--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and…" description: "\"In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and my soul was as much drawn out as I ever remember it to have been in my life. I was in such anguish, and plead..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/david-brainerd-8963_anguish_in-prayer-i-was-exceedingly-enlarged-and_367450.jpg" --- # In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and my soul was as… ![“In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and my soul was as much drawn out as I ever remember it to have been in my life. I was in such anguish, and pleaded with so much earnestness and importunity, that when I rose from my knees I felt extremely weak and overcome; I could scarce walk straight; my…” quote by David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/david-brainerd-8963_anguish_in-prayer-i-was-exceedingly-enlarged-and_367450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/david-brainerd-8963_anguish_in-prayer-i-was-exceedingly-enlarged-and_367450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/david-brainerd-8963_anguish_in-prayer-i-was-exceedingly-enlarged-and_367450.jpg) > “In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and my soul was as much drawn out as I ever remember it to have been in my life. I was in such anguish, and pleaded with so much earnestness and importunity, that when I rose from my knees I felt extremely weak and overcome; I could scarce walk straight; my joints were loosed; the sweat ran down my face and body; and nature seemed as if it would dissolve…” [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense spiritual anguish and physical weakness accompany deep, earnest prayer, leaving the worshipper feeling overwhelmed and fragile. **In simple terms:** Deep prayer can cause physical and emotional strain. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost of fervent prayer. Themes spirituality pain devotion Mood overwhelmed intense reflective Type personal spiritual When to use this quote - personal crisis - intense prayer - spiritual seeking - physical exhaustion Key Concepts religious experience psychosomatic response Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance fervor with self‑care? - Can spiritual struggle be a sign of growth? A Different Perspective Such intensity may be unsustainable without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anguish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anguish/) [Anguish Pleaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anguish-pleaded-3359623/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Earnestness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnestness/) [Enlarged Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlarged-soul-3359622/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Extremely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-extremely-1527234/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Joints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joints/) [Knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knees/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [My soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-soul/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Exceedingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-exceedingly-2815426/) [Ran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ran/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rose/) [Scarce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scarce/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Sweat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweat/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [Weak Overcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-overcome-1527235/) ## Related quotes > [This morning about nine I withdrew to the woods for prayer. I was in such anguish that when I arose from my knees I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/this-morning-about-nine-i-withdrew-to-the-woods-for-prayer-i-was-in/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I hardly know a sight that raises one's indignation more than that of an enlarged soul joined to a contracted fortune; unless it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/i-hardly-know-a-sight-that-raises-one-s-indignation-more-than-that-of/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [The joining of the whole congregation in prayer has something exceedingly solemn and affecting in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-philipp-moritz/the-joining-of-the-whole-congregation-in-prayer-has-something/) [Karl Philipp Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-philipp-moritz/) > [Intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvelous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/intercessory-prayer-is-exceedingly-prevalent-what-wonders-it-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The soft and weak can overcome the hard and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-soft-and-weak-can-overcome-the-hard-and-strong/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The soft and weak overcome the hard and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-soft-and-weak-overcome-the-hard-and-strong/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Only a fool is humiliated by having been weak enough to have to overcome obstacles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-walton/only-a-fool-is-humiliated-by-having-been-weak-enough-to-have-to/) [Evangeline Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-walton/) > [This is the shape I'm in for the tournament. I feel or I felt extremely good before the match, and I did train very,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/this-is-the-shape-i-m-in-for-the-tournament-i-feel-or-i-felt/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [I have always felt extremely weird. But I am very happy with my weirdnesses, and I want other people to be very happy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-have-always-felt-extremely-weird-but-i-am-very-happy-with-my/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I felt extremely uncomfortable as the focal point, in the spotlight. I really like the behind the scenes role, because all my freedom is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-felt-extremely-uncomfortable-as-the-focal-point-in-the-spotlight-i/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I felt extremely concerned for the people of Punjab during the 1984 riots and militancy days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirron-kher/i-felt-extremely-concerned-for-the-people-of-punjab-during-the-1984/) [Kirron Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirron-kher/) > [“It is no use to ask God with factitious earnestness for A when our whole mind is in reality filled with the desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/it-is-no-use-to-ask-god-with-factitious-earnestness-for-a-when-our/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Earnestness and sincerity are synonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corita-kent/earnestness-and-sincerity-are-synonymous/) [Corita Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corita-kent/) > [We want to know not how we should pray if we were perfect but how we should pray being as we now are ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/we-want-to-know-not-how-we-should-pray-if-we-were-perfect-but-how-we/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“You know what?” he said with great earnestness. “I think we’re both afraid of the same thing. And for the same reason. We’ve never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/you-know-what-he-said-with-great-earnestness-i-think-we-re-both/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) ## More by David Brainerd > [If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/if-you-hope-for-happiness-in-the-world-hope-for-it-from-god-and-not/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Again, Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/again-be-careful-to-make-a-good-improvement-of-precious-time/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I