對成千上萬的人來說，2004年12月26日這個日子，改變了他們的生命。當天在亞洲十一個國家，極大的海嘯奪取了二十一萬多人的生命。現在生還者盡他們力量讓生活恢復正常時，全世界關心此事之人慷慨解囊的把大筆援助送去災區幫助災民，減輕痛苦，預防疾病，增加希望。
2011年，日本也面對了地震和海嘯。之前之後，日本以及其他的國家，都發生過地震、海嘯以及別的災害。
藉着許多人的努力，悲劇可以變為勝利。斯提范$瓦特豪斯在“賜力給屬他的人”一書中，說明，只要我們允許，悲劇和苦難能夠產生幾種正面的事。（一）苦難和悲劇促使人們團結。亞洲地震引發海嘯以後，各種幫助來自全世界。海嘯後，天下合一。各界人士以經濟援助傾訴同情。此捐助不但來自不同國家的政府，連老百姓都參與。
美國總統喬治布什奉獻一萬塊美元協助海嘯的災民。《華盛頓郵報》報導說美國加州的男孩子，放棄了九歲生日宴會，請他母親把$250.00 贈送給亞洲的難民。本人所參與的中田納西州中華基督教會，在那什維爾市，奉獻一千美元救濟印尼災民。是的，苦難促使人團結；團結把悲劇變為勝利。
（二）斯提范瓦特豪斯又解釋，苦難消滅自給自足的幻想，使得我們依賴神。《聖經》教導我們說，“神是我們的避難所，是我們的力量，是我們在患難中隨時的幫助。所以地雖改變，山雖搖動到海心…我們也不害怕” （詩篇46:1-3）。當地震所引發的海嘯，有把山搖動到海心似的狂瀾。但
是，神應許說，連那時候，神是我們的避難所和我們的幫助。
發生海嘯的那天，不知道多少人認為他們人生完美，安居樂業，自給自足。他們不承認需要神。當天晚上，海嘯一過，他們向神祈禱，尋找神，依靠神。既有人感謝神讓他們逃生；又有人向神質問說，為什麼親人被掃去。是的，如果我們允許，悲劇會把我們送到神的懷抱里。難怪，神想要做我們患難中隨時的幫助。當我們轉向神時，悲劇變為勝利。
當面對眾人都會遇到的共同問題，就是苦難時，要記得我們不獨自受苦。神與我們同在；屬於神的人也要親近我們。與神合一，與人團結，我們將會得勝。
伸出雙手接受人的捐助不表示我們毫無力量，相反地，它是個機會，讓很多人團結起來共同面對問題，互相表示人與人之間的關懷。讓神成為我們患難中的幫助，不表示我們軟弱無力；相反地，神的力量能夠使我們把悲劇變為勝利。
今天您就可以成為一位得勝者。請與他人手聯手的團結起來參與援助的工作。無論您住在何處，面對任何問題，讓神成為你的避難所和力量。神迫不及待地把他獨一無二的幫助給您。
For hundreds of thousands of people, life changed course on December 26, 2004, the day the tsunami hit eleven nations in Asia and took the lives of over 210,000 people. The year 2005 and for years beyond, those who survived the devastating tsunami will try to put life back together. Aid sent from all over the world to relieve suffering, prevent disease and encourage hope, will complement this process.
In 2011, as in years both before and after, a large earthquake struck Japan, followed my a devastating tsunami. Other countries have suffered similar as well as other disasters.
Through the personal effort of many people, tragedy can turn into triumph. In the book, Strength for His People, Steven Waterhouse, explains that tragedy and suffering can produce several positive things if we will allow them to do so. Suffering and tragedy produce unity, as we see in the worldwide response to the Asian tsunami. For several days following the tsunami the world was largely one, as an outpouring of sympathy in the form of financial and other aid was promised. This aid was sent not only by governments but also and especially by ordinary citizens.
United States president, George Bush, made a personal donation of $10,000.00 to aid tsunami victims. The Washington Post [January 8] reported that a 9-year-old California boy gave up his birthday party and asked his mother to send $250.00 to Asian children instead. The small church I attend in Nashville, Tennessee, composed mostly of people from China, contributed $1,000.00 to relief in Indonesia. Yes, suffering promotes unity and unity turns tragedy into triumph.
Waterhouse also explains that suffering destroys the illusion of self-sufficiency and drives us to depend on God. The Bible tells us that God is our refuge and strength, an ever‑present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea [Psalm 46:1‑2]. In the earthquake that precipitated the tsunami, in a sense, a mountain did fall into the heart of the sea, yet, God promises us that even there God is our refuge and strength.
The very day of the tsunami, how many people thought that they had life by the horns and were fully self-sufficient? They failed to acknowledge their need for God. By nightfall, however, they were praying to God, looking for God, depending on God. Some thanked God that they had been spared, while others questioned God as to why their loved ones had been taken. Tragedy will send us to God’s breast, if we will let it. Indeed, God wants to be our ever‑present help in trouble. The turn to God brings triumph out of tragedy.
As we face the suffering that is common to all people, we should remember that we do not suffer alone. God is with us and God’s people are also close to us. Unity with God and unity with each other helps us be triumphant. Reaching out and receiving aid from our fellow men does not prove our impotency; rather it serves as an opportunity for many people to bond in a common cause and express their humanity to each other. Allowing God to be our refuge and strength does not demonstrate that we are weak but rather serves to empower us with the strength of God, and thus to turn tragedy into triumph.
Be triumphant today by reaching out your hand in unity with your fellow man. Be involved in the giving of aid and perhaps even in the reception of it. Wherever you live and whatever problem you face, find in God the refuge and strength which is uniquely his and which he is anxious to extend.
【天災】三：生還者的人生觀——化悲劇為勝利
Natural Disasters (3): Philosophy of Life for Survivors:
Turn Tragedy into Victory
作者：謝德華 ©By Edward Short
World Christian Broadcasting