trouble obstacles on the path of faith are not just obstacles – they can become tools, through which God shapes character. Those who learn to take responsibility, make decisions, and overcome crises with trust in God gain inner strength, spiritual maturity, and a lasting influence on others. By Ellen White

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Creatively managing conflicts

God never intended for people with special abilities, great intelligence, or strong character to be permanently dependent on others—like ivy climbing an oak tree. Rather, the difficulties, setbacks, disappointments, and challenges that his servants encounter serve a higher purpose: the development of a strong character.

Those who use their intellectual abilities and overcome obstacles independently often discover that these very challenges become a blessing. They foster spiritual maturity, strengthen faith, and prepare them for tasks that demand greater responsibility and determination. Through such experiences, people come to know God's guidance and help on a personal level. This experience gives them confidence and inner strength.

When new difficulties arise later and major decisions need to be made, they learn to think carefully, recognize the need for prayer, and act with wisdom. Conflicts and crises, in particular, become opportunities to renew their trust in God. In this way, they develop the steadfastness that sustains a person even under pressure and enables them to faithfully and resolutely follow their path.

There is a constant need to explore new methods and approaches to problem-solving. Abilities are utilized that would otherwise remain dormant were it not for these pressing needs arising from God's work. In this way, one gains diverse experiences.

People who are narrow-minded or have underdeveloped ideas are of no help to God. People with influence and persuasive power, whom God can use for His glory in His work, are those who can withstand opposition, who have often faced puzzles, and whose plans have frequently been thwarted…

Act responsibly and individually

Be careful not to let the opinions of others influence your judgment. You may have made mistakes, but you can turn them into victories by avoiding them in the future. However, if you let others dictate what you should do, you will never gain the experience necessary for any important position.

The same applies to everyone who holds various positions of trust within Battle Creek's offices. They shouldn't be helped with every problem, flattered, or coddled, as this won't help them develop the skills needed for important roles. People become strong through obstacles, not through assistance.

Difficulties, conflicts, and rejection make people moral heroes. Too much comfort and too little responsibility produce weaklings and dwarfs… People who, in every crisis, should be as loyal as a needle to the pole, contribute too little because they try to protect themselves from criticism. They shirk responsibility because they are afraid of failing.

Individual independence and strength are the qualities required today. Individual character doesn't have to be abandoned, but rather adapted, refined, and enhanced… Obstacles and difficulties confront us at every turn. We must face them with determination, otherwise they will defeat us…

Be thorough and quick

Sometimes it is even better to make a wrong decision than to constantly waver and hesitate… I have been shown that the most extraordinary victories and the most terrible defeats are often decided in a matter of minutes. God expects swift action from us… Swift action at the decisive moment often disarms the enemy. He is disappointed and defeated because he expected to have time to plan and execute his cunning schemes… The ability to complete business quickly yet thoroughly is a great achievement… First, one should do what needs to be done and what is essential for the progress of the work; only then should the less important matters be addressed…

set priorities

Earthly and personal interests should always come second. God's cause should never suffer in even a single respect because of our earthly friends and dearest relatives… God's cause requires sacrifice. The sacrifice of our feelings is the most painful that is expected of us… God expects selfless and willing service. We can certainly fulfill it without neglecting the duties we have to our families…

Working on a balanced character

The faith we profess is shaped by our natural predispositions and temperaments. Therefore, it is extremely important that we strengthen our weak character traits by putting them to use, and weaken our strong, disadvantageous traits by working in the opposite direction and strengthening the opposing traits…

Correcting my self-image

In our work for God, we encounter a wide variety of situations. They demand self-control from us, but also enable us to adapt to the circumstances and the specifics of each situation. Then we can act fearlessly.

Let us not underestimate our ability to play our part in the various tasks of practical life! Where we are aware of our shortcomings, we should immediately set about correcting them. Let us not rely on others to do it for us. And certainly, let us not continue indifferently, as if it were self-evident that our personality structure must remain unchanged forever.

Let us earnestly strive to heal these faults so that we may be perfected in Jesus Christ and lack nothing! If we take ourselves too seriously, we will overestimate the influence of our work and insist on our independence to such an extent that it borders on arrogance.

However, if we go to the other extreme and undervalue ourselves, we will feel inferior. This can greatly impair the positive influence we could have.

We therefore want to avoid both extremes and not let our emotions control us. Circumstances don't have to throw us off course. We can develop a realistic self-image that protects us from both extremes.

We can have self-respect without arrogant self-confidence, but we can also descend to the lowest rung and submit without losing our self-respect or our independence. In this way, our lives can have a profound impact on people from both the upper and lower classes.

From: Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3, Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association (1875), pages 492-506