--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can we accept the unexplained, the loss…" description: "\"Can we accept the unexplained, the loss, The crushing agony, and hold us still. And nowhere is that clearer vision given Which pierces a bewildering pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/amy-carmichael-3237_accepting_can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-t_583358.png" --- # Can we accept the unexplained, the loss, The crushing… ![“Can we accept the unexplained, the loss, The crushing agony, and hold us still. And nowhere is that clearer vision given Which pierces a bewildering providence, And opens windows upon highest heaven, But where we see Suffering Omnipotence.” quote by Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/amy-carmichael-3237_accepting_can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-t_583358.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/amy-carmichael-3237_accepting_can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-t_583358.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/amy-carmichael-3237_accepting_can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-t_583358.png) > “Can we accept the unexplained, the loss, The crushing agony, and hold us still. And nowhere is that clearer vision given Which pierces a bewildering providence, And opens windows upon highest heaven, But where we see Suffering Omnipotence.” [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem urges acceptance of suffering and mystery, seeing divine purpose in pain. **In simple terms:** Accept pain as part of a higher plan. Key Takeaway Embrace suffering as a path to spiritual insight. Themes faith suffering divine mystery spiritual growth Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - personal crisis - grief counseling - spiritual practice - theological study Key Concepts theology existentialism grief hope Questions to Reflect On - What does suffering teach you about faith? - Can pain lead to deeper understanding? A Different Perspective Suffering may not always have clear meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Omnipotence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omnipotence/) [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [I do not desire to die soon, because in Heaven there is no suffering. I desire to live a long time because I yearn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-de-pazzi/i-do-not-desire-to-die-soon-because-in-heaven-there-is-no-suffering-i/) Magdalena de Pazzi > [There is not much sense in suffering, since drugs can be given for pain, itching, and other discomforts. The belief has long died that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/there-is-not-much-sense-in-suffering-since-drugs-can-be-given-for/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“There is much unexplained in the world. It behoves one to be wary at all times. Just when you think you've got the hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/there-is-much-unexplained-in-the-world-it-behoves-one-to-be-wary-at/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [You can approach 'The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death' in a variety or combination of ways: as a startlingly eccentric hobby; as a series…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/you-can-approach-the-nutshell-studies-of-unexplained-death-in-a/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Explanation by the tongue makes most things clear, But love unexplained is clearer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/explanation-by-the-tongue-makes-most-things-clear-but-love/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Beyond the immediate risks to her health and the health of her baby, when a woman chooses c-section, she decreases the chance that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-wagner/beyond-the-immediate-risks-to-her-health-and-the-health-of-her-baby/) [Marsden Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-wagner/) > [We cannot bear for our most mysterious experiences to remain unexplained. I've therefore learned...that every story has worth, since a person takes the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gates/we-cannot-bear-for-our-most-mysterious-experiences-to-remain/) [Josh Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gates/) > [To my way of thinking, there is every bit as much evidence for the existence of UFOs as there is for the existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/to-my-way-of-thinking-there-is-every-bit-as-much-evidence-for-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The years between thirty-five and sixty-five revolve before the passive mind as one unexplained, confusing merry-go-round. True, they are a merry-go-round of ill-gaited and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-years-between-thirty-five-and-sixty-five-revolve-before-the/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“The evidence never seemed to matter to those in power, who had already made up their minds and did what people typically do when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/the-evidence-never-seemed-to-matter-to-those-in-power-who-had-already/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [Unexplained, obscure matters are regarded as more important than explained, clear ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/unexplained-obscure-matters-are-regarded-as-more-important-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The most serious drawback to the telling-nothing approach is that it made that much more of a mystery of what had happened, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/the-most-serious-drawback-to-the-telling-nothing-approach-is-that-it/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [Anyone who realises what Love is, the dedication of the heart, so profound, so absorbing, so mysterious, so imperative, and always just in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-carpenter/anyone-who-realises-what-love-is-the-dedication-of-the-heart-so/) [Edward Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-carpenter/) > [As the number of unexplained, irreducibly complex biological systems increases, our confidence that Darwin's criterion of failure has been met skyrockets toward the maximum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/as-the-number-of-unexplained-irreducibly-complex-biological-systems/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) ## More by Amy Carmichael > [Even though we must walk in the land of fear, there is no need to fear. The power of His resurrection comes before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/even-though-we-must-walk-in-the-land-of-fear-there-is-no-need-to-fear/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary love. For a cup brimful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-a-sudden-jar-can-cause-me-to-speak-an-impatient-unloving-word-then/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [He hath never failed thee yet. Never will His love forget. O fret not thyself nor let Thy heart be troubled, Neither let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/he-hath-never-failed-thee-yet-never-will-his-love-forget-o-fret-not/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [The mere telling of how a need was met is often like telling of a need, which is asking crookedly instead of straight out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/the-mere-telling-of-how-a-need-was-met-is-often-like-telling-of-a/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [“The vows of God are on me. I may not stay to play with shadows or pluck earthly flowers till I my work have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/the-vows-of-god-are-on-me-i-may-not-stay-to-play-with-shadows-or/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [Now you are deep in what seems to me a peculiarly selfless service. The spiritual training of children must be that. You work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/now-you-are-deep-in-what-seems-to-me-a-peculiarly-selfless-service/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/you-can-always-give-without-loving-but-you-can-never-love-without/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [All life's training is just exactly what is needed for the true Life-work, still out of view but far away from none of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/all-life-s-training-is-just-exactly-what-is-needed-for-the-true-life/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [ When I can see my face in it \[the liquid gold in the crucible\] then it is pure. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/when-i-can-see-my-face-in-it-the-liquid-gold-in-the-crucible-then-it/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [Ours should be the love that asks not 'how little?' but, 'how much?' The love that delights to pour out everything upon the feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/ours-should-be-the-love-that-asks-not-how-little-but-how-much-the/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [It is more important that you should know about the reverses than about the successes of the war. We shall have all eternity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/it-is-more-important-that-you-should-know-about-the-reverses-than/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [“If we were less of what seems like ease in our lives they would tell more for Christ and souls...We profess to be strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-we-were-less-of-what-seems-like-ease-in-our-lives-they-would-tell/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [“Sometimes in Dohnavur we, who dearly love the little children about us (and the older ones too), have looked up from some engrossing work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/sometimes-in-dohnavur-we-who-dearly-love-the-little-children-about-us/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [Let us not be surprised when we have to face difficulties. When the wind blows hard on a tree, the roots stretch and grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/let-us-not-be-surprised-when-we-have-to-face-difficulties-when-the/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [“One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/one-can-give-without-loving-but-one-cannot-love-without-giving/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) [Explore all 136 Amy Carmichael quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Can we accept the unexplained, the loss, The crushing agony, and hold us still. And nowhere is that clearer vision given Which pierces a bewildering providence, And opens windows upon highest heaven, But where we see Suffering Omnipotence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amy Carmichael" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-the-crushing-agony-and-hold-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-the-crushing-agony-and-hold-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/amy-carmichael-3237_accepting_can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-t_583358.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/amy-carmichael-3237_accepting_can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-t_583358.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/amy-carmichael-3237_accepting_can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-t_583358.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Can we accept the unexplained, the loss, The crushing agony, and hold us still. And nowhere is that clearer…” — Amy Carmichael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amy Carmichael", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Can we accept the unexplained, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-the-crushing-agony-and-hold-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/can-we-accept-the-unexplained-the-loss-the-crushing-agony-and-hold-us/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```