What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "A despair is in me that has nothing to do with alcohol. I have never believed that I am saved by God's grace, and that naturally leads to even greater despair. And no matter how much one tries to convince me, although I believe in Jesus Christ, I cannot believe that He will save me. I want to believe that. I really want to."
Answer
The agonizing despair and the feeling that, despite faith in Christ, one cannot be personally saved, is a spiritual struggle that other believers have also experienced when God's righteousness seems to eclipse His mercy. However, salvation does not depend on our own worthiness or fluctuating feelings, but on entrusting our helpless soul completely to His grace and His promises. Christ invites every person to grasp His salvation precisely through faith because he is a needy sinner.
Entrusting the Helpless Soul to His Grace – Independent of Feelings
»Do not walk in the shadow of the cross. Give no room to weeping, lamenting, and wailing, but encourage your soul toward hope and joy. The cross points upward to a living Redeemer who is your intercessor and advocates for you. ... I would not teach that Jesus rose from the grave and ascended into heaven and lives to intercede for us before the Father if I did not put my teachings into practice and believe in Him for His salvation, by casting my helpless soul onto Jesus for His grace, for righteousness, for peace and love. I must trust Him, regardless of the changes in my emotional condition.«
Faith Because One Is a Sinner
»My sister, trust in the Lord as a little child trusts its earthly parents. Cling to the Savior. Let nothing separate your soul from God. ... Seek mercy; expect mercy. Constantly look for blessings. See them, acknowledge them, and do not complain, do not be angry. Do not blame God, but say: “Lord, I do believe, even though I am a sinner and because I am a sinner. I believe in You with all my heart. You are the truth, and I believe in Your word.”«
Grasping the Assurance of Salvation Through Christ
»Faith is not the reason for our salvation, but it is the great blessing – the eye that sees, the ear that hears, the feet that walk, the hand that grasps. It is the means, not the end. If Christ gave His life to save sinners, why should I not receive this blessing? My faith grasps it, and thus my faith is the confidence in what one hopes for, a non‑doubting in what one does not see. By resting and believing in this way, I have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. ... There will be the assurance that the soul is washed in the blood of Christ, clothed with His righteousness, and precious in the eyes of Jesus.«
One's Own Struggle with Despair and Guilt
»In my thoughts, God's righteousness cast His mercy and love into shadow. The spiritual torments I endured at that time were very great. ... The terrible thought constantly stood before me that my sins were too great to be forgiven, and that I would be lost forever.«
Overcoming the Feeling of Unworthiness
»But in my heart there was the feeling that I could never become worthy to be called a child of God. A lack of self‑confidence and the conviction that it would be impossible to make anyone understand my feelings prevented me from seeking counsel and help from my Christian friends. Thus I unnecessarily wandered in darkness and despair...«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
