--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my opinion, it is a mistake to expect…" description: "\"In my opinion, it is a mistake to expect in prayer a response from God. Often, God's response is outside prayer. And often, we do not link up an outsid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/basil-hume-20553_effort_in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect_928782.png" --- # In my opinion, it is a mistake to expect in prayer a… ![“In my opinion, it is a mistake to expect in prayer a response from God. Often, God's response is outside prayer. And often, we do not link up an outside response with the effort we put into prayer.” quote by Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/basil-hume-20553_effort_in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect_928782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/basil-hume-20553_effort_in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect_928782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/basil-hume-20553_effort_in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect_928782.png) > “In my opinion, it is a mistake to expect in prayer a response from God. Often, God's response is outside prayer. And often, we do not link up an outside response with the effort we put into prayer.” [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer may not yield direct answers; divine guidance often appears in unexpected ways beyond formal petitions. **In simple terms:** God's answers can come outside prayer. Key Takeaway Stay open to signs beyond ritual. Themes faith patience divine will Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - daily meditation - journaling - listening for synchronicities Key Concepts spirituality expectation interpretation Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize non‑prayerful guidance? - What practices help you stay receptive? A Different Perspective Relying solely on prayer can cause frustration if expectations are rigid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) ## Related quotes > [What God wants is for us to live by His rules, resulting in the receiving of His blessing and power. When we as Christians,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/what-god-wants-is-for-us-to-live-by-his-rules-resulting-in-the/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [The Bible's message is that you matter to God. Our response is that God should matter to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/the-bible-s-message-is-that-you-matter-to-god-our-response-is-that/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [“Centering Prayer is an opening, a response, a putting aside of all the debris that stands in the way of our being totally present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-pennington/centering-prayer-is-an-opening-a-response-a-putting-aside-of-all-the/) [Basil Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-pennington/) > [God's response to the belittlement of his name, from the beginning of time, has been the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a Roman cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/god-s-response-to-the-belittlement-of-his-name-from-the-beginning-of/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [It is not a question of God allowing or not allowing things to happen. It is part of living. Some things we do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/it-is-not-a-question-of-god-allowing-or-not-allowing-things-to-happen/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Some psychologists argue that the idea of God is a response to our emotional needs, but this presumption is backwards. Our emotional fluctuations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarek-saab/some-psychologists-argue-that-the-idea-of-god-is-a-response-to-our/) [Tarek Saab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarek-saab/) > [“Patience is the master key to invoke god’s response to your prayers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-mushtaq-gk/patience-is-the-master-key-to-invoke-god-s-response-to-your-prayers/) [Mohammed Mushtaq GK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-mushtaq-gk/) > [“As in the Old Testament, God’s response to prayer and persecution is the sending of the Spirit to revive individuals and churches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/as-in-the-old-testament-god-s-response-to-prayer-and-persecution-is/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If God made no response except to perfect faith, who could hope for help? But God has regard for beginnings, and His eye perceives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/if-god-made-no-response-except-to-perfect-faith-who-could-hope-for/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) > [After 50 years, is it not clear that God has raised up new illnesses connected with fornication? From where do these things come if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/after-50-years-is-it-not-clear-that-god-has-raised-up-new-illnesses/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Sometimes we are always yearning for quick magical answers. That is the reason we scream to high heaven when we pray thinking that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/sometimes-we-are-always-yearning-for-quick-magical-answers-that-is/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [All my life I've heard people say, 'God loves you.' It's probably the most insane statement you could make to say that the eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/all-my-life-i-ve-heard-people-say-god-loves-you-it-s-probably-the/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Paul is basically saying that God has not kept who He is a secret. Knowing God is not hard. It’s actually the most obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/paul-is-basically-saying-that-god-has-not-kept-who-he-is-a-secret/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [God must speak to us before we have any liberty to speak to him. He must disclose to us who he is before we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/god-must-speak-to-us-before-we-have-any-liberty-to-speak-to-him-he/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“In all things, let our relationship with God be a response to His love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-hyers/in-all-things-let-our-relationship-with-god-be-a-response-to-his-love/) Caleb Hyers ## More by Basil Hume > [On the whole, monks do not become famous - and that is a good thing - but monasteries do - and that is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/on-the-whole-monks-do-not-become-famous-and-that-is-a-good-thing-but/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [It