Our heavenly Father sees the hearts of men, and He knows their characters better than they themselves know them. He sees that some have susceptibilities and powers, which, directed in the right channel, might be used to His glory to aid in the advancement of His work. He puts these persons on trial and in His wise providence brings them into different positions and under a variety of circumstances, testing them that they may reveal what is in their hearts and the weak points in their characters which have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunities to correct these weaknesses, to polish off the rough corners of their natures, and to fit themselves for His service, that when He calls them to action they will be ready, and that angels of heaven may unite their labor with human effort in the work that must be done upon the earth. To men whom God designs shall fill responsible positions, He in mercy reveals their hidden defects, that they may look within and examine critically the complicated emotions and exercises of their own hearts, and detect that which is wrong; thus they may modify their dispositions and refine their manners. The Lord in His providence brings men where He can test their moral powers and reveal their motives of action, that they may improve what is right in themselves and put away that which is wrong. God would have His servants become acquainted with the moral machinery of their own hearts. In order to bring this about, He often permits the fire of affliction to assail them that they may become purified. “But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 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.” {4T 84.4}

Vor himmelske fader ser menneskenes hjerter og han kender deres karakter bedre, end de selv kender den. Han ser, at nogle er modtagelige og har evner, som, ledet i det rette spor, kunne bruges til hans ære og behage til hans værks fremme. Han stiller disse mennesker på (85) prøve og bringer dem ved sit vise forsyn i forskellige stillinger og under forskelligartede forhold og forsøger dem, for at de må kunne vise, hvad der er i deres hjerter og åbenbare de svage punkter i deres karakter, som har været skjulte for deres egen bevidsthed. Han giver dem anledning til at rette på disse svagheder, til at fjerne de skarpe kanter i deres natur og til at berede sig til hans tjeneste, så de kan være rede, når han kalder dem til handling og engle fra himmelen må kunne være sammen med menneskelige bestræbelser i det værk, der må udføres på jorden. For de mennesker, der ifølge Guds plan skal beklæde ansvarsfulde stillinger, åbenbarer han i nåde deres skjulte fejl, for at de må skue indad og kritisk ransage de indviklede sindsbevægelser og stemninger i deres egne hjerter og opdage, hvad der er forkert. Således vil de kunne omdanne deres tilbøjeligheder og forædle deres væsen. I sit forsyn bringer Gud menneskene derhen, hvor han kan prøve deres moralske kræfter og åbenbare bevæggrundene for deres handlinger, så de må kunne udvikle det gode, som er i dem og aflægge, hvad der er urigtigt. Gud ønsker, at hans tjenere skal få at vide, hvad der rører sig i deres egne hjerter. For at opnå dette tillader han ofte, at de kommer i trængselens ild for at blive renset. »Men hvem kan udholde den dag, han kommer og hvem kan stå, når han kommer til syne? Han er jo som metalsmelterens ild og tvætternes lud. Han sidder og smelter og renser sølv; han renser Levi sønner, lutrer dem som guld og sølv, så de kan frembære offergave for Herren i retfærdighed.«