"Referring to the prospect of death, she declared: “I feel, the sooner the better; all the time that is how I feel —the sooner the better. I have not a discouraging thought, nor sadness.... I have nothing to complain of. Let the Lord take His way and do His work with me, so that I am refined and purified; and that is all I desire. I know my work is done; it is of no use to say anything else. I shall rejoice, when my time comes, that I am permitted to lie down to rest in peace. I have no desire that my life shall be prolonged.” LS 444.1"
"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"
Both passages express a desire to depart this life and be with God. Paul's statement in Philippians 1:23 directly states this desire, while EGW's statement expresses a similar sentiment of welcoming death and anticipating rest.
"“Heavenly Father, I come to Thee, weak, like a broken reed, yet by the Holy Spirit's vindication of righteousness and truth that shall prevail. I thank Thee, Lord, I thank Thee, and I will not draw away from anything that Thou wouldst give me to bear. Let Thy light, let Thy joy and grace, be upon me in my last hours, that I may glorify Thee, is my great desire; and this is all that I shall ask of Thee. Amen.” LS 444.3"
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Both passages highlight the concept of strength being made perfect in weakness through God's grace. EGW's prayer acknowledges her weakness ('like a broken reed') and asks for God's light, joy, and grace, aligning with the principle expressed in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Both passages address God in a time of weakness and acknowledge the need for His presence and comfort. While Psalm 23:4 specifically mentions the 'valley of the shadow of death,' EGW's prayer reflects a similar awareness of mortality and reliance on God's support.
"This humble, trustful prayer by one who long had been a chosen vessel in the Master's service, was fully answered. Hers was the comfort that causes a child of the great Father of light and love to fear no evil, even while passing through the valley of the shadow of death. One Sabbath day, only a few short weeks before she breathed her last, she said to her son: LS 444.4"
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
The EGW passage explicitly mentions 'passing through the valley of the shadow of death' and connects it to the comfort received from God, directly alluding to Psalm 23:4.
"“I am very weak. I am sure that this is my last sickness. I am not worried at the thought of dying. I feel comforted all the time, that the Lord is near me. I am not anxious. The preciousness of the Saviour has been so plain to me. He has been a friend. He has kept me in sickness and in health. LS 444.5"
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
The EGW passage expresses a similar sentiment of peace and comfort in the face of death, relying on the presence of the Lord, as Psalm 23:4. The phrase "I am not anxious" directly echoes the sentiment of fearing no evil because God is with her.