that the storm has torn from its trellis; but when the first shock is past, and we are able to look up, and say, "It is the Lord," faith lifts the shattered hopes once more, and binds them fast to the feet of God. Thus the end is confidence, safety, and peace. --Selected
