--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of a river, God often gives us a…" description: "\"Instead of a river, God often gives us a brook, which may be running today and dried up tomorrow. Why? To teach us not to rest in our blessings, but in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/arthur-w-pink-4530_blessing_instead-of-a-river-god-often-gives-us-a_139540.jpg" --- # Instead of a river, God often gives us a brook, which may… ![“Instead of a river, God often gives us a brook, which may be running today and dried up tomorrow. Why? To teach us not to rest in our blessings, but in the blesser Himself.” quote by Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/arthur-w-pink-4530_blessing_instead-of-a-river-god-often-gives-us-a_139540.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/arthur-w-pink-4530_blessing_instead-of-a-river-god-often-gives-us-a_139540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/arthur-w-pink-4530_blessing_instead-of-a-river-god-often-gives-us-a_139540.jpg) > “Instead of a river, God often gives us a brook, which may be running today and dried up tomorrow. Why? To teach us not to rest in our blessings, but in the blesser Himself.” [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God provides temporary blessings (brooks) to teach reliance on Him, not on fleeting comforts. **In simple terms:** God’s gifts are brief, urging focus on Him. Key Takeaway Seek lasting spiritual reliance over temporary comforts. Themes faith humility spiritual growth transience Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal prayer - church teaching - mentorship - life coaching Key Concepts theology spiritual discipline biblical metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern temporary vs. lasting blessings? - What practices keep focus on the divine? A Different Perspective Misinterpretation may cause fatalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessings/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [In the land of wild rivers, a calm river becomes either a god or a devil!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/in-the-land-of-wild-rivers-a-calm-river-becomes-either-a-god-or-a/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“As I had to do whenever I glimpsed this river, I thought of Phineas. Not of the tree and pain, but of one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/as-i-had-to-do-whenever-i-glimpsed-this-river-i-thought-of-phineas/) [john knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-dark-night-of-the-soul-bright-flows-the-river-of-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With ordinary men the moments which are united in a close continuity out of the original discrete multiplicity are very few, and the course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/with-ordinary-men-the-moments-which-are-united-in-a-close-continuity/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [All the charm of the angler's life would be lost but for these hours of thought and memory. All along the brook, all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper-prime/all-the-charm-of-the-angler-s-life-would-be-lost-but-for-these-hours/) [William Cowper Prime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper-prime/) > [You've got to remember, Vermont is a lot of beautiful mountains with valleys and small brooks that run into bigger rivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shumlin/you-ve-got-to-remember-vermont-is-a-lot-of-beautiful-mountains-with/) [Peter Shumlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shumlin/) > [The natives are very exact and punctual in the bounds of their lands, belonging to this or that prince or people, even to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-natives-are-very-exact-and-punctual-in-the-bounds-of-their-lands/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [Hark, I hear a robin calling! List, the wind is from the south! And the orchard-bloom is falling Sweet as kisses on the mouth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/hark-i-hear-a-robin-calling-list-the-wind-is-from-the-south-and-the/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [I know there is poor and hideous suffering, and I've seen the hungry and the guns that go to war. I have lived pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/i-know-there-is-poor-and-hideous-suffering-and-i-ve-seen-the-hungry/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [I've played with the best drummers in rock, ranging from Josh Freese to Brooks Wackerman to even Dave Lombardo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-ve-played-with-the-best-drummers-in-rock-ranging-from-josh-freese/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [Narrative should flow as flows the brook down through the hills and the leafy woodlands...a brook that never goes straight for a minute, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/narrative-should-flow-as-flows-the-brook-down-through-the-hills-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-this-our-life-exempt-from-public-haunt-finds-tongues-in-trees/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I'm a working-class former apprentice electrician; at the age of 14, if you'd told me I would one day be standing on a stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gordon-sinclair/i-m-a-working-class-former-apprentice-electrician-at-the-age-of-14-if/) [John Gordon Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gordon-sinclair/) > [Oh for a seat in some poetic nook, Just hid with trees and sparkling with a brook!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-hunt/oh-for-a-seat-in-some-poetic-nook-just-hid-with-trees-and-sparkling/) [Leigh Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-hunt/) > [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) ## More by Arthur W. Pink > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Were God to show grace to all of Adam's descendants, men would at once conclude that He was righteously compelled to take them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/were-god-to-show-grace-to-all-of-adam-s-descendants-men-would-at-once/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Real prayer is communion with God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/real-prayer-is-communion-with-god/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Growing in grace is a deepening realization of our nothingness; it is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/growing-in-grace-is-a-deepening-realization-of-our-nothingness-it-is/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Christ is the Divine answer to the Devil's overthrow of our first parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/christ-is-the-divine-answer-to-the-devil-s-overthrow-of-our-first/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“The gospel of Satan is not a system of revolutionary principles, nor yet a program of anarchy. It does not promote strife and war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/the-gospel-of-satan-is-not-a-system-of-revolutionary-principles-nor/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“Again, there are multitudes who are quite ready for Christ to justify them, but not to sanctify. Some kind, some degree, of sanctification they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/again-there-are-multitudes-who-are-quite-ready-for-christ-to-justify/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Those circumstances, which to the dim eye of Jacob's faith wore a hue so somber, were at that very moment developing and perfecting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/those-circumstances-which-to-the-dim-eye-of-jacob-s-faith-wore-a-hue/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Chastisement is designed for our good, to promote our highest interests. Look beyond the rod to the All-wise hand that wields it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/chastisement-is-designed-for-our-good-to-promote-our-highest/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Prayer is the way and means God has appointed for the communication of the blessings of His goodness to His people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/prayer-is-the-way-and-means-god-has-appointed-for-the-communication/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [In the person of Christ God beholds a holiness which abides His closest scrutiny, yea, which rejoices and satisfies His heart; and whatever Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/in-the-person-of-christ-god-beholds-a-holiness-which-abides-his/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“Is there not in these words of our Lord a latent reference to the history of man’s fall, and a designed contrast from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/is-there-not-in-these-words-of-our-lord-a-latent-reference-to-the/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Almost all doctrinal error is really truth perverted. Truth wrongly divided. Truth disproportionately held and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/almost-all-doctrinal-error-is-really-truth-perverted-truth-wrongly/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) [Explore all 109 Arthur W. Pink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) ## More Blessing quotes > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [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/) > [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“I've never felt a pain that didn't bear a blessing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-knudsen-hoffman/i-ve-never-felt-a-pain-that-didn-t-bear-a-blessing/) Gene Knudsen Hoffman > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [Life is such a very troublesome matter, when all is said and done, that it's as well even to take its blessings quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-braddon/life-is-such-a-very-troublesome-matter-when-all-is-said-and-done-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Braddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-braddon/) > [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/) [Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/) [Browse all 4,617 Blessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Instead of a river, God often gives us a brook, which may be running today and dried up tomorrow. Why? To teach us not to rest in our blessings, but in the blesser Himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur W. 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