is healthy to say, 'Yes, I am a sinner,' and to recognise that this should lead us to turn to God full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/it-is-healthy-to-say-yes-i-am-a-sinner-and-to-recognise-that-this/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [Christ shared our experience; he suffered as we suffer; he died as we shall die, and for forty days in the desert he underwent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/christ-shared-our-experience-he-suffered-as-we-suffer-he-died-as-we/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [Know how to 'cling' to him in prayer, and then you will see the face of Christ more clearly in those whom you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/know-how-to-cling-to-him-in-prayer-and-then-you-will-see-the-face-of/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [Our response, our attitude, depends on our realisation of God's attitude toward us. If I experience love or have experienced it, this is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/our-response-our-attitude-depends-on-our-realisation-of-god-s/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [Even though you find yourself in an intolerable position, one in which you think you have no right to be, accept it here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/even-though-you-find-yourself-in-an-intolerable-position-one-in-which/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [Let us remind ourselves that if we are to be our Lord's disciples, we must take up his Cross and follow him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/let-us-remind-ourselves-that-if-we-are-to-be-our-lord-s-disciples-we/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [Moral choices do not depend on personal preference and private decision but on right reason and, I would add, divine order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/moral-choices-do-not-depend-on-personal-preference-and-private/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [It is not because we are drawn to prayer that we first begin to pray; more often, we have to begin prayer, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/it-is-not-because-we-are-drawn-to-prayer-that-we-first-begin-to-pray/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [Deep down, we remain human, very human and have all the desires to love and be loved by one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/deep-down-we-remain-human-very-human-and-have-all-the-desires-to-love/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [The experience of prayer when there is no awareness of God and no apparent response from ourselves should not lead us to escape from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/the-experience-of-prayer-when-there-is-no-awareness-of-god-and-no/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [What did our Lord do by his Passion, Death, and Resurrection? He bridged that gulf which exists between God and man, a gulf which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/what-did-our-lord-do-by-his-passion-death-and-resurrection-he-bridged/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [From aquaintances we conceal our real selves. To our friends we reveal our weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/from-aquaintances-we-conceal-our-real-selves-to-our-friends-we-reveal/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [When we are truly praying, then we can begin to see Christ in our neighbour; when we are really praying, we can begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/when-we-are-truly-praying-then-we-can-begin-to-see-christ-in-our/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [I believe that we have a duty to look frankly at the social conditions around us and to work to do what we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/i-believe-that-we-have-a-duty-to-look-frankly-at-the-social/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) [Explore all 30 Basil Hume quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) ## More Effort quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [Now I try to make efforts, you know, I'm just, the best effort I can do is just stay sober myself. I can at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/now-i-try-to-make-efforts-you-know-i-m-just-the-best-effort-i-can-do/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [Reading counts as partying, even if you're not enjoying it! Even if someone's forcing you to read, you can find a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/reading-counts-as-partying-even-if-you-re-not-enjoying-it-even-if/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-efforts-to-render-politics-aesthetic-culminate-in-one-thing-war/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I love a pocket. I'm about helping women look as good as possible on the least amount of effort. I want versatility and comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-love-a-pocket-i-m-about-helping-women-look-as-good-as-possible-on/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) Dayana > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) [Browse all 8,602 Effort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my opinion, it is a mistake to expect in prayer a response from God. Often, God's response is outside prayer. And often, we do not link up an outside response with the effort we put into prayer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Basil Hume" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect-in-prayer-a-response-from-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Effort" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect-in-prayer-a-response-from-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/basil-hume-20553_effort_in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect_928782.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/basil-hume-20553_effort_in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect_928782.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/basil-hume-20553_effort_in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect_928782.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my opinion, it is a mistake to expect in prayer a response from God. Often, God's response is outside…” — Basil Hume", "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": "Basil Hume", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In my opinion, it is a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect-in-prayer-a-response-from-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect-in-prayer-a-response-from-god/#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 } } ] } ```