--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we can do with these means (our own…" description: "\"What we can do with these means (our own unassisted strength) is still very small compared to what we could do in acting in union with God himself, who..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/dallas-willard-819_acting_what-we-can-do-with-these-means-our-own_67698.png" --- # What we can do with these means (our own unassisted… ![“What we can do with these means (our own unassisted strength) is still very small compared to what we could do in acting in union with God himself, who created and ultimately controls all other forces.” quote by Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/dallas-willard-819_acting_what-we-can-do-with-these-means-our-own_67698.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/dallas-willard-819_acting_what-we-can-do-with-these-means-our-own_67698.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/dallas-willard-819_acting_what-we-can-do-with-these-means-our-own_67698.png) > “What we can do with these means (our own unassisted strength) is still very small compared to what we could do in acting in union with God himself, who created and ultimately controls all other forces.” [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human effort alone is limited; true power emerges when aligning with divine purpose. **In simple terms:** Divine partnership expands capability. Key Takeaway Cooperation with higher purpose multiplies impact. Themes spirituality humility agency dependence purpose Mood reverent inspired Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - community leadership - ethical dilemmas - creative pursuits Key Concepts human limitation divine agency union strength Practical Applications - spiritual counseling - leadership training Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing a higher authority change your goals? - What limits do you place on your own capabilities? A Different Perspective Some argue human autonomy should not be subordinated to divine will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [God Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-will/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strength Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-small-897492/) [Unassisted Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unassisted-strength-897493/) [Union God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/union-god-897494/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [The deepest desire of our hearts is for union for God. God created us for union with himself. This is the original purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-deepest-desire-of-our-hearts-is-for-union-for-god-god-created-us/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [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/) > [True religion is a union of God with the soul, a real participation of the divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-scougal/true-religion-is-a-union-of-god-with-the-soul-a-real-participation-of/) [Henry Scougal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-scougal/) > [Union with God is really possible. Unity with God I presume, is what is meant by Heaven, but that too is available in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/union-with-god-is-really-possible-unity-with-god-i-presume-is-what-is/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [If your strength is small, don't carry heavy burdens. If your words are worthless, don't give advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverbs/if-your-strength-is-small-don-t-carry-heavy-burdens-if-your-words-are/) [Chinese Proverbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverbs/) > [The strength of 'Small Island' is the fact that it deals with heavy issues in a way that is appealing to watch, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/the-strength-of-small-island-is-the-fact-that-it-deals-with-heavy/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [A deranged person is supposed to have the strength of ten men. 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Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) ## More by Dallas Willard > [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > ["Spirituality" wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spirituality-wrongly-understood-or-pursued-is-a-major-source-of-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Sabbath is a way of life (Heb 4:3; 9-11). It is simply "casting all your anxiety on Him," to find that in actual fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/sabbath-is-a-way-of-life-heb-4-3-9-11-it-is-simply-casting-all-your/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [In many cases, our need to wonder about or be told what God wants in a certain situation is nothing short of a clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/in-many-cases-our-need-to-wonder-about-or-be-told-what-god-wants-in-a/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Discipline, strictly speaking, is activity carried on to prepare us indirectly for some activity other than itself. We do not practice the piano to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/discipline-strictly-speaking-is-activity-carried-on-to-prepare-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“The Spirit makes Christ present to us and draws us toward his likeness. It is as we thus behold the “glory of the Lord”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-spirit-makes-christ-present-to-us-and-draws-us-toward-his/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We are unceasing spiritual beings with an eternal destiny in God's great universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-are-unceasing-spiritual-beings-with-an-eternal-destiny-in-god-s/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We know we can't be spiritually transformed by just focusing on the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-know-we-can-t-be-spiritually-transformed-by-just-focusing-on-the/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [To allow lust (or strong desires) to govern our life is to exalt our will over God's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/to-allow-lust-or-strong-desires-to-govern-our-life-is-to-exalt-our/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [My central claim is that we become like Christ by doing one thing-by following Him in the overall style of life He chose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/my-central-claim-is-that-we-become-like-christ-by-doing-one-thing-by/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-aim-of-god-in-history-is-the-creation-of-an-all-inclusive/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-greatest-issue-facing-the-world-today-with-all-its-heartbreaking/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Our destiny is to join a tremendously creative team effort, under unimaginably splendid leadership, on an inconceivably vast plane of activity, with ever more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/our-destiny-is-to-join-a-tremendously-creative-team-effort-under/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) [Explore all 357 Dallas Willard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. 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Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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