"The Burden Lifted While bowed at the altar with others who were seeking the Lord, all the language of my heart was: “Help, Jesus; save me, or I perish! I will never cease to entreat till my prayer is heard and my sins are forgiven.” I felt my needy, helpless condition as never before. LS 23"
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
The EGW passage reflects the spirit of Matthew 11:28. Ellen White expresses her feeling of being burdened and her need for Jesus' help, mirroring the invitation in Matthew to come to Jesus for rest from being 'heavy laden.'
"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
Both passages depict a person in deep humility and desperation, pleading for God's mercy and forgiveness. The publican's prayer in Luke 18:13, 'God be merciful to me a sinner,' echoes the sentiment in EGW's plea for help and salvation.
"As I knelt and prayed, suddenly my burden left me, and my heart was light. At first a feeling of alarm came over me, and I tried to resume my load of distress. It seemed to me that I had no right to feel joyous and happy. But Jesus seemed very near to me; I felt able to come to Him with all my griefs, misfortunes, and trials, even as the needy ones came to Him for relief when He was upon earth. There was a surety in my heart that He understood my peculiar trials, and sympathized with me. I can never forget this precious assurance of the pitying tenderness of Jesus toward one so unworthy of His notice. I learned more of the divine character of Christ in that short period, when bowed among the praying ones, than ever before. LS 23.4"
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
This is a strong thematic parallel. The EGW passage directly reflects the promise of Matthew 11:28. She describes her burden being lifted and finding rest and comfort in Jesus, which aligns perfectly with the invitation to come to Him for rest.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
The EGW passage directly illustrates the principle of Jesus's compassion and understanding of human suffering, as described in Hebrews 4:15. The passage describes her personal experience of feeling understood and comforted by Jesus, which aligns with the verse's assertion that Jesus is touched by our infirmities.