Abandonment Quote by Hannah Whitall Smith
“To be one of God's lilies means an interior abandonment of the rarest kind. It means that we are to be infinitely passive, and yet infinitely active also; passive as regards self and its workings, active as regards attention and response to God. It is very hard to explain this so as to be understood But it means that we must lay down all the activity of the creature, as such, and must let only the activities of God work in us, and through us, and by us. Self must step aside, to let God work.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Life and Work of Hannah Whitall Smith, 1905
The quote describes a spiritual surrender where human self-effort yields to divine action, blending passive receptivity with active attentiveness to God.
In simple terms: Give up personal control, let God act through you.
Key Takeaway
Surrender to divine guidance.
Themes
spirituality
humility
faith
Mood
contemplative
reverent
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- prayer
- meditation
- service
- personal crisis
- spiritual direction
Key Concepts
divine agency
passive receptivity
active attentiveness
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you recognize when you are acting for yourself versus being guided by a higher purpose?
- What practices help you stay passively receptive yet actively engaged?
A Different Perspective
It can be hard to differentiate personal agency from divine influence.
![“Dana?' [asked Garson]. She nodded to show him she was listening. 'Why does he call you Scully all the time? I mean, you do have a first name.' 'Because he can,' she answered simply, without sarcasm, and didn't bother to explain. Just as it would be hard to explain why Mulder was, without question…” quote by Charles Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af5/charles-grant-32555_best-friend_dana-asked-garson-she-nodded-to-show-him_208361.jpg)
