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哥林多后书：1:3-7: 3愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父神，就是发慈悲的父，赐各样安慰的神。4我们在一切患难中，他就安慰我们，叫我们能用神所赐的安慰去安慰那遭各样患难的人。5我们既多受基督的苦楚，就靠基督多得安慰。6我们受患难呢，是为叫你们得安慰、得拯救；我们得安慰呢，也是为叫你们得安慰；这安慰能叫你们忍受我们所受的那样苦楚。7我们为你们所存的盼望是确定的，因为知道你们既是同受苦楚，也必同得安慰。
今天经文的第4节，常常被用于基督徒的葬礼仪式。当我们在患难中得安慰，上帝也装备我们，使我们也能安慰别人。就连这个不信的世界也承认，团体治疗的积极效果（团体治疗：在治疗师的陪同下，几个患者讨论和分享他们的个人问题的治疗方式。）这种疗法把那些经历过相同的患难或损失的人，聚集在一起。许多人在一起分享相似的痛苦经历，或许会带来一些安慰，但是基督徒所带来的东西更有力量。基督徒还会分享他们得到的安慰，这种安慰只有上帝藉着基督和他的话语能够带给我们。
撒旦喜欢摆在我们面前的一个试探，就是使我们认为自己的处境是独一无二的，我们遭受的苦难，无论是方式还是深度，都是其他人未曾遭受的。所以，这种试探常常让使我们成为孤岛，与别人隔离起来，拒绝接受其他基督徒在苦难中能给予我们的安慰。不要听信魔鬼这样的谎言！从某些方面来说，我们的遭遇的确是独一无二的。但与此同时，其他的基督徒在他们的苦难中从上帝得到的安慰，也能在我们的苦难中安慰我们。复活的盼望是赐给每一个死去的人，无论是什么样的死亡方式。耶稣永远与我们同在的应许，是赐给每一个处于苦难中的人，无论苦难是大还是小。
耶稣从来没有让我们独自承担我们的重担。他邀请我们把忧虑卸给他，因为他顾念我们。他还鼓励我们在基督徒兄弟姐妹温暖的怀抱中寻找力量和安慰。
祷告：满有恩典的主啊，请提醒我，在今生的苦难中，我从不孤单。求你帮助我在你里面得着力量，在其他弟兄姐妹的怀抱里得着安慰。求你用你所赐给我的安慰，帮助我成为别人的安慰。阿们。
2 Corinthians 2: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (EHV)
You might recognize verse four, because it is part of our funeral liturgy. When we are comforted in our times of trouble, God is also equipping us to be a comfort to others as well. The world recognizes the positive effect of group therapy by bringing together people who have experienced the same trouble or loss. Christians bring to the table something far more powerful than sharing a common experience. They share the comfort that only God can give us through Christ and his Word.
One of the temptations that Satan likes to put in front of us is the thought that our situation is totally unique, that no one has suffered in the way that we have suffered, or to the depths that we have suffered. So we become islands to ourselves and deny ourselves the comfort that fellow Christians can give us in our affliction. Don’t fall for that lie! Sure, in some ways your situation is unique. But at the same time, the comfort that God gives our fellow Christians in their trouble can also comfort us in ours. The hope of the resurrection speaks to every death, tragic or otherwise. The promise that Jesus is always with us speaks to every trouble, no matter how difficult it might be.
Jesus never meant for us to bear our burdens alone. He invites us to cast our cares on him, because he cares for us. He also encourages us to find strength and comfort in the warm arms of our Christian brothers and sisters.
Prayer: Gracious Lord, remind me that I am never alone in the troubles of this life. Help me to find strength in you and comfort in the arms of my fellow believers. And help me to be a comfort to others by offering the same comfort that you have given me. Amen.