--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...suddenly I was afraid of what Father…" description: "\"“...suddenly I was afraid of what Father would say. Afraid he would say, \"There'll be someone else soon,\" and that forever afterward this untruth would..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/corrie-ten-boom-1733_fear_suddenly-i-was-afraid-of-what-father-wou_336839.png" --- # ...suddenly I was afraid of what Father would say. Afraid… ![“...suddenly I was afraid of what Father would say. Afraid he would say, "There'll be someone else soon," and that forever afterward this untruth would lie between us. For in some deep part of me I knew already that there would not--soon or ever--be anyone else. The sweet cigar-smell came into the…” quote by Corrie ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/corrie-ten-boom-1733_fear_suddenly-i-was-afraid-of-what-father-wou_336839.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/corrie-ten-boom-1733_fear_suddenly-i-was-afraid-of-what-father-wou_336839.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/corrie-ten-boom-1733_fear_suddenly-i-was-afraid-of-what-father-wou_336839.png) > ““...suddenly I was afraid of what Father would say. Afraid he would say, "There'll be someone else soon," and that forever afterward this untruth would lie between us. For in some deep part of me I knew already that there would not--soon or ever--be anyone else. The sweet cigar-smell came into the room with Father. And of course he did not say the false, idle words. "Corrie," he began instead, "do you know what hurts so very much? It's love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. "There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill the love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or, Corrie, we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel. "God loves Karel--even more than you do--and if you ask Him, He will give you His love for this man, a love nothing can prevent, nothing destroy. Whenever we cannot love in the old, human way, Corrie, God can give us his perfect way." I did not know, as I listened to Father's footsteps winding back down the stairs, that he had given me more than the key to this hard moment. I did not know that he had put into my hands the secret that would open far darker rooms than this--places where there was not, on a human level, anything to love at all.”” [Corrie ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When love is blocked, pain follows; we can either kill love or seek divine love that transcends human limits. **In simple terms:** Blocked love causes pain; divine love offers a new path. Key Takeaway Choose to seek God's love when human love fails. Themes faith love pain spiritual growth Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - family conflict - spiritual crisis - grief counseling - personal loss Key Concepts theology psychology grief Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when love feels impossible? - Can you trust a higher love in pain? A Different Perspective Divine love may not resolve practical realities of loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“I am sure you understand," Father began, looking past Violet at the wall, "that I cannot allow you back into my house after what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-hart/i-am-sure-you-understand-father-began-looking-past-violet-at-the-wall/) [Emilia Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-hart/) > [“Forty-three years old, and still afraid of my father. Some tycoon, hunh?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-saul/forty-three-years-old-and-still-afraid-of-my-father-some-tycoon-hunh/) [John Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-saul/) > [“When we’re afraid, our Father spots us and makes sure we can lift the load we’re carrying. 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Anyone who has seen me has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/9jesus-answered-don-t-you-know-me-philip-even-after-i-have-been-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“How great is a Father's love to his children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will not attempt, a father's heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/how-great-is-a-father-s-love-to-his-children-that-which-friendship/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Make no mistake,' He says, 'if you let me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-no-mistake-he-says-if-you-let-me-i-will-make-you-perfect-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was trying to find out who my father was. They say that at that time, that if you are illegitimate, the father doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-was-trying-to-find-out-who-my-father-was-they-say-that-at-that-time/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [“This grown man who now phones his father to say, "Motherfucker, I ain't seen pussy so long, I'd throw stones at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/this-grown-man-who-now-phones-his-father-to-say-motherfucker-i-ain-t/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More by Corrie ten Boom > [A man is powerful on his knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/a-man-is-powerful-on-his-knees/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [Only Heaven will reveal the top part of God's tapestry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/only-heaven-will-reveal-the-top-part-of-god-s-tapestry/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [For I bring not a religion... but a Person, who loves people, who died for them on the cross. For Jesus died for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/for-i-bring-not-a-religion-but-a-person-who-loves-people-who-died-for/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [To pray only when in peril is to use safety belts only in heavy traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/to-pray-only-when-in-peril-is-to-use-safety-belts-only-in-heavy/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/what-wings-are-to-a-bird-and-sails-to-a-ship-so-is-prayer-to-the-soul/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [“And so I learned that love is larger than the walls that shut it in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/and-so-i-learned-that-love-is-larger-than-the-walls-that-shut-it-in/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [There is an ocean of Gods love available-there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love-whatever the circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/there-is-an-ocean-of-gods-love-available-there-is-plenty-for-everyone/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [I looked on Jesus and the dove of peace entered my heart. I looked at the dove of peace; and lo...off he went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/i-looked-on-jesus-and-the-dove-of-peace-entered-my-heart-i-looked-at/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [If God has called you, do not spend time looking over your shoulder to see who is following you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/if-god-has-called-you-do-not-spend-time-looking-over-your-shoulder-to/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [When I try, I fail. 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I would consider that the greatest honor that could come to my family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/you-say-we-could-lose-our-lives-for-this-child-i-would-consider-that/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [If all things are possible with God, then all things are possible to him who believes in Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/if-all-things-are-possible-with-god-then-all-things-are-possible-to/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [... God uses such seemingly insignificant ways to prepare us for the plan He has for our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/god-uses-such-seemingly-insignificant-ways-to-prepare-us-for-the-plan/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [No matter how deep our darkness, he is deeper still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/no-matter-how-deep-our-darkness-he-is-deeper-still/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) [Explore all 210 Corrie ten Boom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. 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Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. 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Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. \"There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill the love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or, Corrie, we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel. \"God loves Karel--even more than you do--and if you ask Him, He will give you His love for this man, a love nothing can prevent, nothing destroy. Whenever we cannot love in the old, human way, Corrie, God can give us his perfect way.\" I did not know, as I listened to Father's footsteps winding back down the stairs, that he had given me more than the key to this hard moment. 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