--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The sorest afflictions never appear…" description: "\"The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light; when we see them in the hand of God, who dispenses them; when..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/brother-lawrence-4215_affliction_the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-into_1163322.png" --- # The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when… ![“The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light; when we see them in the hand of God, who dispenses them; when we know that it is our loving Father who abases and distresses us; our sufferings will lose their bitterness and become even a matter of…” quote by Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/brother-lawrence-4215_affliction_the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-into_1163322.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/brother-lawrence-4215_affliction_the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-into_1163322.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/brother-lawrence-4215_affliction_the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-into_1163322.png) > “The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light; when we see them in the hand of God, who dispenses them; when we know that it is our loving Father who abases and distresses us; our sufferings will lose their bitterness and become even a matter of consolation.” [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing suffering as divine love transforms pain into consolation, reducing its bitterness. **In simple terms:** Viewing pain as God's love eases it. Key Takeaway Reframe hardships as gifts. Themes faith resilience comfort spirituality Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - illness coping - spiritual retreats - personal loss - daily setbacks Key Concepts Divine providence theodicy acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing pain as love change your response? - Can you find gratitude in hardship? 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Everything is in the hands of God. Therefore one should learn contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/who-realises-all-the-happiness-he-desires-everything-is-in-the-hands/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The goal was scored a little bit by the hand of God, another bit by the head of Maradona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-maradona/the-goal-was-scored-a-little-bit-by-the-hand-of-god-another-bit-by/) [Diego Maradona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-maradona/) > [Adversity is always unexpected and unwelcomed. It is an intruder and a thief. But in the hands of God, adversity becomes the means through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/adversity-is-always-unexpected-and-unwelcomed-it-is-an-intruder-and-a/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [They too, are created by the same loving hand of God which Created us...It is our duty to Protect Them and to promote their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-too-are-created-by-the-same-loving-hand-of-god-which-created-us/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/there-seem-to-be-but-three-ways-for-a-nation-to-acquire-wealth-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I say the Intelligent Design-evolution debate misses the point. It trivializes God and it trivializes science. The universe is like the hand of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dowd/i-say-the-intelligent-design-evolution-debate-misses-the-point-it/) [Michael Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dowd/) > [... regard this body as a machine which, having been made by the hand of God, is incomparably better ordered than any machine that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/regard-this-body-as-a-machine-which-having-been-made-by-the-hand-of/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Natural strength is what we receive from the hand of God as Creator. Spiritual strength is what we receive from God in grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/natural-strength-is-what-we-receive-from-the-hand-of-god-as-creator/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [A broken life in the hands of God is ripe for blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/a-broken-life-in-the-hands-of-god-is-ripe-for-blessing/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [Christ is already in that place of peace, which is all in all. He is on the right hand of God. He is hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/christ-is-already-in-that-place-of-peace-which-is-all-in-all-he-is-on/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [What ever the course of our lives, we should recieve them as the highest gift from the hand of God, in which equally reposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/what-ever-the-course-of-our-lives-we-should-recieve-them-as-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [... we have gratefully to receive from the hand of God the institution of the state with its magistrates as a means of preservation……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/we-have-gratefully-to-receive-from-the-hand-of-god-the-institution-of/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Christianity is not a law of bondage; and if it respect the hand of God which sometimes raises up tyrants, it draws up where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-henri-lacordaire/christianity-is-not-a-law-of-bondage-and-if-it-respect-the-hand-of/) [Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-henri-lacordaire/) > [Christ sits in the body at the right hand of God the Father, but we do not hold that the right hand of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/christ-sits-in-the-body-at-the-right-hand-of-god-the-father-but-we-do/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Shakespeare's personages live and move as if they had just come from the hand of God, with a life that, though manifold, is one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-mazzini/shakespeare-s-personages-live-and-move-as-if-they-had-just-come-from/) [Giuseppe Mazzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-mazzini/) ## More by Brother Lawrence > [How happy we would be if we could find the treasure of which the Gospel speaks; all else would be as nothing. As it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/how-happy-we-would-be-if-we-could-find-the-treasure-of-which-the/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/it-is-enough-for-me-to-pick-up-but-a-straw-from-the-ground-for-the/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [Let us think often that our only business in this life is to please God. Perhaps all besides is but folly and vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/let-us-think-often-that-our-only-business-in-this-life-is-to-please/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [“Sometimes I consider myself there as a stone before a carver, whereof he is to make a statue; presenting myself thus before GOD, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/sometimes-i-consider-myself-there-as-a-stone-before-a-carver-whereof/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [“the whole substance of religion was faith, hope and charity;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/the-whole-substance-of-religion-was-faith-hope-and-charity/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [In order to know God, we must often think of Him; and when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/in-order-to-know-god-we-must-often-think-of-him-and-when-we-come-to/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [If we knew how much He loves us, we should be always ready to receive equally and with indifference from His hand the sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/if-we-knew-how-much-he-loves-us-we-should-be-always-ready-to-receive/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [Lord of all pots and pans and things make me a saint by getting meals and washing up the plates!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/lord-of-all-pots-and-pans-and-things-make-me-a-saint-by-getting-meals/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [“Let us seek Him often by faith. He is within us: seek Him not elsewhere. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/let-us-seek-him-often-by-faith-he-is-within-us-seek-him-not-elsewhere/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [Loving God and loving one's neighbor are really the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/loving-god-and-loving-one-s-neighbor-are-really-the-same-thing/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [There is no sweeter manner of living in the world than continuous communion with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/there-is-no-sweeter-manner-of-living-in-the-world-than-continuous/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [That we need only to recognize GOD intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may beg His assistance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/that-we-need-only-to-recognize-god-intimately-present-with-us-to/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [“many do not advance in the Christian progress because they stick in penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of GOD, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/many-do-not-advance-in-the-christian-progress-because-they-stick-in/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [To worship God is to admit that we are entirely contrary to Him, and that He is willing to make us like Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/to-worship-god-is-to-admit-that-we-are-entirely-contrary-to-him-and/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [“in difficulties we need only have recourse to JESUS CHRIST, and beg his grace; with that everything became easy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/in-difficulties-we-need-only-have-recourse-to-jesus-christ-and-beg/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) [Explore all 114 Brother Lawrence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) ## More Affliction quotes > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Henceforth, I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself, 'Enough, enough, and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/henceforth-i-ll-bear-affliction-till-it-do-cry-out-itself-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/new-materials-are-one-of-the-great-afflictions-of-contemporary-art/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-anshaw/aimee-parkison-offers-a-distinct-new-voice-to-contemporary-fiction/) [Carol Anshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-anshaw/) > [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Religion prescribes to every miserable man the means of bettering his condition; nay, it shows him that the bearing of his afflictions as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/religion-prescribes-to-every-miserable-man-the-means-of-bettering-his/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) [Browse all 598 Affliction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light; when we see them in the hand of God, who dispenses them; when we know that it is our loving Father who abases and distresses us; our sufferings will lose their bitterness and become even a matter of consolation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brother Lawrence" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-intolerable-but-when-we-see-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affliction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-intolerable-but-when-we-see-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/brother-lawrence-4215_affliction_the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-into_1163322.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/brother-lawrence-4215_affliction_the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-into_1163322.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/brother-lawrence-4215_affliction_the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-into_1163322.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light; when we see them…” — Brother Lawrence", "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": "Brother Lawrence", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-intolerable-but-when-we-see-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/the-sorest-afflictions-never-appear-intolerable-but-when-we-see-them/#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 } } ] } ```