--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's no wonder we are so messed up when…" description: "\"“It's no wonder we are so messed up when it comes to walking with God. In nearly every aspect of our existence, good performance equals good reward. Ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/emily-p-freeman-10156_good-thing_it-s-no-wonder-we-are-so-messed-up-when_3176732.jpg" --- # It's no wonder we are so messed up when it comes to… ![“It's no wonder we are so messed up when it comes to walking with God. In nearly every aspect of our existence, good performance equals good reward. Except not with him. A good thing turns bad when we perform to earn God's acceptance rather than simply receive it like a gift.” quote by Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/emily-p-freeman-10156_good-thing_it-s-no-wonder-we-are-so-messed-up-when_3176732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/emily-p-freeman-10156_good-thing_it-s-no-wonder-we-are-so-messed-up-when_3176732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/emily-p-freeman-10156_good-thing_it-s-no-wonder-we-are-so-messed-up-when_3176732.jpg) > ““It's no wonder we are so messed up when it comes to walking with God. In nearly every aspect of our existence, good performance equals good reward. Except not with him. A good thing turns bad when we perform to earn God's acceptance rather than simply receive it like a gift.”” [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) ## 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 warns that treating relationship with God as a performance for rewards turns genuine gift into a burden, leading to spiritual dissatisfaction. **In simple terms:** Trying to earn God's love makes it feel like work, not a gift. Key Takeaway Seek relationship, not performance. Themes spirituality faith gift performance Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational theological When to use this quote - personal prayer - church community - daily gratitude practice - seeking divine love Key Concepts theology psychology gratitude Questions to Reflect On - Do you treat spiritual practices as obligations? - How can you experience God's love as a free gift? A Different Perspective It may overlook traditions that value effort and discipline in faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earn God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn-god-629744/) [Existence Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-good-1006403/) [God Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-acceptance-397564/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Reward Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward-good-335661/) [Walking God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-god-564219/) [Walking with god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-with-god/) ## Related quotes > [“Walking with God isn't instant gratification. It's a process of growth that will lead you to amazing things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-labossiere/walking-with-god-isn-t-instant-gratification-it-s-a-process-of-growth/) [Stephan Labossiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-labossiere/) > [Only by walking with God can we hope to find the path that leads to life. That is what it means to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/only-by-walking-with-god-can-we-hope-to-find-the-path-that-leads-to/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“I started to get it. The Christian life wasn’t about running like a maniac; it was about walking with God. It wasn’t about impact;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-vischer/i-started-to-get-it-the-christian-life-wasn-t-about-running-like-a/) [Phil Vischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-vischer/) > [“Don't stop walking with God to question Him, but ask Him questions as you walk with Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-d-blackwell/don-t-stop-walking-with-god-to-question-him-but-ask-him-questions-as/) [Hope D. Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-d-blackwell/) > [“I have learned in my journey of faith that, the closer I am walking with God, the more likely the devil will be working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-miles/i-have-learned-in-my-journey-of-faith-that-the-closer-i-am-walking/) [Tracie Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-miles/) > [“What is “walking with God?” Simple. Doing what he asks you to do each and every day. Living in active relationship with him. Filling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-vischer/what-is-walking-with-god-simple-doing-what-he-asks-you-to-do-each-and/) [Phil Vischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-vischer/) > [Walking with God doesn't lead to God's favor; God's favor leads to walking with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/walking-with-god-doesn-t-lead-to-god-s-favor-god-s-favor-leads-to/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Walking with God down the avenue of prayer we acquire something of His likeness, and unconsciously we become witnesses to others of His beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/walking-with-god-down-the-avenue-of-prayer-we-acquire-something-of/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [I see evil when I look in my shaving mirror. It is, philosophically, present everywhere in the universe in order, apparently, to highlight the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-see-evil-when-i-look-in-my-shaving-mirror-it-is-philosophically/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The only worthwhile constant in human existence is our heart which can only be nourished by sincere love. A good strong heart radiates love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sohail-mahmood/the-only-worthwhile-constant-in-human-existence-is-our-heart-which/) [Sohail Mahmood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sohail-mahmood/) > [Existence is not itself a good thing, that we should spend a lifetime securing its necessaries: a life spent, however victoriously, in securing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman/existence-is-not-itself-a-good-thing-that-we-should-spend-a-lifetime/) [A. E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman/) > [The existence of good bad literature—the fact that one can be amused or excited or even moved by a book that one's intellect simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-existence-of-good-bad-literature-the-fact-that-one-can-be-amused/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The good, say the mystics of spirit, is God, a being whose only definition is that he is beyond man's power to conceive —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-good-say-the-mystics-of-spirit-is-god-a-being-whose-only/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Now if there is anything in this universe for which we do not have an "inkling," it is the ultimate goal of the Creator.