--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paradoxical as it may seem, God means not…" description: "\"Paradoxical as it may seem, God means not only to make us good, but to make us also happy, by sickness, disaster and disappointment.\" — C. A. Bartol" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/c-a-bartol-27363_disappointment_paradoxical-as-it-may-seem-god-means-not_81389.jpg" --- # Paradoxical as it may seem, God means not only to make us… ![“Paradoxical as it may seem, God means not only to make us good, but to make us also happy, by sickness, disaster and disappointment.” quote by C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/c-a-bartol-27363_disappointment_paradoxical-as-it-may-seem-god-means-not_81389.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/c-a-bartol-27363_disappointment_paradoxical-as-it-may-seem-god-means-not_81389.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/c-a-bartol-27363_disappointment_paradoxical-as-it-may-seem-god-means-not_81389.jpg) > “Paradoxical as it may seem, God means not only to make us good, but to make us also happy, by sickness, disaster and disappointment.” [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine purpose includes both moral improvement and personal fulfillment, even through suffering. **In simple terms:** God seeks our goodness and happiness, even via hardship. Key Takeaway Spiritual growth and joy can arise from adversity. Themes theodicy purpose suffering happiness faith Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grieving loss - facing illness - overcoming disaster Key Concepts divine intent human experience resilience Practical Applications - pastiritual counseling - motivational writing Questions to Reflect On - How does suffering contribute to personal growth? - Can happiness coexist with hardship? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship/) [Paradoxical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradoxical/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) ## Related quotes > [“Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.” What that means is this: Love is real. It’s an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/nothing-real-can-be-threatened-nothing-unreal-exists-herein-lies-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [In the Bible there are three distinctive meanings of grace; It means the mercy and active love of God; It means the winsome attractiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-allen/in-the-bible-there-are-three-distinctive-meanings-of-grace-it-means/) [Charles L. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-allen/) > [ “If what you call 'god' means \[Shiva, Jesus, Allah or Buddha\] then I say he doesn't exist at all... But if you meant \[love,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vedang-sati/if-what-you-call-god-means-shiva-jesus-allah-or-buddha-then-i-say-he/) [Vedang Sati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vedang-sati/) > [My proposal is not that we understand what the word ‘god’ means and manage somehow to fit Jesus into that. Instead, I suggest that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/my-proposal-is-not-that-we-understand-what-the-word-god-means-and/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [“He is the Creator and the sustainer of all things. He is the unchanging, self-existent God, and that means that He depends on nobody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-s-smith/he-is-the-creator-and-the-sustainer-of-all-things-he-is-the/) [Colin S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-s-smith/) > [God means just what He says and He will do all that He has promised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-means-just-what-he-says-and-he-will-do-all-that-he-has-promised/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [It is a very important consideration that we are consecrated and dedicated to God; it means that we may think, speak, meditate, or do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/it-is-a-very-important-consideration-that-we-are-consecrated-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“...If we believe that God wants us happy above all else, rather than acknowledging that our role is to serve God, we wrongly believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/if-we-believe-that-god-wants-us-happy-above-all-else-rather-than/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [Perfect love of God means the complete union of our will with God's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/perfect-love-of-god-means-the-complete-union-of-our-will-with-god-s/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [Phrases like Worship Service or Service of Worship are tautologies. To worship God means to serve him. Basically there are two ways to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/phrases-like-worship-service-or-service-of-worship-are-tautologies-to/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Love is a gift from God, and as we obey His laws and genuinely learn to serve others, we develop God's love in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-haight-2/love-is-a-gift-from-god-and-as-we-obey-his-laws-and-genuinely-learn/) David B Haight > [God illumines the mind and shines within it. One cannot know God by means of the mind. One can but turn the mind inwards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/god-illumines-the-mind-and-shines-within-it-one-cannot-know-god-by/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [“For there is the one Son, who accomplished His Father’s will; and one human race also in which the mysteries of God are wrought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/for-there-is-the-one-son-who-accomplished-his-father-s-will-and-one/) The Church Fathers > [“This is also a book abut God, about what it means--and what it doesn't mean--to believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/this-is-also-a-book-abut-god-about-what-it-means-and-what-it-doesn-t/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“This is another fresh proof how much more easily pecuniary means can be obtained than suitable individuals. Indeed, in all my experience I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/this-is-another-fresh-proof-how-much-more-easily-pecuniary-means-can/) [George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/) ## More by C. A. Bartol > [Religion is indeed woman's panoply; no one who