--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though many of us are working very…" description: "\"“Even though many of us are working very hard at it, we rarely, if ever, experience the joy and peace that are promised in the Bible. So what’s the pro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ann-spangler-34560_bible_even-though-many-of-us-are-working-very_1900970.jpg" --- # Even though many of us are working very hard at it, we… ![“Even though many of us are working very hard at it, we rarely, if ever, experience the joy and peace that are promised in the Bible. So what’s the problem? Perhaps we are still holding the reins of our lives too tightly, afraid to surrender ourselves to God’s Spirit.” quote by Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ann-spangler-34560_bible_even-though-many-of-us-are-working-very_1900970.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ann-spangler-34560_bible_even-though-many-of-us-are-working-very_1900970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ann-spangler-34560_bible_even-though-many-of-us-are-working-very_1900970.jpg) > ““Even though many of us are working very hard at it, we rarely, if ever, experience the joy and peace that are promised in the Bible. So what’s the problem? Perhaps we are still holding the reins of our lives too tightly, afraid to surrender ourselves to God’s Spirit.”” [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many believers miss the promised joy because they cling tightly to control instead of surrendering to divine guidance. **In simple terms:** Holding control blocks spiritual peace. Key Takeaway Release control, trust the Spirit. Themes faith spirituality trust control peace Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational spiritual When to use this quote - prayer - personal decision - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts Christian doctrine personal surrender spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice surrender without feeling powerless? - What does trusting God look like in daily decisions? A Different Perspective Surrender may feel risky and can be misunderstood as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Joy And Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-and-peace/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [I think there are a lot of people that are afraid to surrender. They're afraid to give things over to God - whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/i-think-there-are-a-lot-of-people-that-are-afraid-to-surrender-they/) [Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/) > [“We were entwined so tightly that I was afraid to breathe, lest she move at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/we-were-entwined-so-tightly-that-i-was-afraid-to-breathe-lest-she/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [The first thing a man must do if he desires to be used in the Lord's work, is to make an unconditional surrender of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/the-first-thing-a-man-must-do-if-he-desires-to-be-used-in-the-lord-s/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Life can become once more a grand adventure if we will surrender it to god. He brings one adventure to an end, only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tournier/life-can-become-once-more-a-grand-adventure-if-we-will-surrender-it/) [Paul Tournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tournier/) > [“Drinking the cup is an act of selfless love, an act of immense trust, an act of surrender to a God who will give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/drinking-the-cup-is-an-act-of-selfless-love-an-act-of-immense-trust/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Jesus provides what He terms a middle road, that you can begin to practice in the Workbook, beginning with the statements, “I don’t know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/master-teacher/jesus-provides-what-he-terms-a-middle-road-that-you-can-begin-to/) Master Teacher > [You become stronger only when you become weaker. When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/you-become-stronger-only-when-you-become-weaker-when-you-surrender/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Simply surrender to someone (God), something or some process larger than yourself that has its own direction and flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-s/simply-surrender-to-someone-god-something-or-some-process-larger-than/) Kemmy Nola S > [“The theme of obeying God runs from Genesis to Revelation, and it is vital to our children’s success in life. A child who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/the-theme-of-obeying-god-runs-from-genesis-to-revelation-and-it-is/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [We try to bargain with God...I will follow you but don't touch my children, or my husband, don't give me cancer...We are afraid our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-warren/we-try-to-bargain-with-god-i-will-follow-you-but-don-t-touch-my/) [Kay Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-warren/) > [“Pain we surrender to God is not wasted but like labor pains it bears fruit and brings new life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hosbach/pain-we-surrender-to-god-is-not-wasted-but-like-labor-pains-it-bears/) Barbara Hosbach > [“Many people don't keep up with their new year resolutions because they depend on their will power and motivation but when you surrender to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/many-people-don-t-keep-up-with-their-new-year-resolutions-because/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-missions-languish-it-is-because-the-whole-life-of-godliness-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Engaging the city around us and ministering to its needs reveal to us the remaining bastions of sin in our lives, the areas we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/engaging-the-city-around-us-and-ministering-to-its-needs-reveal-to-us/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by Ann Spangler > [“None of us is so mature that we cannot be influenced. The question is: Who or what do we want to shape our lives?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/none-of-us-is-so-mature-that-we-cannot-be-influenced-the-question-is/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [“Shalom contains the idea of completeness. It is the sum of all the blessings God can bestow—healing, prosperity, soundness, well-being, good relationships, perfection. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/shalom-contains-the-idea-of-completeness-it-is-the-sum-of-all-the/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [“The peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. JOHN 14:27”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/the-peace-i-give-is-a-gift-the-world-cannot-give-john-14-27/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [“But it is heartening to realize that God accomplishes his purposes despite our frailties, our little faith, our entrenched self-reliance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/but-it-is-heartening-to-realize-that-god-accomplishes-his-purposes/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [“no matter what has happened in the past or what might happen in the future, they are safe in God’s keeping.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/no-matter-what-has-happened-in-the-past-or-what-might-happen-in-the/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [Readable, faithful, accurate-what more could you ask for in a modern translation of the Bible? GOD'S WORD Translation is a great version for enhancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/readable-faithful-accurate-what-more-could-you-ask-for-in-a-modern/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [The more I read, the more I see. Connections get made. Lights go on. God speaks. Often, when I am facing some difficult or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/the-more-i-read-the-more-i-see-connections-get-made-lights-go-on-god/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [Sometimes something good has to be subtracted from our lives before something better can take its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/sometimes-something-good-has-to-be-subtracted-from-our-lives-before/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [“It reminds us that we are not called to be parrots, unquestioningly repeating whatever we learn from a favorite teacher. Instead, we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/it-reminds-us-that-we-are-not-called-to-be-parrots-unquestioningly/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [“...pray for the grace to realize that no matter where you are, you are in the presence of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/pray-for-the-grace-to-realize-that-no-matter-where-you-are-you-are-in/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [“While we need to look deeply into the Scriptures Jesus knew, we needn’t look beyond them for things that aren’t there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/while-we-need-to-look-deeply-into-the-scriptures-jesus-knew-we-needn/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) > [“Greater is the day of rain than the resurrection of the dead, because the resurrection of the dead benefits only the righteous, but rain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-spangler/greater-is-the-day-of-rain-than-the-resurrection-of-the-dead-because/) [Ann Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) [Explore all 13 Ann Spangler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-spangler/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [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/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even though many of us are working very hard at it, we rarely, if ever, experience the joy and peace that are promised in the Bible. So what’s the problem? 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