Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Missionaries in the Home,”

p. 143, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4; “The Divine Shepherd,”

pp. 476–484, in The Desire of Ages.

“Those who are finally victorious will have seasons of terrible

perplexity and trial in their religious life; but they must not cast away

their confidence, for this is a part of their discipline in the school of

Christ, and it is essential in order that all dross may be purged away.

The servant of God must endure with fortitude the attacks of the enemy,

his grievous taunts, and must overcome the obstacles which Satan will

place in his way. . . .

“But if you keep looking up, not down at your difficulties, you will

not faint in the way, you will soon see Jesus reaching His hand to help

you, and you will only have to give Him your hand in simple confi-

dence, and let Him lead you. As you become trustful, you will become

hopeful. . . .

“You will find help in Christ to form a strong, symmetrical, beautiful

character. Satan cannot make of none effect the light shining forth from

such a character. . . . God has given us His best gift, even His only-

begotten Son, to uplift, ennoble, and fit us, by putting on us His own

perfection of character, for a home in His kingdom.”—Ellen G. White,

Messages to Young People, pp. 63, 64.

Discussion Questions:

Ê To what extent have you been aware that the “terrible perplexity

and trial” that comes into your life may actually be part of your “dis-

cipline in the school of Christ”?

Ë How might our help, comfort, and encouragement to those in

the valley be part of the Shepherd’s way of getting people through

their crises? What things can you as a church do to be better used

by the Lord to help those in need?

Ì In class, go around and have each person talk about how good-

ness and mercy “pursued” them. What can you learn from one

another’s experiences?

Í Think about the last hours of Christ’s life, as He entered into

the crucible. From what you can tell, either from the Bible or Ellen

G. White (The Desire of Ages is a great source), how was Jesus,

in His humanity, able to endure? What can we take from His

example for ourselves in whatever crucibles we face, as well?