--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: when we are powerless to do a thing, it…" description: "\"when we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus\" — Corrie Ten Boom" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/corrie-ten-boom-1733_ability_when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-i_1009825.png" --- # when we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy… ![“when we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus” quote by Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/corrie-ten-boom-1733_ability_when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-i_1009825.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/corrie-ten-boom-1733_ability_when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-i_1009825.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/corrie-ten-boom-1733_ability_when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-i_1009825.png) > “when we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus” [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 powerless, one can find joy by embracing Jesus’ strength and stepping into his spiritual capacity. **In simple terms:** Find joy in Christ’s power. Key Takeaway Lean on spiritual strength. Themes faith resilience spirituality hope Mood comforting inspirational Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - Crisis coping - daily devotion - community support - prayer groups Key Concepts Divine empowerment inner peace Questions to Reflect On - How do you practice this reliance? - What practical steps help you feel empowered? A Different Perspective Reliance on faith may feel passive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Godly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godly/) [Great joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-joy/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Powerless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerless/) ## Related quotes > [I've always had it inside - this ability to read people, how to get into someone else's head and help them with their problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vittoria-ceretti/i-ve-always-had-it-inside-this-ability-to-read-people-how-to-get-into/) [Vittoria Ceretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vittoria-ceretti/) > [What I do is based on powers we all have inside us; the ability to endure; the ability to love, to carry on, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/what-i-do-is-based-on-powers-we-all-have-inside-us-the-ability-to/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The joy of Being, which is the only true happiness, cannot come to you through any form, possession, achievement, person, or event - through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-joy-of-being-which-is-the-only-true-happiness-cannot-come-to-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [IF THE LORD IS OUR JOY, OUR JOY CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY. IT CANNOT BE LOST...JOY HAD COME TO THE WORLD, AND IT HAD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/if-the-lord-is-our-joy-our-joy-cannot-be-taken-away-it-cannot-be-lost/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [“It is only after the deepest darkness that the greatest joy can come”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-is-only-after-the-deepest-darkness-that-the-greatest-joy-can-come/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I have a wonderful joy in a wonderful way and my wonderful joy has come to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/i-have-a-wonderful-joy-in-a-wonderful-way-and-my-wonderful-joy-has/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [Joy has come to live with me. How can I be sad? I do so love Thy presence, which is joy within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/joy-has-come-to-live-with-me-how-can-i-be-sad-i-do-so-love-thy/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Love and joy come to you, And to your wassail too,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-and-joy-come-to-you-and-to-your-wassail-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hope is the belief, more or less strong, that joy will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/hope-is-the-belief-more-or-less-strong-that-joy-will-come/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [“There is a lot of satisfaction, a lot of joy, that can come from doing something you love and that you’re good at,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/there-is-a-lot-of-satisfaction-a-lot-of-joy-that-can-come-from-doing/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [Don't be sad, don't be angry, if life deceives you! Submit to your grief - your time for joy will come, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/don-t-be-sad-don-t-be-angry-if-life-deceives-you-submit-to-your-grief/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) > [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/) > [I decided to host my show 'Kiss and Cry' hoping that people actually want to participate and feel more familiar with figure skating. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna-kim/i-decided-to-host-my-show-kiss-and-cry-hoping-that-people-actually/) [Yuna Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna-kim/) > [The literary scene is filled with young people now, which is a great joy. They seem fully capable of saving the world, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-wanek/the-literary-scene-is-filled-with-young-people-now-which-is-a-great/) Connie Wanek > [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) ## 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. When I trust, He succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/when-i-try-i-fail-when-i-trust-he-succeeds/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/memories-are-the-key-not-to-the-past-but-to-the-future/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [“You say we could lose our lives for this child. 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 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": "when we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Corrie Ten Boom" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-is-a-great-joy-that-we-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-is-a-great-joy-that-we-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/corrie-ten-boom-1733_ability_when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-i_1009825.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/corrie-ten-boom-1733_ability_when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-i_1009825.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/corrie-ten-boom-1733_ability_when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-i_1009825.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“when we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus” — Corrie Ten Boom", "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": "Corrie Ten Boom", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "when we are powerless to do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-is-a-great-joy-that-we-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/when-we-are-powerless-to-do-a-thing-it-is-a-great-joy-that-we-can/#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 } } ] } ```