"Meeting Life's Discipline Beyond the discipline of the home and the school, all have to meet the stern discipline of life. How to meet this wisely is a lesson that should be made plain to every child and to every youth. It is true that God loves us, that He is working for our happiness, and that, if His law had always been obeyed, we should never have known suffering; and it is no less true that, in this world, as the result of sin, suffering, trouble, burdens, come to every life. We may do the children and the youth a lifelong good by teaching them to meet bravely these troubles and burdens. While we should give them sympathy, let it never be such as to foster self-pity. What they need is that which stimulates and strengthens rather than weakens. Ed 295"
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Both passages acknowledge the presence of tribulation in the world and encourage facing it with courage and strength. The EGW passage elaborates on the need to prepare children and youth for life's difficulties, echoing the sentiment in John 16:33 that tribulation is inevitable but can be overcome through faith.
"Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."
Both passages touch on the theme of suffering and trouble being inherent to human existence. While Job 5:7 is a general statement about the nature of life, the EGW passage connects this to the consequences of sin and the need to prepare for life's burdens.
"They should be taught that this world is not a parade ground, but a battlefield. All are called to endure hardness, as good soldiers. They are to be strong and quit themselves like men. Let them be taught that the true test of character is found in the willingness to bear burdens, to take the hard place, to do the work that needs to be done, though it bring no earthly recognition or reward. Ed 295.2"
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
The EGW passage directly alludes to 2 Timothy 2:3, using the imagery of a soldier enduring hardship. The phrase "endure hardness, as good soldiers" is a clear echo of the biblical verse.
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."
The EGW passage uses the phrase "quit yourselves like men, be strong," which is a direct quote from 1 Corinthians 16:13. This constitutes a clear and intentional allusion to the biblical text.
"Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
The EGW passage echoes the sentiment of bearing burdens, although it expands on it with the idea of enduring hardship as a soldier. The connection is more than just thematic, it's a direct application of the principle.
"The true way of dealing with trial is not by seeking to escape it, but by transforming it. This applies to all discipline, the earlier as well as the later. The neglect of the child's earliest training, and the consequent strengthening of wrong tendencies, makes his after education more difficult, and causes discipline to be too often a painful process. Painful it must be to the lower nature, crossing, as it does, the natural desires and inclinations; but the pain may be lost sight of in a higher joy. Ed 295.3"
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Both passages discuss the transformative power of trials and discipline. The EGW passage speaks of transforming trials and finding joy in discipline, while Romans 5:3-5 describes how tribulation leads to patience, experience, and hope. The core idea of growth through adversity is present in both.