--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fearsome blessing of that hard time…" description: "\"The fearsome blessing of that hard time continues to work itself out in my life in the same way we're told the universe is still hurtling through outer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/frederick-buechner-883_astonishment_the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time_1967778.png" --- # The fearsome blessing of that hard time continues to work… ![“The fearsome blessing of that hard time continues to work itself out in my life in the same way we're told the universe is still hurtling through outer space under the impact of the great cosmic explosion… I think grace sometimes explodes into our lives like that-sending our pain, terror…” quote by Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/frederick-buechner-883_astonishment_the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time_1967778.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/frederick-buechner-883_astonishment_the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time_1967778.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/frederick-buechner-883_astonishment_the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time_1967778.png) > “The fearsome blessing of that hard time continues to work itself out in my life in the same way we're told the universe is still hurtling through outer space under the impact of the great cosmic explosion… I think grace sometimes explodes into our lives like that-sending our pain, terror, astonishment hurtling through inner space until by grace they become Orion, Cassiopeia, Polaris to give us our bearings, to bring us into something like full being at last.” [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard times can be transformed into spiritual growth, turning pain into guiding constellations that provide direction. **In simple terms:** Suffering can become guidance and growth. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship as a path to grace. Themes spirituality growth pain Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - personal crisis - creative writing - mindfulness practice Key Concepts grace cosmic metaphor transformation Questions to Reflect On - How can you find meaning in personal hardship? - What symbols help you navigate pain? A Different Perspective Not everyone experiences such profound meaning from suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astonishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishment/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Explosions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explosions/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-time/) [Hard times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-times/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Orion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orion/) [Outer space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outer-space/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [When I gaze into the stars, they look down upon me with pity from their serene and silent spaces, like eyes glistening with tears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/when-i-gaze-into-the-stars-they-look-down-upon-me-with-pity-from/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“I feel a little dizzy," said Orion. "But also wonderfully elated. I feel that I am on the verge of finding a rhyme for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-a-little-dizzy-said-orion-but-also-wonderfully-elated-i-feel/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [My heart is sand and Orion's cruel tide has washed it away from me, scattered it, lost it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/my-heart-is-sand-and-orion-s-cruel-tide-has-washed-it-away-from-me/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [“Orion is above the horizon now, and near it Jupiter, brighter than it will ever be ... But i expect you can see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/orion-is-above-the-horizon-now-and-near-it-jupiter-brighter-than-it/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [I grew up in Lake Orion, Mich. What was best about Lake Orion where, where we grew up was it was a suburb of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-j-feustel/i-grew-up-in-lake-orion-mich-what-was-best-about-lake-orion-where/) Andrew J. Feustel > ["I live for agressive action!" thundered Orion squeakily, which was unusual. "Oh, how I pray that dragon will turn round that I may smite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-live-for-agressive-action-thundered-orion-squeakily-which-was/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/i-ve-seen-things-you-people-wouldn-t-believe-attack-ships-on-fire-off/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) > [I am not exuding anything," said Holly through gritted teeth. Orion tapped her shoulder. "I beg to differ. You're exuding right now, a wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-am-not-exuding-anything-said-holly-through-gritted-teeth-orion/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“How do I love thee? wondered Orion. "Let me see. I love thee passionately and eternally...obviously eternally-that goes without saying." Holly blinked sweat from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/how-do-i-love-thee-wondered-orion-let-me-see-i-love-thee-passionately/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“Ach, Hector, unser freundlicher Neandertaler." - Helen Hamilton”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/ach-hector-unser-freundlicher-neandertaler-helen-hamilton/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [He knows enough, the mariner, who knows Where lurk the shelves, and where the whirlpools boil, What signs portend the storm: to subtler minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/he-knows-enough-the-mariner-who-knows-where-lurk-the-shelves-and/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [“I’m really attracted to Orion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/i-m-really-attracted-to-orion/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“It was supposed to be Orion,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/it-was-supposed-to-be-orion/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“So, Orion Dude, you’re an alien?” Stu said, finding it all very funny now. “Hmm. If you’re coming to my planet, Stu, actually you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-watson-morris/so-orion-dude-you-re-an-alien-stu-said-finding-it-all-very-funny-now/) Ruth Watson-Morris ## More by Frederick Buechner > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [It is impossible to conceive how different things would have turned out if that birth had not happened whenever, wherever, however it didfor millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/it-is-impossible-to-conceive-how-different-things-would-have-turned/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [At least to look back over their own lives, as I have looked back over mine, for certain themes and patterns and signals that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/at-least-to-look-back-over-their-own-lives-as-i-have-looked-back-over/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Snobs are people who look down on other people, but that does not justify our looking down on them. Who can say what dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/snobs-are-people-who-look-down-on-other-people-but-that-does-not/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I could, of course, have done no more if no less than affiliated myself in one way or another with a particular church, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-could-of-course-have-done-no-more-if-no-less-than-affiliated-myself/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/even-the-saddest-things-can-become-once-we-have-made-peace-with-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [A Christian isn't necessarily any nicer than anybody else, just better informed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/a-christian-isn-t-necessarily-any-nicer-than-anybody-else-just-better/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“The things that the world fills time with are enough to turn the heart to stone, but the goodness of time itself is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-things-that-the-world-fills-time-with-are-enough-to-turn-the/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The pride that keeps us from forgiving is the same pride which keeps us from accepting forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-pride-that-keeps-us-from-forgiving-is-the-same-pride-which-keeps/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but a the same time you carry them with you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/you-can-kiss-your-family-and-friends-good-bye-and-put-miles-between/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [If the truth is worth telling, it is worth making a fool of yourself to tell it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/if-the-truth-is-worth-telling-it-is-worth-making-a-fool-of-yourself/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I suspect that Jesus spoke many of his parables as a kind of sad and holy joke and that that may be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-suspect-that-jesus-spoke-many-of-his-parables-as-a-kind-of-sad-and/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“How Adewen stuffed her braid in her mouth at that! Or she'd cover her mirth with her hands and shake till you'd think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/how-adewen-stuffed-her-braid-in-her-mouth-at-that-or-she-d-cover-her/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/resurrection-means-that-the-worst-thing-is-never-the-last-thing/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) [Explore all 339 Frederick Buechner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## More Astonishment quotes > [“A writer lives, at least, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sansom/a-writer-lives-at-least-in-a-state-of-astonishment-beneath-any/) [William Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sansom/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A lot of what I am looking for is a moment of astonishment, he says. Those moments of pure consciousness when you involuntarily inhale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-meyerowitz/a-lot-of-what-i-am-looking-for-is-a-moment-of-astonishment-he-says/) [Joel Meyerowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-meyerowitz/) > [If there be a skeptical star I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-macneile-dixon/if-there-be-a-skeptical-star-i-was-born-under-it-yet-i-have-lived-all/) [William Macneile Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-macneile-dixon/) > [If you aren't constantly astonished at God's grace in your solitude, there's no way it can happen in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-aren-t-constantly-astonished-at-god-s-grace-in-your-solitude/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Witness each moment in astounded jubilation. Take every holy breath in gratitude. Rejoice in life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witness-each-moment-in-astounded-jubilation-take-every-holy-breath-in/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Those who have past much of their lives in this great city, look upon its opulence and its multitudes, its extent and variety, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-have-past-much-of-their-lives-in-this-great-city-look-upon/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“See? Nothing to it." "I see all right," Carly said, her tone full of awe. She gaped at him. "What?" "Um..." "Jesus, Carly, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/see-nothing-to-it-i-see-all-right-carly-said-her-tone-full-of-awe-she/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [For a moment Clary thought she might fall; she felt as if something essential had been torn away from her, an arm or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/for-a-moment-clary-thought-she-might-fall-she-felt-as-if-something/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Both of you’ll just have to believe me. Emma’s one of those women who was born with… The thing is, the minute a heterosexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/both-of-you-ll-just-have-to-believe-me-emma-s-one-of-those-women-who/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“For the analyst it is a source of never-ending astonishment how comparatively well a person can function with the core of himself not participating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-horney/for-the-analyst-it-is-a-source-of-never-ending-astonishment-how/) [Karen Horney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-horney/) > [It was only when I lay there on the rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-only-when-i-lay-there-on-the-rotting-prison-straw-that-i/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Sometimes, people trying to commit suicide manage it in a manner that leaves them breathless with astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-people-trying-to-commit-suicide-manage-it-in-a-manner-that/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [When I wake up, I wake to something worse. It’s the astonishment of being myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-wake-up-i-wake-to-something-worse-it-s-the-astonishment-of/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-shall-i-say-and-how-shall-i-describe-this-birth-to-you-for-this/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) [Browse all 227 Astonishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fearsome blessing of that hard time continues to work itself out in my life in the same way we're told the universe is still hurtling through outer space under the impact of the great cosmic explosion… I think grace sometimes explodes into our lives like that-sending our pain, terror, astonishment hurtling through inner space until by grace they become Orion, Cassiopeia, Polaris to give us our bearings, to bring us into something like full being at last.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frederick Buechner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time-continues-to-work-itself-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Astonishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time-continues-to-work-itself-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/frederick-buechner-883_astonishment_the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time_1967778.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/frederick-buechner-883_astonishment_the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time_1967778.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/161/frederick-buechner-883_astonishment_the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time_1967778.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fearsome blessing of that hard time continues to work itself out in my life in the same way we're told…” — Frederick Buechner", "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": "Frederick Buechner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The fearsome blessing of that hard...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time-continues-to-work-itself-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-fearsome-blessing-of-that-hard-time-continues-to-work-itself-out/#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 } } ] } ```