C. S. Lewis said, “When a man turns to Christ and seems to…
““C. S. Lewis said, “When a man turns to Christ and seems to be getting on pretty well (in the sense that some of his bad habits are now corrected), he often feels that it would now be natural if things went fairly smoothly. When troubles come along—illnesses, money troubles, new kinds of temptation—he is disappointed. These things, he feels, might have been necessary to rouse him and make him repent in his bad old days; but why now? Because God is forcing him on . . . up, to a higher level: putting him into situations where he will have to be very much braver, or more patient, or more loving, than he ever dreamed of before. It seems to us all unnecessary: but that is because we have not yet had the slightest notion of the tremendous thing He means to make of us.”21””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
God uses hardships to push believers toward higher virtues, though they seem unnecessary.
In simple terms: Challenges are divine tests for growth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace trials as growth opportunities.
Themes
faith
spiritual growth
adversity
purpose
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
Bad habit:0
Bad habits:0
Habits:0
Money:0
Repent:0
Make Repent:0
God Forcing:0
Christ Getting:0
Repent Bad:0
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- health issues
- financial stress
- temptations
Key Concepts
theology
psychology of suffering
Questions to Reflect On
- What virtues have you gained from hardship?
- How do you differentiate divine tests from random misfortunes?
A Different Perspective
Not all hardships are divine; some are random.