Anguish That God Will Be Reproached

Yet the anguish which God's people suffer is not a dread of persecution. They fear that through some fault in themselves they will fail to realize the fulfillment of the Saviour's promise: I “will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world.” Revelation 3:10. Should they prove unworthy because of their own defects of character, then God's holy name would be reproached.HF 376.3

They point to their past repentance of their many sins and plead the Saviour's promise: “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” Isaiah 27:5. Though suffering anxiety and distress, they do not cease their intercessions. They lay hold of God as Jacob laid hold of the Angel; and the language of their souls is “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”HF 376.4