But while we do not accept their version of our case as the reason for our afflictions, while we maintain that God has appointed us to a more trying work than He has others, we acknowledge with humility of soul and with repentance that our faith and courage have been severely tried and that we have sometimes failed to trust wholly in Him who has appointed us our work. When we gather courage again, after sore disappointment and trials, we deeply regret that we ever distrusted God, gave way to human weaknesses, and permitted discouragement to cloud our faith and lessen our confidence in God. I have been shown that God’s ancient servants suffered disappointments and discouragements as well as we poor mortals. We were in good company; nevertheless this did not excuse us. {3T 260.3}

Men selvom vi ikke godtager deres version af sagen som grunden til vore trængsler, medens vi fastholder det lidt mere hårde arbejde som Gud har bestemt for os, (261) indrømmer vi med sjælens ydmyghed og anger at vor tro og mod er blevet prøvet strengt og at vi nogen gange ikke har stolet fuldt på ham som har anvist os vort arbejde. Når vi så samler mod igen, efter smertelige skuffelser og prøvelser, angrer vi dybt at vi ikke har stolet på Gud og at vi gav plads for menneskelig svaghed og lod modløshed omtåge vor tro og formindske for tillid til Gud. Jeg er blevet vist at Guds tjenere fordum led skuffelser og nederlag så vel som vi stakkels mennesker. Vi var i godt selskab; men dette er ingen undskyldning.