Life sketches of ellen g. white

the will of God, would certainly be granted to me. I sank
in humility at the feet of Jesus, with my heart in harmony
with His will. p. 60, Para. 1, [LS15].
I often visited families, and engaged in earnest prayer
with those who were oppressed by fears and despondency. My
faith was so strong that I never doubted for a moment that
God would answer my prayers. Without a single exception,
the blessing and peace of Jesus rested upon us in answer to
our humble petitions, and the hearts of the despairing ones
were made joyful by light and hope. p. 60, Para. 2,
[LS15].
With diligent searching of heart and humble confessions,
we came prayerfully up to the time of expectation. Every
morning we felt that it was our first work to secure the
evidence that our lives were right before God. We realized
that if we were not advancing in holiness, we were sure to
retrograde. Our interest for one another increased; we
prayed much with and for one another. We assembled in the
orchards and groves to commune with God and to offer up our
petitions to Him, feeling more fully in His presence when
surrounded by His natural works. The joys of salvation were
more necessary to us than our food and drink. If clouds
obscured our minds, we dared not rest or sleep till they
were swept away by the consciousness of our acceptance with
the Lord. p. 60, Para. 3, [LS15].
The Passing of the Time-- The waiting people of God
approached the hour when they fondly hoped their joys would
be complete in the coming of the Saviour. But the time
again passed unmarked by the advent of Jesus. It was a
bitter disappointment that fell upon the little flock whose
faith had been so strong and whose hope had been so high.
But we were surprised that we felt so free in the Lord, and
were so strongly sustained by His strength and grace. p.
61, Para. 1, [LS15].
The experience of the former year was, however, repeated
to a greater extent. A large class renounced their faith.
Some who had been very confident, were so deeply wounded in
their pride that they felt like fleeing from the world.
Like Jonah, they complained of God, and chose death rather
than life. Those who had built their faith upon the
evidence of others, and not upon the word of God, were now
as ready to again change their views. This second great
test revealed a mass of worthless drift that had been drawn