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-schroeder/now-if-there-is-anything-in-this-universe-for-which-we-do-not-have-an/) [Gerald Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-schroeder/) > [To posit the existence of a Creator requires only reason. To posit the existence of a good God requires faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/to-posit-the-existence-of-a-creator-requires-only-reason-to-posit-the/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) ## More by Emily P. Freeman > [“This is also a book abut God, about what it means--and what it doesn't mean--to believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/this-is-also-a-book-abut-god-about-what-it-means-and-what-it-doesn-t/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“But understand that the reason it is so difficult to extend forgiveness to those who have failed us is because we are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/but-understand-that-the-reason-it-is-so-difficult-to-extend/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“He (God) never promises that our families will be safe. Not in the way we think. He does promise his presence, though.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/he-god-never-promises-that-our-families-will-be-safe-not-in-the-way/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“Without looking up to God, sinking leads to drowning. But when my eyes are locked on his, sinking tells a different story. Drop the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/without-looking-up-to-god-sinking-leads-to-drowning-but-when-my-eyes/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“I didn't want to be such a good girl anymore. I wanted people to fear messing with me. ... I wanted to be intimidating.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/i-didn-t-want-to-be-such-a-good-girl-anymore-i-wanted-people-to-fear/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“Steven Pressfield writes in his bestselling book The War of Art, “Self-doubt can be an ally. This is because it serves as an indicator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/steven-pressfield-writes-in-his-bestselling-book-the-war-of-art-self/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“God gives us the courage to face those fears and then invites us to move toward him in the midst of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/god-gives-us-the-courage-to-face-those-fears-and-then-invites-us-to/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“Maybe you're wondering what it actually means to live a graceful life. We've got many chapters ahead to figure out what that might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/maybe-you-re-wondering-what-it-actually-means-to-live-a-graceful-life/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“... the voice of the Dreamer convinced me that 'later' would always be better than 'now', that 'someday' is where life will really happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/the-voice-of-the-dreamer-convinced-me-that-later-would-always-be/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“Because I care so much about what you think, my hiding has everything to do with you. I desperately want to manage your opinion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/because-i-care-so-much-about-what-you-think-my-hiding-has-everything/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“The question I constantly asked myself was this: What am I supposed to do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/the-question-i-constantly-asked-myself-was-this-what-am-i-supposed-to/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“When we listen to the voice of the Dreamer and hide behind our somedays, we miss out on the gifts of today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/when-we-listen-to-the-voice-of-the-dreamer-and-hide-behind-our/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“...being a good girl is more about what you believe on the inside that how you behave on the outside. That means whether you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/being-a-good-girl-is-more-about-what-you-believe-on-the-inside-that/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“You miss the living because you are waiting for perfect, and so you let goodness and blessings pass you right on by.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/you-miss-the-living-because-you-are-waiting-for-perfect-and-so-you/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“That's what service does. It points us to Jesus, not to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/that-s-what-service-does-it-points-us-to-jesus-not-to-ourselves/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) [Explore all 67 Emily P. Freeman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) ## More Good thing quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [“I took that warm feeling running through my veins as a good thing and embraced the darkness for I knew it was only temporary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/i-took-that-warm-feeling-running-through-my-veins-as-a-good-thing-and/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [If good things come to those who wait then I must have something ridiculously awesome coming!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-then-i-must-have-something/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [IVE LEARNED THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU , ALL THE TIME, IS TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/ive-learned-the-best-way-for-you-to-have-good-things-happen-to-you/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [Too many good things all seem the same after a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/too-many-good-things-all-seem-the-same-after-a-while/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) [Browse all 6,343 Good thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's no wonder we are so messed up when it comes to walking with God. In nearly every aspect of our existence, good performance equals good reward. 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