--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trying harder doesn’t work for me. Slowly…" description: "\"Trying harder doesn’t work for me. Slowly I’ve learned to pray for God’s help and He has become my greatest love and desire.\" — Francis Chan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/francis-chan-548_desire_trying-harder-doesn-t-work-for-me-slowly_2853188.png" --- # Trying harder doesn’t work for me. Slowly I’ve learned to… ![“Trying harder doesn’t work for me. Slowly I’ve learned to pray for God’s help and He has become my greatest love and desire.” quote by Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/francis-chan-548_desire_trying-harder-doesn-t-work-for-me-slowly_2853188.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/francis-chan-548_desire_trying-harder-doesn-t-work-for-me-slowly_2853188.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/francis-chan-548_desire_trying-harder-doesn-t-work-for-me-slowly_2853188.png) > “Trying harder doesn’t work for me. Slowly I’ve learned to pray for God’s help and He has become my greatest love and desire.” [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. Prayer replaces effort; God becomes the ultimate desire. **In simple terms:** Praying replaces trying harder. Key Takeaway Seek divine help over self‑reliance. Themes faith dependence spiritual love Mood reflective devotional Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - health struggles - spiritual growth Key Concepts prayer divine relationship Questions to Reflect On - How does prayer change your actions? - What limits reliance on divine help? A Different Perspective May neglect personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [God help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-help/) [Greatest love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-love/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [I've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-ve-learned/) [Learned Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-pray-2155299/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love And Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-desire/) [Pray God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-god/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Praying to god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying-to-god/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-harder/) ## Related quotes > [We are consumed by safety. Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I’m not saying it is wrong to pray for God’s protection, but I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-are-consumed-by-safety-obsessed-with-it-actually-now-i-m-not/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I've learned... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-ve-learned-that-i-can-always-pray-for-someone-when-i-don-t-have-the/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I learned to pray out of desperation. For most of us, this is how the adventure usually begins. When we finally get serious about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/i-learned-to-pray-out-of-desperation-for-most-of-us-this-is-how-the/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/he-who-has-learned-to-pray-has-learned-the-greatest-secret-of-a-holy/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [IN THE BEGINNING I undertook my walking not only to contact people, I undertook it as a prayer discipline to keep me concentrated on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/in-the-beginning-i-undertook-my-walking-not-only-to-contact-people-i/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“He supposes in this way he's learned to pray not as one might to the gods but as one does by simply pausing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaddey-ratner/he-supposes-in-this-way-he-s-learned-to-pray-not-as-one-might-to-the/) [Vaddey Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaddey-ratner/) > [You pray for things, and you know, we all have our wishlists, but I've learned to pray for whatever's in your will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letoya-luckett/you-pray-for-things-and-you-know-we-all-have-our-wishlists-but-i-ve/) [LeToya Luckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letoya-luckett/) > [If you don't feel like praying, pray to God to give you the desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-don-t-feel-like-praying-pray-to-god-to-give-you-the-desire/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [God does not... give people positions or jobs or... good conditions such as they desire; they must do that for themselves.. God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/god-does-not-give-people-positions-or-jobs-or-good-conditions-such-as/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [We should not pray for God to be on our side, but pray that we may be on God's side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/we-should-not-pray-for-god-to-be-on-our-side-but-pray-that-we-may-be/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I can't think of a more pathetic situation for an actor than to do a film and not connect to it. And I pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irrfan-khan/i-can-t-think-of-a-more-pathetic-situation-for-an-actor-than-to-do-a/) [Irrfan Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irrfan-khan/) > [I do not care to die, but I pray to God I may never leave this field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfield-scott-hancock/i-do-not-care-to-die-but-i-pray-to-god-i-may-never-leave-this-field/) [Winfield Scott Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfield-scott-hancock/) > [I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him, when he is full already with something else. Before we pray that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-believe-many-a-man-is-praying-to-god-to-fill-him-when-he-is-full/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [I don't just pray for God to open doors, I also pray for God to close doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-don-t-just-pray-for-god-to-open-doors-i-also-pray-for-god-to-close/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) ## 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 Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [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/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trying harder doesn’t work for me. 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