There is a high standard to which we are to attain if we would be children of God, noble, pure, holy, and undefiled; and a pruning process is necessary if we would reach this standard. How would this pruning be accomplished if there were no difficulties to meet, no obstacles to surmount, nothing to call out patience and endurance? These trials are not the smallest blessings in our experience. They are designed to nerve us to determination to succeed. We are to use them as God’s means to gain decided victories over self instead of allowing them to hinder, oppress, and destroy us. {5T 344.3}

Der er et højt ideal for os at nå op til, hvis vi ønsker at være Guds børn, ædle, rene og ubesmittede; og beskæring er en nødvendig proces, om vi ønsker at nå dette ideal. Hvordan skulle denne beskæring kunne foregå, hvis der ingen vanskeligheder var at møde, ingen hindringer at overstige, intet, der ville stille krav til vor tålmodighed og udholdenhed? Disse prøvelser er ikke de (345) mindste velsignelser i vor erfaring. Deres hensigt er at styrke os med beslutsomhed til at ville vinde frem. I stedet for at tillade dem at hindre, nedtrykke og ødelægge os skal vi benytte dem som Guds middel til at vinde afgjorte sejre over selvet.