「因為他說，神使我在受苦之地繁衍。」－創世記41:52
「今晚的雨太過猛烈，我已無法承受。
試煉的雨水、失望的雨水接二連三地摧毀了我心希冀的美好計畫。我的生命為損失的雨點傾注，我退後的心在錐心的苦楚中顫抖。
這些日子以來，我受了無數憂患的擊傷，我的靈魂在痛苦中消磨枯槁。」親愛的朋友，你錯了。
下在你身上的，其實並不是雨水，而是點滴的祝福。
你只要簡單相信父神的話語，大雨過後，百花將甦醒綻放，遠比未受風雨擊打的生命更加芳香嬌豔。
你的確看到了雨，但你可否見到雨後的花朵呢？
你只看見試驗中的受苦受熬，神卻眺望到試驗過後信心之花的開放。
你不願接受苦難，但神卻知道憐憫生於苦難；不經過苦難，你就無法體恤旁人的軟弱。你的心因痛喪摯愛而畏縮，但神卻曉得經過損失，你將更為深刻豐富。
所以，天上落下的，並不是苦難的雨水，而是溫柔、慈愛、憐恤、忍耐...等各種聖靈的花果。這些所帶給你屬靈豐美的生命，將遠超安逸平順的生活所能帶給你的。
－J.M.McC.
"For God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction" (Gen. 41:52).The summer showers are falling. Perchance some one of God's chastened children is even now saying, "O God, it is raining hard for me tonight.
"Testings are raining upon me which seem beyond my power to endure. Disappointments are raining fast, to the utter defeat of all my chosen plans. Bereavements are raining into my life which are making my shrinking heart quiver in its intensity of suffering. The rain of affliction is surely beating down upon my soul these days."
Withal, friend, you are mistaken. It isn't raining rain for you. It's raining blessing. For, if you will but believe your Father's Word, under that beating rain are springing up spiritual flowers of such fragrance and beauty as never before grew in that stormless, unchastened life of yours.
You indeed see the rain. But do you see also the flowers? You are pained by the testings. But God sees the sweet flower of faith which is upspringing in your life under those very trials.
You shrink from the suffering. But God sees the tender compassion for other sufferers which is finding birth in your soul.
Your heart winces under the sore bereavement. But God sees the deepening and enriching which that sorrow has brought to you.
It isn't raining afflictions for you. It is raining tenderness, love, compassion, patience, and a thousand other flowers and fruits of the blessed Spirit, which are bringing into your life such a spiritual enrichment as all the fullness of worldly prosperity and ease was never able to beget in your innermost soul. --J. M. McC.
