Then came the reflection, how little at any time could a…
““Then came the reflection, how little at any time could a father do for the wellbeing of his children! The fact of their being children implied their need of an all-powerful father: must there not then be such a father? Therewith the truth dawned upon him, that first of truths, which all his church-going and Bible-reading had hitherto failed to disclose, that, for life to be a good thing and worth living, a man must be the child of a perfect father, and know him. In his terrible perturbation about his children, he lifted up his heart—not to the Governor of the world; not to the God of Abraham or Moses; not in the least to the God of the Kirk; least of all to the God of the Shorter Catechism; but to the faithful creator and Father of David Barclay. The aching soul which none but a perfect father could have created capable of deploring its own fatherly imperfection, cried out to the father of fathers on behalf of his children, and as he cried, a peace came stealing over him such as he had never before felt.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A man realizes that true peace comes from recognizing a perfect, divine father rather than earthly authorities, especially when concerned for his children.
In simple terms: Peace comes from seeing a perfect father.
Key Takeaway
Seek a higher, divine guidance.
Themes
spirituality
parenthood
faith
inner peace
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- parenting anxiety
- spiritual crisis
- seeking purpose
- prayer
- meditation
Key Concepts
theology
existential longing
divine fatherhood
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define a perfect father?
- What if you cannot find such a figure?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes a single perfect father figure, which may not resonate with all beliefs.