--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If our suffering has a purpose, it is…" description: "\"“If our suffering has a purpose, it is infinitely easier to bear than if our suffering has no purpose and no larger meaning. When a mother endures chil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/eric-metaxas-1651_childbirth_if-our-suffering-has-a-purpose-it-is-inf_1284567.jpg" --- # If our suffering has a purpose, it is infinitely easier to… ![“If our suffering has a purpose, it is infinitely easier to bear than if our suffering has no purpose and no larger meaning. When a mother endures childbirth, she knows that it is leading to something life changing and glorious.” quote by Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/eric-metaxas-1651_childbirth_if-our-suffering-has-a-purpose-it-is-inf_1284567.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/eric-metaxas-1651_childbirth_if-our-suffering-has-a-purpose-it-is-inf_1284567.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/eric-metaxas-1651_childbirth_if-our-suffering-has-a-purpose-it-is-inf_1284567.jpg) > ““If our suffering has a purpose, it is infinitely easier to bear than if our suffering has no purpose and no larger meaning. When a mother endures childbirth, she knows that it is leading to something life changing and glorious.”” [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Purposeful suffering is easier to endure because it gives meaning, unlike meaningless pain. **In simple terms:** Meaningful pain is easier to bear. Key Takeaway Find purpose in hardship. Themes suffering purpose meaning Mood hopeful reflective Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - grief counseling - personal growth - spiritual practice - healthcare Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What purpose can you assign to current challenges? - How does meaning affect resilience? A Different Perspective Purpose may be ambiguous or misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childbirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childbirth/) [Childbirth Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childbirth-knows-4162282/) [Endures Childbirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endures-childbirth-4162283/) [Life changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-changing/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-purpose-2282657/) ## Related quotes > [“Our suffering has a purpose-it helps us toward the end of our faith, which is the salvation of our souls. Suffering is a crucible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/our-suffering-has-a-purpose-it-helps-us-toward-the-end-of-our-faith/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [As a rule I don't like suffering to no purpose. Suffering should be creative, should give birth to something good and lovely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/as-a-rule-i-don-t-like-suffering-to-no-purpose-suffering-should-be/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Some suffering is given in order to chastise and correct a person for wrongful patterns of life (as in the case of Jonah imperiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/some-suffering-is-given-in-order-to-chastise-and-correct-a-person-for/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Suffering is not good for the soul, unless it teaches you how to stop suffering. That is its purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/suffering-is-not-good-for-the-soul-unless-it-teaches-you-how-to-stop/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [One thing is always wrong-always: to cause suffering in others for the purpose of gratifying one's own pleasures; that is everlastingly wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/one-thing-is-always-wrong-always-to-cause-suffering-in-others-for-the/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“We encounter many bumps, bends, and forks in the road of life that leads to the eternities. There is so much teaching and correction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/we-encounter-many-bumps-bends-and-forks-in-the-road-of-life-that/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [“You can turn every ugly and damaging drama into a genuine blessing by seeing it differently. No one is suffering on purpose. We learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/you-can-turn-every-ugly-and-damaging-drama-into-a-genuine-blessing-by/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [“If you’ve ever suffered the accusations of people who objectified you as an emblem of darkness, it wasn’t your fault. If you’ve ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-alvi/if-you-ve-ever-suffered-the-accusations-of-people-who-objectified-you/) [Kamil Alvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-alvi/) > [All change in life comes from within. It is what's in humanity's soul, not what's in humanity's wallet, that will purchase our freedom from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/all-change-in-life-comes-from-within-it-is-what-s-in-humanity-s-soul/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/for-the-creation-was-subjected-to-frustration-not-by-its-own-choice/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [Real change doesn't come without crisis. Childbirth doesn't come without crisis. I think that's happening with humanity now. Our growth has generated multiple crises...and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/real-change-doesn-t-come-without-crisis-childbirth-doesn-t-come/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [I have always wanted to act ever since I was a little girl. I would put a blanket under my shirt and pretend that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-fanning/i-have-always-wanted-to-act-ever-since-i-was-a-little-girl-i-would/) [Dakota Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-fanning/) > [The revolting details of childbirth had been hidden from me with such care that I was as surprised as I was horrified, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/the-revolting-details-of-childbirth-had-been-hidden-from-me-with-such/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## More by Eric Metaxas > [“If we believe miracles cannot happen today but happened to our distant ancestors, what we really seem to be saying is not that miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-we-believe-miracles-cannot-happen-today-but-happened-to-our/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Religious liberty is the salt and light that has made us the great nation we are in a whole number of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/religious-liberty-is-the-salt-and-light-that-has-made-us-the-great/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“But we know that true grace comes to us by costly sacrifice. 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It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The revolting details of childbirth had been hidden from me with such care that I was as surprised as I was horrified, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/the-revolting-details-of-childbirth-had-been-hidden-from-me-with-such/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [I have always wanted to act ever since I was a little girl. I would put a blanket under my shirt and pretend that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-fanning/i-have-always-wanted-to-act-ever-since-i-was-a-little-girl-i-would/) [Dakota Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-fanning/) > [Real change doesn't come without crisis. Childbirth doesn't come without crisis. I think that's happening with humanity now. Our growth has generated multiple crises...and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/real-change-doesn-t-come-without-crisis-childbirth-doesn-t-come/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/for-the-creation-was-subjected-to-frustration-not-by-its-own-choice/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [Maternal health remains a staggering challenge, particularly in the developing world. Globally, a woman dies from complications in childbirth every minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-capshaw/maternal-health-remains-a-staggering-challenge-particularly-in-the/) [Jessica Capshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-capshaw/) > [Chronological time is what we measure by clocks and calendars; it is always linear, orderly, quantifiable, and mechanical. Kairotic time is organic, rhythmic, bodily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/chronological-time-is-what-we-measure-by-clocks-and-calendars-it-is/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [“The birth of a child is divine miracle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-birth-of-a-child-is-divine-miracle/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [And I saw it didn't matter who had loved me or who I loved. I was alone. The black oily asphalt, the slick beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorianne-laux/and-i-saw-it-didn-t-matter-who-had-loved-me-or-who-i-loved-i-was/) [Dorianne Laux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorianne-laux/) > [“Birth is experiential. You have to experience it to fully know it. An exercise such as Bellydance for birth embraced during pregnancy can act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maha-al-musa/birth-is-experiential-you-have-to-experience-it-to-fully-know-it-an/) [Maha Al Musa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maha-al-musa/) > [Discrimination and multiple deprivations of human rights are also frequently part of the problem, sentencing entire populations to poverty... It is surely a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navi-pillay/discrimination-and-multiple-deprivations-of-human-rights-are-also/) [Navi Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navi-pillay/) > [I became hysterical and frightened and begged for sedation. 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In fact, the subject grows within him like a fruit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/it-is-a-mistake-to-talk-about-the-artist-looking-for-his-subject-in/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) [Browse all 279 Childbirth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childbirth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If our suffering has a purpose, it is infinitely easier to bear than if our suffering has no purpose and no larger meaning. 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