wishes her happiness would divest her of it; no one who appreciates her virtues would weaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/religion-is-indeed-woman-s-panoply-no-one-who-wishes-her-happiness/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Temperance to be a virtue must be free, and not forced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/temperance-to-be-a-virtue-must-be-free-and-not-forced/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [We must learn that competence is better than extravagance, that worth is better than wealth, that the golden calf we have worshiped has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/we-must-learn-that-competence-is-better-than-extravagance-that-worth/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Fine manners are like personal beauty,--a letter of credit everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/fine-manners-are-like-personal-beauty-a-letter-of-credit-everywhere/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Look at nature with science as a lens. The rock swarms, the clod dances; the mineral is but the vegetable stepping down, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/look-at-nature-with-science-as-a-lens-the-rock-swarms-the-clod-dances/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Children are marvelously and intuitively correct physiognomists. The youngest of them exhibit this trait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/children-are-marvelously-and-intuitively-correct-physiognomists-the/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [True men and women are all physicians to make us well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/true-men-and-women-are-all-physicians-to-make-us-well/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Father, mother, child, are the human trinity, whose substance must not be divided nor its persons confounded. As well reconstruct your granite out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/father-mother-child-are-the-human-trinity-whose-substance-must-not-be/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [The soul is one with its faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/the-soul-is-one-with-its-faith/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Hope is the parent of Faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/hope-is-the-parent-of-faith/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [On the attraction between man and woman society is based; but its refined is greater than its gross force, and its weight is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/on-the-attraction-between-man-and-woman-society-is-based-but-its/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Private sincerity is a public welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/private-sincerity-is-a-public-welfare/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Gentleness and kindness will make our homes a paradise upon earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/gentleness-and-kindness-will-make-our-homes-a-paradise-upon-earth/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Patience is nobler motion than any deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/patience-is-nobler-motion-than-any-deed/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) > [Freedom is not caprice but room to enlarge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/freedom-is-not-caprice-but-room-to-enlarge/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) [Explore all 20 C. A. Bartol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) ## More Disappointment quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [“My earthly body has been a terrible disappointment to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/my-earthly-body-has-been-a-terrible-disappointment-to-me/) [Frédéric Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The fear of not being good enough, the fear of disappointing other people and the fear of failure can really hurt one's personality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-fear-of-not-being-good-enough-the-fear-of-disappointing-other/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [In trying not to disappoint others; we disappoint ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/in-trying-not-to-disappoint-others-we-disappoint-ourselves/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Though there may be people in your life that support you and encourage you we have to realize that people are only human, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/though-there-may-be-people-in-your-life-that-support-you-and/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [There are still many more days of failure ahead, whole seasons of failure, things will go terribly wrong, you will have huge disappointments ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-still-many-more-days-of-failure-ahead-whole-seasons-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sometimes said that because of our past we, as a people, expect too much and set our sights too high. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/it-is-sometimes-said-that-because-of-our-past-we-as-a-people-expect/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I'm talking to anyone who has been dumped - have not gotten the job you really wanted or have received those horrible rejection letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/i-m-talking-to-anyone-who-has-been-dumped-have-not-gotten-the-job-you/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Stop blaming others, whatever happens to you is nobody's fault if you get hurt because of disappointment is not the end of your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/stop-blaming-others-whatever-happens-to-you-is-nobody-s-fault-if-you/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [When disappointments knock you down, get back up and go again because out of our greatest rejection comes our greatest direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-disappointments-knock-you-down-get-back-up-and-go-again-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,467 Disappointment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Paradoxical as it may seem, God means not only to make us good, but to make us also happy, by sickness, disaster and disappointment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. 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