--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God's way of dealing with us is to throw…" description: "\"God's way of dealing with us is to throw us into situations over our depth, then supply us with the necessary ability to swim.\" — Catherine Marshall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/catherine-marshall-11762_ability_god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw_1602418.jpg" --- # God's way of dealing with us is to throw us into… ![“God's way of dealing with us is to throw us into situations over our depth, then supply us with the necessary ability to swim.” quote by Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/catherine-marshall-11762_ability_god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw_1602418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/catherine-marshall-11762_ability_god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw_1602418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/catherine-marshall-11762_ability_god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw_1602418.jpg) > “God's way of dealing with us is to throw us into situations over our depth, then supply us with the necessary ability to swim.” [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote portrays divine purpose as placing people in challenging situations and then providing the means to overcome them, suggesting growth through adversity. **In simple terms:** God tests us and equips us to succeed. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as growth opportunities. Themes faith growth adversity divine purpose Mood hopeful encouraging Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - life crises - career challenges - personal setbacks - spiritual retreats Key Concepts resilience spiritual development self-efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize the support offered? - What practices help you develop necessary abilities? A Different Perspective Not all challenges are survivable without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) ## Related quotes > [Exigencies create the necessary ability to meet and conquer them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/exigencies-create-the-necessary-ability-to-meet-and-conquer-them/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [Survival is the ability to swim in strange water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/survival-is-the-ability-to-swim-in-strange-water/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“It makes me wonder now, in middle age, if being spontaneous and kind and curious are all parts of our natural ability to swim.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/it-makes-me-wonder-now-in-middle-age-if-being-spontaneous-and-kind/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [“If you are one of those people who has the ability to make it down to the bottom of the ocean, the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/if-you-are-one-of-those-people-who-has-the-ability-to-make-it-down-to/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [Lord of hosts! When I swim in the merciful waters of your grace I find that I can neither plumb nor measure the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menno-simons/lord-of-hosts-when-i-swim-in-the-merciful-waters-of-your-grace-i-find/) [Menno Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menno-simons/) > [If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/if-there-be-light-then-there-is-darkness-if-cold-heat-if-height-depth/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [If I'm on holiday, I'm active on the beach, I play tennis, I run, I swim a lot. It's just about making the workouts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-swanepoel/if-i-m-on-holiday-i-m-active-on-the-beach-i-play-tennis-i-run-i-swim/) [Candice Swanepoel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-swanepoel/) > [I have never bought a swim suit because of my fear for water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulli/i-have-never-bought-a-swim-suit-because-of-my-fear-for-water/) [Sulli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulli/) > [When sadness was the sea, you taught me how to swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz/when-sadness-was-the-sea-you-taught-me-how-to-swim/) [Naz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz/) > [A career is about learning to adapt yourself to the new environment and learning to sink or swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-dutta/a-career-is-about-learning-to-adapt-yourself-to-the-new-environment/) [Lara Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-dutta/) > [He tried to drown his troubles but they knew how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/he-tried-to-drown-his-troubles-but-they-knew-how-to-swim/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [I think the emotional toolbox I have is healthy for an actor, as far as the intensity of emotions go. It's other things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannyn-sossamon/i-think-the-emotional-toolbox-i-have-is-healthy-for-an-actor-as-far/) [Shannyn Sossamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannyn-sossamon/) > [Today, let us swim wildly, joyously in gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/today-let-us-swim-wildly-joyously-in-gratitude/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [A child who goes to school but learns nothing is like an anchor that is always in the sea yet doesnt learn to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-child-who-goes-to-school-but-learns-nothing-is-like-an-anchor-that/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) ## More by Catherine Marshall > [“I soon saw, however, that Creed's obsession with death was typical of most of the children. This came out in their play. "Let's play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsession-with-death-was-typical-of/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Living in the middle of beauty like this, we've no call to have puny ideas about God. Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [I believe the old cliché, 'God helps those who help themselves,' is not only misleading but often dead wrong. My most spectacular answers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-believe-the-old-clich-god-helps-those-who-help-themselves-is-not/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [The unfolding of our friendship with the Father will be a never-ending revelation strretching on into eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/the-unfolding-of-our-friendship-with-the-father-will-be-a-never/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [The house, it's already been a-settin' here for a hundred years. It'll be right here tomorrow. It's today I must be livin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/the-house-it-s-already-been-a-settin-here-for-a-hundred-years-it-ll/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Evil is real - and powerful. It has to be fought, not explained away, not fled. And God is against evil all the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/evil-is-real-and-powerful-it-has-to-be-fought-not-explained-away-not/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Truth could never be wholly contained in words. All of us know it: At the same moment the mouth is speaking one thing, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/truth-could-never-be-wholly-contained-in-words-all-of-us-know-it-at/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Often God has to shut a door in our face, so that He can subsequently open the door through which He wants us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/often-god-has-to-shut-a-door-in-our-face-so-that-he-can-subsequently/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Whence comes this idea that if what we are doing is fun, it can't be God's will? The God who made giraffes, a baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/whence-comes-this-idea-that-if-what-we-are-doing-is-fun-it-can-t-be/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [When the dream in our heart is one that God has planted there, a strange happiness flowers into us. At that moment all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/when-the-dream-in-our-heart-is-one-that-god-has-planted-there-a/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Have you ever watched a baby learning to walk? He totters, arms stretched out to balance himself. He wobbles - and falls, perhaps bumps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/have-you-ever-watched-a-baby-learning-to-walk-he-totters-arms/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Truth could never be wholly contained in words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/truth-could-never-be-wholly-contained-in-words/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [I learned that true forgiveness includes total self-acceptance. And out of acceptance wounds are healed and happiness is possible again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-learned-that-true-forgiveness-includes-total-self-acceptance-and/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Of course you'll encounter trouble. But behold a God of power who can take any evil and turn it into a door of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/of-course-you-ll-encounter-trouble-but-behold-a-god-of-power-who-can/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [A Christian has no business being satisfied with mediocrity. He's supposed to reach for the stars. Why not? He's not on his own anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/a-christian-has-no-business-being-satisfied-with-mediocrity-he-s/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) [Explore all 58 Catherine Marshall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God's way of dealing with us is to throw us into situations over our depth, then supply us with the necessary ability to swim.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherine Marshall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw-us-into-situations-over-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw-us-into-situations-over-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/catherine-marshall-11762_ability_god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw_1602418.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/catherine-marshall-11762_ability_god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw_1602418.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/catherine-marshall-11762_ability_god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw_1602418.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God's way of dealing with us is to throw us into situations over our depth, then supply us with the…” — Catherine Marshall", "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": "Catherine Marshall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "God's way of dealing with us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw-us-into-situations-over-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/god-s-way-of-dealing-with-us-is-to-throw-us-into-situations-over-our/#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 } } ] } ```