Trials
by Ellen White
Every heart will be tested, every character developed. It is principle that God's
people must act upon. The living principle must be carried out in the life. 1T 222
We are too quickly discouraged, and earnestly cry for the trial to be removed from us,
when we should plead for patience to endure and grace to overcome. 1T 310
Our heavenly Father measures and weighs every trial before He permits it to come upon
the believer. He considers the circumstances and the strength of the one who is to stand
under the proving and test of God, and He never permits the temptations to be greater than
the capacity of resistance. If the soul is overborne, the person overpowered, this can
never be charged to God, as failing to give strength in grace, but the one tempted was not
vigilant and prayerful and did not appropriate by faith the provisions God had abundantly
in store for him. Christ never failed a believer in his hour of combat. The believer must
claim the promise and meet the foe in the name of the Lord, and he will not know anything
like failure.--MS 6, 1889. 2MCP 473
It is obstacles that make men strong. It is . . . difficulties, conflicts, rebuffs,
that make men of moral sinew. Too much ease and avoiding responsibility have made
weaklings and dwarfs of those who ought to be responsible men of moral power and strong
spiritual muscle. 3T 495
Fearful tests and trials await the people of God. The spirit of war is stirring the
nations from one end of the earth to the other. 9T 17
Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from
further temptation and trial.... They were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth,
who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with
all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ
Jesus. Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and
still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy spirit's working, even the weakest, by
exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become
sanctified, refined, and ennobled. AA 49
Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation. Often when placed in a
trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us. But it was the
Spirit's leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. When God
brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. DA 126
"Blessed are the meek." The difficulties we have to encounter may be very
much lessened by that meekness which hides itself in Christ. If we possess the humility of
our Master, we shall rise above the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances to which we are
daily exposed, and they will cease to cast a gloom over the spirit. The highest evidence
of nobility in a Christian is self-control. He who under abuse or cruelty fails to
maintain a calm and trustful spirit, robs God of His right to reveal in him His own
perfection of character. Lowliness of heart is the strength that gives victory to the
followers of Christ; it is the token of their connection with the courts above. DA 301
Through all our trials we have a never-failing Helper. He does not leave us alone to
struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and
sorrow. Though now He is hidden from mortal sight, the ear of faith can hear His voice
saying, Fear not; I am with you. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I
am alive forevermore." Rev.1:18. DA 483
The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defence of every contrite soul. Not one
that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under
the enemy's power. The Saviour is by the side of His tempted and tried ones. With Him
there can be no such thing as failure, loss, impossibility, or defeat; we can do all
things through Him who strengthens us. When temptations and trials come, do not wait to
adjust all the difficulties, but look to Jesus, your helper. DA 490
Poverty is coming upon this world, and there will be a time of trouble such as never
was since there was a nation. There will be wars and rumours of wars, and the faces of men
will gather paleness. You may have to suffer distress; you may go hungry sometimes; but
God will not forsake you in your suffering. He will test your faith. We are not to live to
please ourselves. We are here to manifest Christ to the world, to represent Him and His
power to mankind.-- Manuscript 37, 1894. EV 240
The followers of Christ know little of the plots which Satan and his hosts are forming
against them. But He who sitteth in the heavens will overrule all these devices for the
accomplishment of His deep designs. The Lord permits His people to be subjected to the
fiery ordeal of temptation, not because He takes pleasure in their distress and
affliction, but because this process is essential to their final victory. He could not,
consistently with His own glory, shield them from temptation; for the very object of the
trial is to prepare them to resist all the allurements of evil. GC 528
The more you talk faith, the more faith you will have. The more you dwell upon
discouragement, talking to others about your trials and enlarging upon them, to enlist the
sympathy which you crave, the more discouragements and trials you will have. Why mourn
over that which you cannot avoid?. . . HP 247
Satan brings all his powers to the assault in the last close conflict, and the
endurance of the follower of Christ is taxed to the utmost. At times it seems that he must
yield. But a word of prayer to the Lord Jesus goes like an arrow to the throne of God, and
angels of God are sent to the field of battle...The tide is turned. The wondrous light
that shines in the face of Jesus Christ has stopped the mouth of the cavilling opponents.
HP 297 (MS 53 1905)
Troubles may invade, but these are the lot of humanity. Let patience, gratitude, and
love keep sunshine in the heart though the day may be ever so cloudy. MH 393
Instead of thinking of your discouragements, think of the power you can claim in
Christ's name. . . let your thoughts be directed to the evidences of the great love of God
for you. Faith can endure trail, resist temptation, bear up under disappointment. Jesus
lives as our advocate. All is ours that His mediation secures. . . All experiences and
circumstances are God's workmen whereby good is brought to us. MH 488
They had made the outward forms all-important, while they had lost the spirit of true
worship. Their services were corrupted with the traditions and practises of heathenism;
and in the performance of the sacrificial rites they did not look beyond the shadow to the
substance. They did not discern Christ, the true offering for the sins of men. The Lord
wrought to bring the people into captivity, and to suspend the services in the temple, in
order that the outward ceremonies might not become the sum total of their religion. Their
principles and practise must be purged from heathenism. The ritual service ceased, in
order that the heart might be revived. The outward glory was removed, that the spiritual
might be revealed. PH048 42
Every institution will have to battle with difficulty. Trials are permitted in order to
test the hearts of God's people. When adversity befalls one of the Lord's
instrumentalities, it will be shown how much real faith we have in God and in His work. At
such a time let none view matters in the worst light and give expression to doubt and
unbelief. Do not criticise those who carry the burdens of responsibility. Let not the
conversation in your homes be poisoned with criticism of the Lord's workers. Parents who
indulge this criticising spirit are not bringing before their children that which will
make them wise unto salvation. Their words tend to unsettle the faith and confidence not
only on the children, but of those older in years. All have little enough of respect and
reverence for sacred things. Satan will unite most zealously with the criticiser in
fostering unbelief, envy, jealousy, and disrespect. Satan is always at work to imbue men
with his spirit, to quench the love which should be sacredly cherished between brethren,
to discourage confidence, to excite envy, evil surmisings, and the strife of tongues. Let
us not be found acting as his co-workers. One heart open to his suggestions may sow many
seeds of disaffection. Thus may be wrought a work whose results in the ruin of souls will
never be fully manifest until the great day of final judgement. PM 115
The children of God may rejoice in all things and at all times. When troubles and
difficulties come, believing in the providence of God, you may rejoice. You need not wait
for a happy flight of feeling, but by faith you may lay hold of the promises and lift up a
hymn of thanksgiving to God. . . RH FEB.11,1890 (HP 123)
Self-denial, self-sacrifice, benevolence, kindness, love, patience, fortitude, and
Christian trust are the daily fruits borne by those who are truly connected with God.
