--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...there can never be intimacy if…" description: "\"“...there can never be intimacy if [someone] is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.”\" — Francis Chan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/francis-chan-548_intimacy_there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-i_1248422.png" --- # ...there can never be intimacy if \[someone\] is always… ![“...there can never be intimacy if [someone] is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.” quote by Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/francis-chan-548_intimacy_there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-i_1248422.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/francis-chan-548_intimacy_there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-i_1248422.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/francis-chan-548_intimacy_there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-i_1248422.png) > ““...there can never be intimacy if \[someone\] is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.”” [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. True intimacy requires letting go of the need to earn divine approval through works. **In simple terms:** Intimacy needs letting go of earning God’s favor. Key Takeaway Embrace grace over performance. Themes faith intimacy grace Mood contemplative encouraging Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal prayer - community fellowship - service ministry Key Concepts spiritual authenticity relationship with deity Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be worthy without effort? - How can you practice grace daily? A Different Perspective Focusing on works can create anxiety and hinder genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-work-293741/) [Hard Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-worthy-3925620/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Intimacy Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy-trying-3925619/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [Again, our marriage problems are not really marriage problems. They are heart problems. They are God problems. Our lack of intimacy with God causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/again-our-marriage-problems-are-not-really-marriage-problems-they-are/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Whatever God orders and whatever God guides, he provides. God’s work, done in God’s way, never lacks for God’s supply.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hudson-taylor/whatever-god-orders-and-whatever-god-guides-he-provides-god-s-work/) [J. Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hudson-taylor/) > [Pray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everything depended upon man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-spellman/pray-as-if-everything-depended-on-god-and-work-as-if-everything/) [Francis Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-spellman/) > [We are here to do God's work. He's not here to do ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/we-are-here-to-do-god-s-work-he-s-not-here-to-do-ours/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Regardless of the source of our pain, we must accept that God knows, God loves, and God is at work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/regardless-of-the-source-of-our-pain-we-must-accept-that-god-knows/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [God's work is not man working for God; it is God's own work, though often wrought through man's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-s-work-is-not-man-working-for-god-it-is-god-s-own-work-though/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [“Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. This must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/imperfect-people-are-all-god-has-ever-had-to-work-with-this-must-be/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God is at work in the worst of times. He is at work doing a thousand things no one can see but him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-is-at-work-in-the-worst-of-times-he-is-at-work-doing-a-thousand/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [It is our work to cast care, and it is God's work to take care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/it-is-our-work-to-cast-care-and-it-is-god-s-work-to-take-care/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [I never yet have known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord's people were divided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-never-yet-have-known-the-spirit-of-god-to-work-where-the-lord-s/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [“O God, who is ever at work and ever at rest. May I be ever at work and ever at rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/o-god-who-is-ever-at-work-and-ever-at-rest-may-i-be-ever-at-work-and/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The laws of God work in the same way as the laws of Science. You cannot break them - you can only break yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-royden/the-laws-of-god-work-in-the-same-way-as-the-laws-of-science-you/) [Maude Royden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-royden/) > [“All but a prophetic few must go about God's work in very quiet, very unspectacular ways. And as you labor to know Him, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/all-but-a-prophetic-few-must-go-about-god-s-work-in-very-quiet-very/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Holy living consists in doing God's work with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/holy-living-consists-in-doing-god-s-work-with-a-smile/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## 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/) > [Not being able to understand God is frustrating, but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/not-being-able-to-understand-god-is-frustrating-but-it-is-ridiculous/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) [Explore all 479 Francis Chan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) ## More Intimacy quotes > [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [“One single syllable of intimacy and the world is put to rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/one-single-syllable-of-intimacy-and-the-world-is-put-to-rights/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [Intimacy requires an ability to both merge and be separate, to come together and be apart, like oscillating on a giant swing from oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-sophia-kasl/intimacy-requires-an-ability-to-both-merge-and-be-separate-to-come/) [Charlotte Sophia Kasl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-sophia-kasl/) > [When you write something by hand, there's a sort of intimacy that is just intrinsic to that act. You don't get to delete something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-you-write-something-by-hand-there-s-a-sort-of-intimacy-that-is/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Intercourse is one thing, Intimacy is everything. Be encouraged”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-e-wagner/intercourse-is-one-thing-intimacy-is-everything-be-encouraged/) [Kerry E. Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-e-wagner/) > [Is it any wonder that for millions of men the only intimacy is physical, silent, and predictable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-donahue/is-it-any-wonder-that-for-millions-of-men-the-only-intimacy-is/) [Phil Donahue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-donahue/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“You thought I was answering "As you wish" but that's only because you were hearing wrong. "I love you" was what it was, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-thought-i-was-answering-as-you-wish-but-that-s-only-because-you/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [Awe combined with intimacy is the essence of Christian worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/awe-combined-with-intimacy-is-the-essence-of-christian-worship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to engage people in an honest, enlightened, and provocative conversation about the nature of erotic desire and the intricacies of intimacy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/i-want-to-engage-people-in-an-honest-enlightened-and-provocative/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Communication is a continual balancing act, juggling the conflicting needs for intimacy and independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/communication-is-a-continual-balancing-act-juggling-the-conflicting/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [Physical love is total intimacy. It is the sign that the lovers have nothing to refuse each other, that they belong wholly to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-leclercq/physical-love-is-total-intimacy-it-is-the-sign-that-the-lovers-have/) [Jacques Leclercq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-leclercq/) > [True intimacy is the experience of real acceptance and authentic vulnerability without feeling the need to apologize or fear rejection. The freedom to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-blake-michiels/true-intimacy-is-the-experience-of-real-acceptance-and-authentic/) [Jordan Blake Michiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-blake-michiels/) > [“Eschew evil and it's machinations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/eschew-evil-and-it-s-machinations/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“Lack of intimacy among friends is a mistake that cannot be censured without becoming irreparable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nietzsche-friedrich-wilhelm/lack-of-intimacy-among-friends-is-a-mistake-that-cannot-be-censured/) [NIETZSCHE FRIEDRICH WILHELM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nietzsche-friedrich-wilhelm/) [Browse all 1,461 Intimacy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...there can never be intimacy if [someone] is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Chan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-is-always-trying-to-pay-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Intimacy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-is-always-trying-to-pay-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/francis-chan-548_intimacy_there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-i_1248422.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/francis-chan-548_intimacy_there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-i_1248422.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/francis-chan-548_intimacy_there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-i_1248422.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...there can never be intimacy if [someone] is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.” — Francis Chan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Francis Chan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...there can never be intimacy if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-is-always-trying-to-pay-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/there-can-never-be-intimacy-if-someone-is-always-trying-to-pay-god/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```