「你在苦難的爐中，我試煉你。」－以賽亞書48:10
- 苦難啊，儘管前來！神已揀選了我。
- 貧窮啊，儘管走進我家門吧！因為神早已守在家中；神已揀選了我。
- 疾病痛苦，和我放手一搏吧！神早為我預備了敷裹傷處的膏油；神已揀選了我。
- 雖然我身在流淚谷中，卻不怕任何患難，因為我知道，神已揀選了我。
在所有火煉的試煉中，祂的同在永遠是你的安慰與安息。
祂絕不會丟下你，因為你是祂為著自己所揀選的珍寶。
對於一切在「苦難的爐」中的選民，祂應許他們：「不要懼怕，因為我與你同在」。（創世記26:24）
－司布真
苦難的重量，外表像頸上懸掛的墓碑；實際上，卻是幫助潛水夫下沉的重量，使他能採集珍珠。
－李希特
"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" (Isa. 48:10).Does not the Word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yes, is it not an asbestos armor, against which the heat has no power? Let the affliction come--God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayest stride in at my door; but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayest intrude; but I have a balsam ready--God has chosen me. Whatever befall me in this vale of tears, I know that He has chosen me.
Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. "Fear not, for I am with thee," is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in "the furnace of affliction."
--C. H. Spurgeon
The burden of suffering seems a tombstone hung about our necks, while in reality it is only the weight which is necessary to keep down the diver while he is hunting for pearls. --Richter