bless God for this retirement: I never was more thankful for any thing than I have been of late for the necessity I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-bless-god-for-this-retirement-i-never-was-more-thankful-for-any/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I hardly ever so longed to live to God and to be altigether devoted to Him. i want to wear out my life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-hardly-ever-so-longed-to-live-to-god-and-to-be-altigether-devoted/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [“Friday, April 2. In the afternoon I felt, in secret prayer, much resigned, calm, and serene. What are all the storms of this lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/friday-april-2-in-the-afternoon-i-felt-in-secret-prayer-much-resigned/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I board with a poor Scotchman: his wife can talk scarce any English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-board-with-a-poor-scotchman-his-wife-can-talk-scarce-any-english/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any good purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/oh-how-precious-is-time-and-how-it-pains-me-to-see-it-slide-away/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [A few of the sublimest geniuses of Rome and Athens had some faint discoveries of the spiritual nature of the human soul, and formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/a-few-of-the-sublimest-geniuses-of-rome-and-athens-had-some-faint/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [As the most extravagant errors were received among the established articles of their faith, so the most infamous vices obtained in their practice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/as-the-most-extravagant-errors-were-received-among-the-established/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [God designs that those whom He sanctifies...shall tarry awhile in this present evil world, that their own experience of temptations may teach them how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/god-designs-that-those-whom-he-sanctifies-shall-tarry-awhile-in-this/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Further, Take heed that you faithfully perform the business you have to do in the world, from a regard to the commands of God;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/further-take-heed-that-you-faithfully-perform-the-business-you-have/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I have withstood the power of convictions a long time; and therefore I fear I shall be finally left of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-have-withstood-the-power-of-convictions-a-long-time-and-therefore-i/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [“There is a God in heaven who overrules all things for the best; and this is the comfort of my soul. . .How blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/there-is-a-god-in-heaven-who-overrules-all-things-for-the-best-and/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [First, Resolve upon, and daily endeavour to practise, a life of seriousness and strict sobriety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/first-resolve-upon-and-daily-endeavour-to-practise-a-life-of/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [The whole world appears to me like a huge vacuum, a vast empty space, whence nothing desirable, or at least satisfactory, can possibly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/the-whole-world-appears-to-me-like-a-huge-vacuum-a-vast-empty-space/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) [Explore all 76 David Brainerd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) ## More Anguish quotes > [“He put his forehead against hers. “Alannah, my heart is yours.” He said softly. “And yet, I must hand it over to someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-morin/he-put-his-forehead-against-hers-alannah-my-heart-is-yours-he-said/) [B.C. Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-morin/) > [Knowledge gives a wider choice and more anguish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-florman/knowledge-gives-a-wider-choice-and-more-anguish/) [Samuel Florman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-florman/) > [pg.9 "In my heart there's a peaceful anguish, and my calm is made of resignation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/pg-9-in-my-heart-there-s-a-peaceful-anguish-and-my-calm-is-made-of/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Memory, with its fugitive adjustments, is the merciful veil to the grim enactments of the first law. It hides the anguish in the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/memory-with-its-fugitive-adjustments-is-the-merciful-veil-to-the-grim/) [Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/) > [Our religion is itself profoundly sad - a religion of universal anguish, and one which, because of its very catholicity, grants full liberty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/our-religion-is-itself-profoundly-sad-a-religion-of-universal-anguish/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [The intellectuals' chief cause of anguish are one another's works. Jacques Barzun, 1959 all ignorance toboggans into know and trudges up to ignorance again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/the-intellectuals-chief-cause-of-anguish-are-one-another-s-works/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [I saw my parents as gods whose every wish must be obeyed or I would suffer the penalty of anguish and guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-wood/i-saw-my-parents-as-gods-whose-every-wish-must-be-obeyed-or-i-would/) [Natalie Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-wood/) > [Every last cast is actually a first cast. The first cast and first chance to catch the next fish. The next time you anguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/every-last-cast-is-actually-a-first-cast-the-first-cast-and-first/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Journalism is an extraordinary and terrible privilege. Not by chance, if you are aware of it, does it consume you with a hundred feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/journalism-is-an-extraordinary-and-terrible-privilege-not-by-chance/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [I have discovered in my long life that there are many words and phrases which have more power than any spell of magick. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-have-discovered-in-my-long-life-that-there-are-many-words-and/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [One realizes that human relationships are the tragic necessity of human life; that they can never be wholly satisfactory, that every ego is half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/one-realizes-that-human-relationships-are-the-tragic-necessity-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [I have designed my style pantomimes as white ink drawings on black backgrounds, so that man's destiny appears as a thread lost in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/i-have-designed-my-style-pantomimes-as-white-ink-drawings-on-black/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [So silently, peacefully, without hurry, without any tension, without any anguish, move into yourself instantly. It is urgent. Unless meditation becomes urgent to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/so-silently-peacefully-without-hurry-without-any-tension-without-any/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It breaks my heart to think about a family weeping over the loss of a loved one. I understand the anguish that some feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/it-breaks-my-heart-to-think-about-a-family-weeping-over-the-loss-of-a/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) [Browse all 570 Anguish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anguish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and my soul was as much drawn out as I ever remember it to have been in my life. 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