I went to my room one day and locked the door and got down…
““I went to my room one day and locked the door and got down upon my knees before Almighty God and prayed to Him mightily for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him that this war was His, and our cause His cause, that we could not stand another Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville. Then and there I made a solemn vow to Almighty God that if He would stand by our boys at Gettysburg, I would stand by Him, and He did stand by you boys, and I will stand by him. And after that, I don't know how it was, and I cannot explain it, soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul. The feeling came that God had taken the whole business into His own hands, and things would go right at Gettysburg, and that was why I had no fears about you.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Lincoln expresses a personal prayer for divine assistance, believing that God’s support would bring victory and comfort during the battle.
In simple terms: He prayed for God’s help and felt comfort.
Key Takeaway
Trust in higher purpose during hardship.
Themes
faith
war
comfort
divine intervention
Mood
solemn
hopeful
Type
historical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- battlefield
- personal crisis
- national conflict
- spiritual seeking
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does faith play in leadership?
- How do personal beliefs affect morale?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on prayer may not guarantee outcomes.