May 11

"We went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." (Psa. 66:12)

Paradoxical though it be, only that man is at rest who attains¹ it through conflict. This peace, born of conflict, is not like the deadly hush² preceding the tempest, but the serene³ 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 gale⁴, who has tested the ship, who knows her hulk sound, her rigging strong, and her anchor-flukes able to grasp and hold by the ribs⁵ of the world.

When first affliction comes upon us, how everything gives way! Our clinging, tendril hopes are snapped, and our heart lies prostrate⁶ 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 binds⁷ them fast to the feet of God. Thus the end is confidence, safety, and peace. --Selected.

The adverse⁸ winds blew against my life;

My little ship with grief was tossed;

My plans were gone--heart full of strife⁹,

And all my hope seemed to be lost--

"Then He arose"--one word of peace.

"There was a calm"--a sweet release.

A tempest great of doubt and fear

Possessed¹⁰ my mind; no light was there

To guide, or make my vision clear.

Dark night! 'twas more than I could bear--

"Then He arose," I saw His face—

"There was a calm" filled with His grace.

My heart was sinking 'neath the wave

Of deepening test and raging grief;

All seemed as lost, and none could save,

And nothing could bring me relief--

"Then He arose"--and spoke¹¹ one word,

"There was a calm!" IT IS THE LORD.

--L. S. P.

“我们经过水火；你却使我们到丰富之地”（诗六六；12）。

　　只有那曾经历患难和痛苦的人才能得到安息。这种安息——从患难中产生的安息——不是勉强的镇静，也不是死寂，乃是顶自然地从里面涌出来的安息。

　　平常我们以为顺利的人，从来不知道忧愁的人，是最有安息的人。可是错了。这种人从来没有受过试验，从来没有受过苦楚，所以或许轻轻的一震也受不住。凡没有看见过风浪的水手，不是最可靠的水手；所以船上新来的水手总是派在不重要的地位上工作的；风浪澎湃的时候，站在重要职位上的，总是那些曾遇见过许多患难危险而能死里逃生的水手，他们能推测波浪的力量，他们能知道桅杆的坚度，他们能预料风雨的久暂，他们能断定轮索的韧性。

　　当患难初临的时候，似乎一切都经不起它的打击，无能为力地躺了下来；可是等到风暴的最初一阵子的袭击过去之后，我们又能抬起头来说：“这是出于耶和华”，（撒上三：18）信心把残破的希望，重又收拾了起来，紧紧系住在神的脚上，其结果为信，可靠与安全。

一叶扁舟在惊涛骇浪中，

逆风打击着我的生命，

计划归于虚无，希望渺茫，

悲叹着命运的蹉跎。

圣经说：耶稣醒了，风浪静了，

这是平安的福音，安慰的叮咛。

心头意念被侵袭，

疑虑和恐惧的风暴，

模糊黑暗，它遮蔽了一切，

没有光明作我的向导。

圣经说：耶稣醒了，风浪静了，

我看见了他温柔的笑貌。

我的心似沉入巨波，

深深地卷入，无力抗拒，

似乎一切都已丧失，无人挽救，

什么也不能解除我的痛楚，

圣经说：耶稣醒了，风浪静了，

无穷的能力来自我主。

1 attains   

（通常经过努力）实现( attain的第三人称单数 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况）

参考例句：

• This is the period at which the body attains maturity. 这是身体发育成熟的时期。
• The temperature a star attains is determined by its mass. 恒星所达到的温度取决于它的质量。

2 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

3 serene   

adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的

参考例句：

• He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
• He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

4 gale   

n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等）

参考例句：

• We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
• According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报，明天有大风。

5 ribs   

n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹

参考例句：

• He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。
• Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。

6 prostrate   

v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的

参考例句：

• She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
• The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。

7 binds   

v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕

参考例句：

• Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

9 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

10 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

11 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。