I

Every step of God's work—whether it be harsh words, or judgment, or chastisement—makes man perfect, and is absolutely appropriate. Never throughout the ages has God done work such as this; today, He works in you and makes you appreciate His wisdom. Although you have suffered some pain inwardly, your hearts always feel grounded and at peace; it's your blessing to be able to enjoy this stage of the work of God. Regardless of what you are able to gain in the future, you see that all of God's work in you today is love.

II

Today, most people don't have that knowledge. They believe that suffering is without value, and that the world rejects them, their home life is troubled, that God does not find them pleasing, and their prospects are bleak. Some people even want to die when they suffer to a certain extent. This is not true love for God; such people are cowards, they have no perseverance, they are spineless and incompetent! God is eager for man to love Him, but the more man loves Him, the greater man's suffering, and the more man loves Him, the greater man's trials. If you love Him, then every kind of suffering will befall you—and if you do not, then perhaps everything will go smoothly for you and all will be peaceful around you.

III

When you love God, you will always feel that much around you is insurmountable. And because your stature is too small, you'll be refined, and you'll be incapable of satisfying God—you will always feel that God's intentions are too lofty, that they are beyond the reach of man. Because of all this you will be refined—because there is much weakness within you, and you are, in many respects, incapable of satisfying God's intentions, you will be refined internally. Yet you must clearly see that purification is only achieved through refinement. Thus, during these last days you must bear testimony for God. No matter how great your suffering, you should walk until the very end, and even at your last breath, you must be loyal to God and put yourselves at the mercy of God's orchestration; only this is truly loving God, and only this is the strong and resounding testimony.

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Only by Experiencing Painful Trials Can You Know the Loveliness of God