--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS US The…" description: "\"ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS US The way we use adversity is strictly our own choice, For in God's Hands adversity can make the heart rejoice - Fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/helen-steiner-rice-13928_adversity_adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-th_2368290.jpg" --- # ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS US The way we use… ![“ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS US The way we use adversity is strictly our own choice, For in God's Hands adversity can make the heart rejoice - For everything God sends to us, no matter in what form, Is sent with plan and purpose for by the fierceness of a storm The atmosphere is changed and…” quote by Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/helen-steiner-rice-13928_adversity_adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-th_2368290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/helen-steiner-rice-13928_adversity_adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-th_2368290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/helen-steiner-rice-13928_adversity_adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-th_2368290.jpg) > “ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS US The way we use adversity is strictly our own choice, For in God's Hands adversity can make the heart rejoice - For everything God sends to us, no matter in what form, Is sent with plan and purpose for by the fierceness of a storm The atmosphere is changed and cleared and the earth is washed and clean.” [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adversity can be a catalyst for growth if we choose to see it as a divine opportunity **In simple terms:** Hard times can become blessings when we view them as purposeful Key Takeaway Choose to see challenges as gifts Themes faith resilience spirituality Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational spiritual When to use this quote - personal crisis - health recovery - career setbacks - relationship conflicts Key Concepts Divine purpose transformational perspective Questions to Reflect On - How do you reinterpret a current difficulty? - What spiritual practices help you find meaning in adversity? A Different Perspective It may overlook that not everyone perceives hardship as purposeful ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Adversity Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-distress-5824209/) [Adversity Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-make-1301583/) [Adversity Strictly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-strictly-5824210/) [Atmosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atmosphere/) [Bless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bless/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Clean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean/) [Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Fierceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fierceness/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [God'S Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-hands/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Rejoice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejoice/) [Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storm/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-adversity-1196141/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“There’s no way you’re going to make it out of this world without spending some time down in the valley or in a dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/there-s-no-way-you-re-going-to-make-it-out-of-this-world-without/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [There will always be hard times. Use adversity to fuel your fire. In high school, I wanted to play quarterback but couldn't until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-roethlisberger/there-will-always-be-hard-times-use-adversity-to-fuel-your-fire-in/) [Ben Roethlisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-roethlisberger/) > [“You can't have all the answers now or you could never grow from making a choice. If you want to grow, you must face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-buffington/you-can-t-have-all-the-answers-now-or-you-could-never-grow-from/) [Eric Buffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-buffington/) > [It's important for me to play women who can overcome adversity, make change, and take control of their lives. I think it's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-riesgraf/it-s-important-for-me-to-play-women-who-can-overcome-adversity-make/) [Beth Riesgraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-riesgraf/) > [Case in point: Take adversity and make it an asset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/case-in-point-take-adversity-and-make-it-an-asset/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [To achieve your dreams, you must embrace adversity and make failure a regular part of your life. If you're not failing, you're probably not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/to-achieve-your-dreams-you-must-embrace-adversity-and-make-failure-a/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The birth of the new constitutes a crisis, and its mastery calls for a crude and simple cast of mind -- the mind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-birth-of-the-new-constitutes-a-crisis-and-its-mastery-calls-for-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [If I could dream, I know I'd dream about you.I'd dream about the way you smell and how your dark hair feels like silk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/if-i-could-dream-i-know-i-d-dream-about-you-i-d-dream-about-the-way/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Have you ever been anyone's?" I ask, a feathery whisper in the quiet bedroom. He lifts his head to mine, and I want him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/have-you-ever-been-anyone-s-i-ask-a-feathery-whisper-in-the-quiet/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [“Are you frightened of me?' asked Ironclaw. 'No. Why should I be?' 