"It is because God is leading them that these things come upon them. Trials and obstacles are the Lord's chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success. He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they themselves know them. He sees that some have powers and susceptibilities which, rightly directed, might be used in the advancement of His work. In His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified. MH 471.1"
"A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps."
The EGW passage aligns with the principle in Proverbs 16:9 that God directs a person's steps, even when they make their own plans. EGW elaborates on how God uses trials and circumstances to shape individuals for His purpose.
"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 idea that trials and tribulations can lead to positive character development and a deeper relationship with God. EGW expands on the purpose of trials as a means of discovering and correcting defects.
"The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines. The blacksmith puts the iron and steel into the fire that he may know what manner of metal they are. The Lord allows His chosen ones to be placed in the furnace of affliction to prove what temper they are of and whether they can be fashioned for His work. MH 471.2"
"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness."
Both passages use the metaphor of a refiner's fire to describe how God uses trials to purify and refine His people. EGW elaborates on the idea that God only refines valuable ore, suggesting that trials are a sign of worth.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"
Both passages connect trials with the refining of faith, comparing it to the refining of gold. EGW's passage echoes the sentiment that trials reveal the preciousness within individuals.
"The potter takes the clay and molds it according to his will. He kneads it and works it. He tears it apart and presses it together. He wets it and then dries it. He lets it lie for a while without touching it. When it is perfectly pliable, he continues the work of making of it a vessel. He forms it into shape and on the wheel trims and polishes it. He dries it in the sun and bakes it in the oven. Thus it becomes a vessel fit for use. So the great Master Worker desires to mold and fashion us. And as the clay is in the hands of the potter, so are we to be in His hands. We are not to try to do the work of the potter. Our part is to yield ourselves to be molded by the Master Worker. MH 471.3"
"But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
Both passages use the analogy of a potter and clay to illustrate God's shaping and molding of individuals. EGW expands on the process, but the core concept of yielding to God's will as the potter is directly derived from Isaiah 64:8.
"And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."
The EGW passage directly references the potter and clay imagery, elaborating on the process described in Jeremiah. It's more than a thematic parallel; it's a direct allusion and expansion of the biblical concept.