Building upon his statement in verse 2, Alma focuses on the fact that Jehovah can deliver one from bondage and trials. There is no promise that there will never be trials, but that Jehovah would support that individual through the trials and afflictions.
This is a lesson that Alma learned the hard way, and, as do most parents, he desires that Helaman learn the important lesson without the pain that was involved when Alma learned that lesson. He therefore emphasizes that this is not just theoretical knowledge, but it is also knowledge gained from personal experience. The phrase “I know of myself” has been used before to indicate personal knowledge, but in this case, it is used to contrast secular knowledge with spiritual knowledge. Alma’s understanding of the power of Jehovah’s redemption is not academic, it was a personal and very powerful spiritual experience.