"Many times in those childhood days I was made to feel my misfortune keenly. My feelings were unusually sensitive and caused me great unhappiness. Often with wounded pride, mortified and wretched in spirit, I sought a lonely place and gloomily pondered over the trials I was doomed daily to bear. 1T 12.1"
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
EGW describes feeling wounded, mortified, and wretched, seeking solace in loneliness. This resonates with the sentiment in Psalm 34:18, which assures that God is near to those with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The connection lies in the shared theme of emotional distress and the promise of divine comfort.
"The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?"
The EGW passage describes a 'wretched in spirit,' and the Proverbs verse speaks of a 'wounded spirit.' Both passages connect emotional distress with a sense of being wounded or broken, making this a valid thematic parallel.
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."
Both passages deal with a downcast spirit and internal struggle. The EGW passage describes her feelings of unhappiness and the Psalms verse questions why the soul is cast down. While not a direct quote or allusion, the thematic overlap is clear.
"The relief of tears was denied me. I could not weep readily, as could my twin sister; though my heart was heavy, and ached as if it were breaking, I could not shed a tear. I often felt that it would greatly relieve me to weep away my sorrow. Sometimes the kindly sympathy of friends banished my gloom and removed, for a time, the leaden weight that oppressed my heart. How vain and empty seemed the pleasures of earth to me then! how changeable the friendships of my young companions! Yet these little schoolmates were not unlike a majority of the great world's people. A pretty face, a handsome dress, attracts them; but let misfortune take these away, and the fragile friendship grows cold or is broken. But when I turned to my Saviour, He comforted me. I sought the Lord earnestly in my trouble, and received consolation. I felt assured that Jesus loved even me. 1T 12.2"
"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit."
The EGW passage describes the perceived emptiness and changeability of worldly pleasures and friendships, while Ecclesiastes declares that 'all is vanity.' The shared theme of the fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying nature of earthly things makes this a valid thematic parallel.
"I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears."
Both passages describe sorrow and a desire for tears as a release. While the EGW passage focuses on the inability to weep, and the Psalm focuses on weeping, both are connected to a state of deep sorrow.
"able to attend school but little. It seemed impossible for me to study and to retain what I learned. The same girl who was the cause of my misfortune was appointed monitor by our teacher, and it was among her duties to assist me in my writing and other lessons. She always seemed sincerely sorry for the great injury she had done me, although I was careful not to remind her of it. She was tender and patient with me, and seemed sad and thoughtful as she saw me laboring under serious disadvantages to get an education. 1T 12.3"
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
The EGW passage describes the girl who caused her misfortune showing kindness and remorse. This aligns with the principle of loving one's enemies as taught in Matthew 5:44. The connection is more than superficial.
"Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."
The EGW passage describes the girl who caused her misfortune showing kindness and remorse. This aligns with the principle of treating one's enemies with kindness as taught in Romans 12:20. The connection is more than superficial.