Hence, when we ask anything of God and He begins to hear…
““Hence, when we ask anything of God and He begins to hear us, He so often goes counter to our petitions that we imagine He is more angry with us now than before we prayed, and that He intends not to grant us our requests at all. All this God does, because it is His way first to destroy and annihilate what is in us before He gives us His gifts; for so we read in I Samuel 2:6: “The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” Through this most gracious counsel He makes us fit for His gifts and works. Only then are we qualified for His works and counsels when our own plans have been demolished and our own works are destroyed and we have become purely passive in our relation to Him.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Explains that divine hardship precedes blessings, using biblical metaphor of death and rebirth.
In simple terms: God tests before gifting.
Key Takeaway
Accept trials as preparation for greater purpose.
Themes
faith
suffering
growth
Mood
somber
hopeful
Type
religious
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- career setbacks
- addiction recovery
- grief counseling
Key Concepts
theodicy
spiritual development
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal trials have reshaped you?
- How do you discern divine purpose?
A Different Perspective
Hardship can feel punitive rather than preparatory.