In their labor the undershepherds must closely follow the directions, and manifest the spirit, of the Chief Shepherd. Skepticism and apostasy are met everywhere. God wants men to labor in His cause who have hearts as true as steel and who will stand steadfast in integrity, undaunted by circumstances. Amid trial and gloom they are just what they were when their prospects were brightened by hope and when their outward surroundings were all that they could desire. Daniel in the lions’ den is the same Daniel who stood before the king, enshrouded by the light of God. Paul in the dark dungeon, awaiting the sentence which he knew was to come from the cruel Nero, is the same Paul who addressed the court of Areopagus. A man whose heart is stayed upon God in the hour of his most afflicting trials and most discouraging surroundings is just what he was in prosperity, when the light and favor of God seemed to be upon him. Faith reaches to the unseen and grasps eternal things. {4T 448.1}

Under deres arbejde må underhyrderne nøje følge Overhyrdens anvisninger og vise hans ånd. Skepticisme og frafald mødes overalt. Gud mangler mennesker til at arbejde for hans sag, som har hjertet ligeså ægte som stål og som vil stå fast i renheden, uforfærdet af omstændighederne. Midt i prøvelser og mørke er de ligesom, da deres udsigter blev gjort lysere af håbet og da deres ydre omgivelser var hvad de kunne ønske. Daniel i løvekulen er den samme Daniel, som stod foran kongen, omgivet af Guds lys. Paulus i det mørke fangehul, ventende dommen han vidste, skulle komme fra den grusomme Nero, er den samme Paulus, som talte til Areopagus hof. Et menneske, som har sit hjerte fæstnet på Gud, i de største prøvelser og i de mest nedslående omgivelser, er kun hvad det menneske var i velstand, da Guds lys og gunst synes at komme over ham. Tro rækker til det usynlige og griber evige ting.