"The Passing of the Time The waiting people of God approached the hour when they fondly hoped their joys would be complete in the coming of the Saviour. But the time again passed unmarked by the advent of Jesus. It was a bitter disappointment that fell upon the little flock whose faith had been so strong and whose hope had been so high. But we were surprised that we felt so free in the Lord, and were so strongly sustained by His strength and grace. LS 61"
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
Both passages deal with waiting for a promised event and experiencing disappointment when it is delayed. Habakkuk encourages continued waiting, while the EGW passage describes the bitter disappointment of the delayed advent. The connection is thematic and relevant.
"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."
The EGW passage describes a time of disappointment and the sustaining grace of God, which aligns with the theme of God's grace being sufficient in weakness found in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
"The experience of the former year was, however, repeated to a greater extent. A large class renounced their faith. Some who had been very confident, were so deeply wounded in their pride that they felt like fleeing from the world. Like Jonah, they complained of God, and chose death rather than life. Those who had built their faith upon the evidence of others, and not upon the word of God, were now as ready to again change their views. This second great test revealed a mass of worthless drift that had been drawn into the strong current of the advent faith, and been borne along for a time with the true believers and earnest workers. LS 61.2"
"And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live."
EGW explicitly compares the experience of some Advent believers to Jonah's desire to die, making a direct connection to the biblical narrative.
"We were disappointed, but not disheartened. We resolved to refrain from murmuring at the trying ordeal by which the Lord was purging us from the dross and refining us like gold in the furnace; to submit patiently to the process of purifying that God deemed needful for us; and to wait with patient hope for the Saviour to redeem His tried and faithful ones. LS 61.3"
"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."
Both passages use the metaphor of refining in a furnace to describe a process of purification through trials. The Isaiah verse provides a clear biblical basis for EGW's statement.