--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We shall draw nearer to God, not by…" description: "\"We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/c-s-lewis-2-132_accepting_we-shall-draw-nearer-to-god-not-by-tryin_936291.png" --- # We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the… ![“We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/c-s-lewis-2-132_accepting_we-shall-draw-nearer-to-god-not-by-tryin_936291.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/c-s-lewis-2-132_accepting_we-shall-draw-nearer-to-god-not-by-tryin_936291.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/c-s-lewis-2-132_accepting_we-shall-draw-nearer-to-god-not-by-tryin_936291.png) > “We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth comes through embracing suffering and offering it to God, rather than avoiding it. **In simple terms:** Accept suffering as a path to God. Key Takeaway Embrace pain, offer it to the divine. Themes faith spirituality ufferinguffering acceptance growth Mood reflective hopeful serene Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - marriage conflict - personal loss - spiritual retreat Key Concepts theology redemptive suffering humility Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform personal pain into spiritual insight? - What defenses must you release to accept suffering? A Different Perspective Suffering can be overwhelming and may not always lead to growth without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Throwing away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwing-away/) ## Related quotes > [To avoid sufferings, one must learn to adapt, learn some flexibility and realize that Everything changes, and this is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/to-avoid-sufferings-one-must-learn-to-adapt-learn-some-flexibility/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [To fight in another man's armour is something more than to be influenced by his style of fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-fight-in-another-man-s-armour-is-something-more-than-to-be/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“God knows our hearts. There is no need for an idle formula or an intermediary. No need for language either: God is beyond translation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/god-knows-our-hearts-there-is-no-need-for-an-idle-formula-or-an/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If our bones were not sending whispers of doubt to our hearts, there would be no need for prayer at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/if-our-bones-were-not-sending-whispers-of-doubt-to-our-hearts-there/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“He desires not to destroy us, but to save us from ourselves. How dark our hearts are, and how much we need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strom/he-desires-not-to-destroy-us-but-to-save-us-from-ourselves-how-dark/) [Andrew Strom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strom/) > [Whenever we are ill, we need to search our hearts to see what we need to forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/whenever-we-are-ill-we-need-to-search-our-hearts-to-see-what-we-need/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [We must also suffer the consequences of our past decisions. And for that, we must open our hearts to those in need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hayhoe/we-must-also-suffer-the-consequences-of-our-past-decisions-and-for/) [Katharine Hayhoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hayhoe/) > [Our hearts, they need a mirror, Tessa. We see our better selves in the eyes of those who love us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/our-hearts-they-need-a-mirror-tessa-we-see-our-better-selves-in-the-2/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [God blesses us even though we are not perfect, but at the same time, our hearts need to be longing for growth and improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/god-blesses-us-even-though-we-are-not-perfect-but-at-the-same-time/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [I think every artist should follow their vision, their hearts is what they need to reveal, not something that society is looking out for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-think-every-artist-should-follow-their-vision-their-hearts-is-what-2/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [“It's the same with the wound in our hearts. We need to give them our attention so that they can heal. Otherwise the wounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-doty/it-s-the-same-with-the-wound-in-our-hearts-we-need-to-give-them-our/) James R. Doty > [You may be as different as the sun and the moon, but the same blood flows through both your hearts. You need her, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-be-as-different-as-the-sun-and-the-moon-but-the-same-blood/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our hearts, they need a mirror, Tessa. We see our better selves in the eyes of those who love us. And there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/our-hearts-they-need-a-mirror-tessa-we-see-our-better-selves-in-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Give! Give the love you have received to those around you. You must love with your time, your hands, and your hearts. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/give-give-the-love-you-have-received-to-those-around-you-you-must/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [For years and years, Christians have been singing about their wandering hearts. Our hearts need to be recalibrated and realigned and reoriented by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/for-years-and-years-christians-have-been-singing-about-their/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-great-moral-teachers-never-do-introduce-new-moralities-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Accepting quotes > [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/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [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/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. S. 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