Testimony Treasures, Volume 1 - Ellen G. White

Chapter 81
The Discipline of Trial
"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify
the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto
the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and
Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former
years." Malachi 3:3, 4. This is the process, the refining, purifying process,
which is to be carried on by the Lord of hosts. The work is most trying to the
soul, but it is only through this process that the rubbish and defiling
impurities can be removed. Our trials are all necessary to bring us close to
our heavenly Father, in obedience to His will, that we may offer to the Lord
an offering in righteousness.
To each whose name is here mentioned,* God has given capabilities,
talents to improve. You each need a new and living experience in the divine
life in order to do the will of God. No amount of past experience will suffice
for the present nor strengthen us to overcome the difficulties in our path. We
must have new grace and fresh strength daily in order to be victorious.
We are seldom, in all respects, placed in the same circumstances twice.
Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and many others were all sorely tried, but
not in the same way. Everyone has his individual tests and trials in the drama
of life, but the very same trials seldom come twice. Each has his own
experience, peculiar in its character and circumstances, to accomplish a
certain work. God has a work, a purpose, in the life of each of us. Every act,
however small, has its place in our life experience. We must have the
continual light and experience that come from God. We all need these, and
God is more than willing that we should have them if we will take them. He
has not closed the windows of heaven to your prayers, but you have felt
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