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使徒保罗和他的宣教同工在他们的旅程中经历到很多困难。例如，保罗在哥林多后书1章说：“我们……被压太重，力不能胜，甚至连活命的指望都绝了。自己心里也断定是必死的。”保罗究竟是怎样渡过这些困难和逼迫的呢？他说是因为神安慰他和赐他力量胜过了这一切。

人人都需要得安慰。我们需要安慰时，我们可以仰望神来安慰我们和供应我们所需的。

尽管如此，神有时也会容许我们在生命中面对困境。当有这样的事情发生时，我们可以回顾圣徒们的经历，例如，保罗和他的同工们，看到神赐他们安慰和能力去胜过所经历的一切困境，我们便会从中得到激励。

我们必须倚靠神的大能，而不是靠我们自己的能力。当我们知道神知晓我们的处境时，我们便可以把我们的灵魂和生命都交托给祂，完全倚靠祂了。在祂手中，我们的前路是安稳的。

祷告带来作工的能力，我们祷告时，是谁在做工呢？是神在做工。留意保罗不是一个人独自祷告，他乃是邀请教会也一起祷告。我们面对困境时，神安慰我们、应允我们的祈求、甚至有时会施行神迹。我们可以每日信靠我们这位信实之主，赐人安慰的神。

The apostle Paul and his missionary companions experienced many hardships in their travels. For example, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1, "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death." How did Paul pull through such hardships and persecution? He said that God comforted him and gave him power to overcome them.

Everyone needs consolation. When we need consolation, we can rely on God to comfort us and provide what we need.

Even so, God allows us to face difficult troubles in our lives at times. And when that happens, we can look back to the experiences of other believers, like Paul and his companions—and we can be encouraged that God gave them the comfort and strength to carry through.

We must rely on God, not on our own power. When we realize that God knows our situations and that we totally depend on him, we can trust God with our souls and lives. Our destiny is safe in his hands.

There is working power in prayer. Who works when we pray? God. Notice that Paul doesn't pray by himself, but that he asks the church to pray too. God comforts us, answers our prayers, and often works miracles when we face hardships. We can trust our faithful, comforting God each day.