--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They are prepared for a God who strikes…" description: "\"They are prepared for a God who strikes hard bargains but not for a God who gives as much for an hour's work as for a day's. They are prepared for a mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/frederick-buechner-883_bigger_they-are-prepared-for-a-god-who-strikes_1483878.png" --- # They are prepared for a God who strikes hard bargains but… ![“They are prepared for a God who strikes hard bargains but not for a God who gives as much for an hour's work as for a day's. They are prepared for a mustard-seed kingdom of God no bigger than the eye of a newt but not for the great banyan it becomes with birds in its branches singing Mozart. They…” quote by Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/frederick-buechner-883_bigger_they-are-prepared-for-a-god-who-strikes_1483878.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/frederick-buechner-883_bigger_they-are-prepared-for-a-god-who-strikes_1483878.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/frederick-buechner-883_bigger_they-are-prepared-for-a-god-who-strikes_1483878.png) > “They are prepared for a God who strikes hard bargains but not for a God who gives as much for an hour's work as for a day's. They are prepared for a mustard-seed kingdom of God no bigger than the eye of a newt but not for the great banyan it becomes with birds in its branches singing Mozart. They are prepared for the potluck supper at First Presbyterian but not for the marriage supper of the lamb...” [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. Human expectations of divine power often focus on dramatic, immediate miracles, overlooking the subtle, expansive growth that unfolds over time. **In simple terms:** People expect big miracles, but God works in gradual, profound ways. Key Takeaway Embrace patience for unseen, lasting transformation. Themes faith expectation growth miracle patience Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - spiritual awakening - community building - long‑term projects Key Concepts theology spiritual development paradox incremental change Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize subtle blessings? - What small signs indicate larger purpose? A Different Perspective Great events are rare; everyday moments shape destiny. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Kingdom of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-god/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Mustard seed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mustard-seed/) [Potluck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potluck/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) ## Related quotes > [“People are prepared for everything except for the fact that beyond the darkness of their blindness there is a great light. 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I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/i-just-want-to-be-able-to-live-my-share-of-existence-without-being/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [If you don't like potlucks, the solution to your problem is "don't go to potlucks," not "insist other people don't have them."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/if-you-don-t-like-potlucks-the-solution-to-your-problem-is-don-t-go/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [ \[Conservatives\] go to church, they do lots of things for free for each other. They hold potluck dinners. ... They serve food to poor… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/conservatives-go-to-church-they-do-lots-of-things-for-free-for-each/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [I made a chocolate cake with white chocolate. Then I took it to a potluck. I stood in line for some cake. 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If it weren't for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/there-must-be-some-unwritten-law-that-says-about-fifty-people-have-to/) [Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/) > [So I taught Sunday school and brought dishes to all manner of potlucks and tried to adjust the things I heard from the pulpit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/so-i-taught-sunday-school-and-brought-dishes-to-all-manner-of/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Nothing gets me in the holiday spirit like awkward office potluck lunches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-gets-me-in-the-holiday-spirit-like-awkward-office-potluck/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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. 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