Their acts may not be published to the world, but they themselves are daily wrestling with
evil, and gaining precious victories over temptation and wrong. Solemn vows are renewed
and kept through the strength gained by earnest prayer and constant watching thereunto.
The ardent enthusiast does not discern the struggles of these silent workers; but the eye
of Him who seeth the secrets of the heart, notices and regards with approval every effort
put forth in lowliness and meekness. It requires the testing time to reveal the true gold
of love and faith in the character. When trials and perplexities come upon the church,
then the steadfast zeal and warm affections of the Christian are developed. RH JAN.18,1881
From the light which God has given me, I know that the Lord would do far more for us as
a people if we would walk in humility before him. Every one of God's people will be tested
and proved, and we want you to be in a position where you will bear the proving of God,
and not be found wanting when your moral worth is weighed in the balances of the
sanctuary. We want you to be constantly moving onward and upward; but that which hinders
your progress in a large degree is your self-esteem, the high opinion that you entertain
of your own ability. If there was ever a place where self needed to die, it is here. Let
us see the death struggle. Let us hear the dying groans. Self-exaltation ever separates
the soul from God, no matter in whom it is found, whether in those in responsible
positions or in those who are in some less important place. Whatever has been done to
attract the attention to self, has detracted from the glory that should have been rendered
to God, and has brought leanness to your souls. It is through this avenue of self-esteem
and self-sufficiency that Satan will seek to ensnare the people of God. RH JUN.18,1889
Many times his [Gods] way of dealing is so contrary to our plans and expectations that
we are amazed and confounded. We do not understand our perverse natures; and often when we
are gratifying self, following our own inclinations, we flatter ourselves that we are
carrying out the mind of God....
Some seek to control their surroundings, thinking that if they are placed in favourable
positions, the bad traits in their character will not be developed. But God orders our
surroundings, and he will place us where we shall have test after test, to prove us and to
reveal what is in our hearts. RH JUN.6,1884
The obstacles, provocations, and hardships that we meet, may prove to us, not a curse,
but the greatest blessing of our lives; for the grandest characters are built amid
hardships and trials. But they must be received as practical lessons in the school of
Christ. Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience,
and advances us in the work of character-building. We have a better knowledge of the
working of Satan, and of our own power to defeat him through divine grace.... It is our
privilege to walk in the sunshine of his presence, and weave into the characters we are
forming the golden threads of cheerfulness, gratitude, forbearance, and love. We may thus
show the power of divine grace, and reflect light from Heaven amid all the frets and
irritations that come to day by day....
[568A.0] He is waiting to be gracious. [Rev. 3:20 quoted.] And then comes the gracious
assurance: `To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne....' RH
NOV.24,1885
Comfort, encouragement, and support have been provided for every condition of life. Let
us rejoice in the love of God. Let us praise Him who has made promises so royal. Let these
promises keep our hearts in perfect peace. Jesus lives. His hand is guiding us. Constantly
our hearts may be filled with the peace that passeth all understanding, even the peace
that Jesus gives: Let us make the promises of God's Word our own. In times of test and
trial these promises will be to us glad springs of heavenly comfort. ST AUG.22,1906
But the man upon whom the miracle was wrought was not to be intimidated by their scorn,
and said: "Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and
yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be
a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not
heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of
God, he could do nothing." The indignation of the scribes and Pharisees knew no
bounds. Gathering their robes about them, as though they feared contamination, shaking the
dust from their feet against him, and treating him with the utmost contempt and derision,
they said, "Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?" And in
no gentle manner they thrust him out of the synagogue. The sheep was cast out of the fold
for being a living witness to the power of Christ. Many have been cast out of the church
whose names were registered upon the book of life. Wolves in sheep's clothing were ready
to cast out of the fold and devour one who was entitled to the Lord's pasture; but Jesus,
the True Shepherd, sought him, and gave him a place within the fold. ST DEC.04,1893
It is no sign that Jesus has ceased to love us because we experience doubts and
discouragements. Affliction comes to us in the providence of God in order that we may see
that Christ is our helper, that in him is love and consolation. We may receive grace
whereby we may be overcomers, and inherit the life that measures with the life of God. We
must have an experience so that when affliction comes upon us, we shall not depart from
our faith and choose fables. ST MAY 07,1896
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