'I'm very fierce,' said the brazzle, with some pride. ' All brazzles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kay/are-you-frightened-of-me-asked-ironclaw-no-why-should-i-be-i-m-very/) [Elizabeth Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kay/) > [Fire will save the Clan...you never understood, did you? Not even when I gave you your apprentice name, Firepaw. And I doubted it myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/fire-will-save-the-clan-you-never-understood-did-you-not-even-when-i/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) > [This is a fierce bad rabbit; look at his savage whiskers, and his claws and his turned-up tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrix-potter/this-is-a-fierce-bad-rabbit-look-at-his-savage-whiskers-and-his-claws/) [Beatrix Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrix-potter/) > [We loved each other with a premature love, marked by a fierceness that so often destroys adult lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/we-loved-each-other-with-a-premature-love-marked-by-a-fierceness-that/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [There are plenty of times we need fierce compassion, fierce love. Just like when a child does something that is very harmful and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-coleman/there-are-plenty-of-times-we-need-fierce-compassion-fierce-love-just/) [Mark Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-coleman/) > [The tamer my love, the farther away it is from love. In fierceness, in heat, in longing, in risk, I find something of love's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/the-tamer-my-love-the-farther-away-it-is-from-love-in-fierceness-in/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) ## More by Helen Steiner Rice > [Love changes darkness into light and makes the heart take a wingless flight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/love-changes-darkness-into-light-and-makes-the-heart-take-a-wingless/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [A mother's love is like a tower, Rising far above the crowd, And her smile is like the sunshine, Breaking through a threatening cloud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/a-mother-s-love-is-like-a-tower-rising-far-above-the-crowd-and-her/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/bless-us-lord-this-christmas-with-quietness-of-mind-teach-us-to-be/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [It takes a Mother’s Love to make a house a home, a place to be remembered, no matter where we roam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/it-takes-a-mother-s-love-to-make-a-house-a-home-a-place-to-be/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [You cannot change reality, but you can control the manner in which you look at things. Your attitude is under your own control. Weed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/you-cannot-change-reality-but-you-can-control-the-manner-in-which-you/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [When you are in troubled and worried and sick at heart And your plans are upset and your world falls apart, Remember God's ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/when-you-are-in-troubled-and-worried-and-sick-at-heart-and-your-plans/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [The way to real growth is not to become more powerful or more famous, but to become more human and more tolerant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/the-way-to-real-growth-is-not-to-become-more-powerful-or-more-famous/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [No matter how steep the mountain - the Lord is going to climb it with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/no-matter-how-steep-the-mountain-the-lord-is-going-to-climb-it-with/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [Peace is not something you fight for With bombs and missiles that kill, Nor can it be won in a "battle of words" One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/peace-is-not-something-you-fight-for-with-bombs-and-missiles-that/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [The comfort and sweetness of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/the-comfort-and-sweetness-of-peace/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [A mother's love is something that no one can explain — It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/a-mother-s-love-is-something-that-no-one-can-explain-it-is-made-of/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [It takes a Mother's Patience, to bring a child up right, And her Courage and her Cheerfulness to make a dark day bright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/it-takes-a-mother-s-patience-to-bring-a-child-up-right-and-her/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [Never borrow sorrow from tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/never-borrow-sorrow-from-tomorrow/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/peace-on-earth-will-come-to-stay-when-we-live-christmas-every-day/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [Grief is a solitary journey. No one but you knows how great the hurt is. No one but you can know the gaping hole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/grief-is-a-solitary-journey-no-one-but-you-knows-how-great-the-hurt/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) [Explore all 48 Helen Steiner Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS US The way we use adversity is strictly our own choice, For in God's Hands adversity can make the heart rejoice - For everything God sends to us, no matter in what form, Is sent with plan and purpose for by the fierceness of a storm The atmosphere is changed and cleared and the earth is washed and clean.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helen Steiner Rice" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-the-way-we-use-adversity-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-the-way-we-use-adversity-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/helen-steiner-rice-13928_adversity_adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-th_2368290.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/helen-steiner-rice-13928_adversity_adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-th_2368290.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/helen-steiner-rice-13928_adversity_adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-th_2368290.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS US The way we use adversity is strictly our own choice, For in God's…” — Helen Steiner Rice", "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": "Helen Steiner Rice", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-the-way-we-use-adversity-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/adversity-can-distress-us-or-bless-us-the-way-we-use-adversity-is/#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 } } ] } ```