--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not being able to understand God is…" description: "\"Not being able to understand God is frustrating, but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to something we are capable to com..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a24/francis-chan-548_able_not-being-able-to-understand-god-is-frus_109933.png" --- # Not being able to understand God is frustrating, but it is… ![“Not being able to understand God is frustrating, but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to something we are capable to comprehending.” quote by Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a24/francis-chan-548_able_not-being-able-to-understand-god-is-frus_109933.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a24/francis-chan-548_able_not-being-able-to-understand-god-is-frus_109933.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a24/francis-chan-548_able_not-being-able-to-understand-god-is-frus_109933.png) > “Not being able to understand God is frustrating, but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to something we are capable to comprehending.” [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses frustration at human limits in comprehending the divine, urging humility about our capacity to define God. **In simple terms:** We can’t fully understand God, yet we try to limit Him. Key Takeaway Human understanding of the divine is inherently limited. Themes theology humility knowledge spirituality Mood thoughtful reverent Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - sermons - philosophical debates Key Concepts epistemic humility anthropocentrism Practical Applications - Adopt a stance of reverent uncertainty - Encourage open‑ended inquiry Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of claiming to know God fully? - How does humility affect spiritual practice? A Different Perspective Some traditions claim that divine truths can be known through revelation or reason. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Not being able to fully understand God is frustrating but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/not-being-able-to-fully-understand-god-is-frustrating-but-it-is/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The point is not to completely understand God but to worship Him. Let the very fact that you cannot know Him fully lead you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-point-is-not-to-completely-understand-god-but-to-worship-him-let/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [A god who is capable of sending intelligible signals to millions of people simultaneously, and of receiving messages from all of them simultaneously, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/a-god-who-is-capable-of-sending-intelligible-signals-to-millions-of/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Not everything is immediately good to those who seek God; but everything is capable of becoming good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/not-everything-is-immediately-good-to-those-who-seek-god-but/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [“As we become more mature in faith, learning to trust that God is capable of all things, we will see God as bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-miles/as-we-become-more-mature-in-faith-learning-to-trust-that-god-is/) [Tracie Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-miles/) > [“We serve a mighty God! If God is capable of creating the heavens and the earth, should He not be capable of watching over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-mcrae/we-serve-a-mighty-god-if-god-is-capable-of-creating-the-heavens-and/) [Kimberly McRae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-mcrae/) > [Only God is capable of telling us what our rights and needs are. You have to surrender that right to Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/only-god-is-capable-of-telling-us-what-our-rights-and-needs-are-you/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [People who think God is on their side are capable of the most inhumane acts. (Petrov)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-flynn/people-who-think-god-is-on-their-side-are-capable-of-the-most/) [Vince Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-flynn/) > [You should be a person who can establish the Heavenly Kingdom rather than just the one who can go there. Those who can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/you-should-be-a-person-who-can-establish-the-heavenly-kingdom-rather/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [“All of the mercy God is capable of showing, all of the redeeming grace that He could pour from His heart, all of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/all-of-the-mercy-god-is-capable-of-showing-all-of-the-redeeming-grace/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [A God capable of continuously monitoring and controlling the individual status of every particle in the universe cannot be simple. His existence is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/a-god-capable-of-continuously-monitoring-and-controlling-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Christians believe that true worship is the highest and noblest activity of which man, by the grace of God, is capable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/christians-believe-that-true-worship-is-the-highest-and-noblest/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [But God never seems capable of moderation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/but-god-never-seems-capable-of-moderation/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [I do not limit God by seeing limitation in myself. With God and myself all things are possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/i-do-not-limit-god-by-seeing-limitation-in-myself-with-god-and-myself/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## More by Francis Chan > [If you want to see the big stuff that God has, you've got to take some risk and trust only in the Gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/if-you-want-to-see-the-big-stuff-that-god-has-you-ve-got-to-take-some/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“In the midst of our failed attempts at loving Jesus, His grace covers us. Each of us has lukewarm elements and practices in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/in-the-midst-of-our-failed-attempts-at-loving-jesus-his-grace-covers/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Jesus' call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/jesus-call-to-commitment-is-clear-he-wants-all-or-nothing/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Yes, it is God who works in you. And, yes, there is work for you to do. Yes, the Spirit empowers you to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/yes-it-is-god-who-works-in-you-and-yes-there-is-work-for-you-to-do/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-point-of-your-life-is-to-point-to-him-whatever-you-are-doing-god/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/lukewarm-people-love-others-but-do-not-seek-to-love-others-as-much-as/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Life is comfortable when you separate yourself from people who are different from you. That epitomizes what my life was like: characterized by comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/life-is-comfortable-when-you-separate-yourself-from-people-who-are/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Christ can come back at any time so the one thing you want to have in your life is a focused prayer time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/christ-can-come-back-at-any-time-so-the-one-thing-you-want-to-have-in/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Awe Factor” video at www.crazylovebook.com to get a taste of the awe factor of our God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/awe-factor-video-at-www-crazylovebook-com-to-get-a-taste-of-the-awe/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“What I want you to do right now is to go online and look at the “Awe Factor” video at www.crazylovebook.com to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/what-i-want-you-to-do-right-now-is-to-go-online-and-look-at-the-awe/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Multi-tasking is keeping me from whole-hearted worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/multi-tasking-is-keeping-me-from-whole-hearted-worship/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The stress that some of us feel - it's a lack of faith, it really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-stress-that-some-of-us-feel-it-s-a-lack-of-faith-it-really-is/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [We have become dangerously comfortable- believers ooze with wealth and let their addictions to comfort and security numb the radical urgency of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-have-become-dangerously-comfortable-believers-ooze-with-wealth-and/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The greatest knowledge we can ever have is knowing God treasures us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-greatest-knowledge-we-can-ever-have-is-knowing-god-treasures-us/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) [Explore all 479 Francis Chan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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