--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel the problems I have are meant to…" description: "\"I feel the problems I have are meant to purify me.\" — Henri Nouwen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/henri-nouwen-600_feel_i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to_1440170.png" --- # I feel the problems I have are meant to purify me. ![“I feel the problems I have are meant to purify me.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/henri-nouwen-600_feel_i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to_1440170.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/henri-nouwen-600_feel_i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to_1440170.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/henri-nouwen-600_feel_i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to_1440170.png) > “I feel the problems I have are meant to purify me.” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Challenges are meant to cleanse and strengthen us. **In simple terms:** Problems purify us. Key Takeaway Embrace difficulties as growth opportunities. Themes growth purification spirituality Mood hopeful reflective Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - spiritual practice - personal crisis Key Concepts theology psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What current problem feels purifying? - How can you discern useful hardship? A Different Perspective Not all problems lead to purification; some may be harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-problems-1856967/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Meant Purify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-purify-5151544/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-meant-4446343/) [Purify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purify/) ## Related quotes > [Problems are not meant to be kept; they have to be solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak/problems-are-not-meant-to-be-kept-they-have-to-be-solved/) [Deepak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak/) > [The problems are meant to be solve. So don't walk away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa/the-problems-are-meant-to-be-solve-so-don-t-walk-away/) [ALYSSA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa/) > [We live in a day when the adversary stresses on every hand the philosophy of instant gratification. We seem to demand instant everything, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/we-live-in-a-day-when-the-adversary-stresses-on-every-hand-the/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [“When “real traumatic shit” like this happens in our lives, we begin to unconsciously feel as though we have problems that we’re incapable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/when-real-traumatic-shit-like-this-happens-in-our-lives-we-begin-to/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [I know that everything is connected. If you feel some problems with yourself, it will affect everything. Sooner or later you will have problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/i-know-that-everything-is-connected-if-you-feel-some-problems-with/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [When I'm with you I don't feel any of my problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhay-babista/when-i-m-with-you-i-don-t-feel-any-of-my-problems/) [Jhay Babista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhay-babista/) > [I can always look up at the cosmos and marvel, no matter what happens. And when I look up at it, I feel as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-can-always-look-up-at-the-cosmos-and-marvel-no-matter-what-happens/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [When I'm on the court, I feel all problems go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kawhi-leonard/when-i-m-on-the-court-i-feel-all-problems-go-away/) [Kawhi Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kawhi-leonard/) > [Although I was born to famous parents, I know and feel the problems of ordinary citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benigno-aquino-iii/although-i-was-born-to-famous-parents-i-know-and-feel-the-problems-of/) [Benigno Aquino III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benigno-aquino-iii/) > [“No matter how much individuals do through their own efforts, they cannot actively purify themselves enough to be disposed in the least degree for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-de-la-cruz/no-matter-how-much-individuals-do-through-their-own-efforts-they/) [Juan de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-de-la-cruz/) > [The limb that a person most needs to purify is his tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-nu-aym/the-limb-that-a-person-most-needs-to-purify-is-his-tongue/) [Abu Nu`aym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-nu-aym/) > [“Purify your heart with prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/purify-your-heart-with-prayer/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [It is necessary first to purify the drunken and dissolute worshippers in charge of some of these temples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-is-necessary-first-to-purify-the-drunken-and-dissolute-worshippers/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“If you pray, you purify your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-you-pray-you-purify-your-heart/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“All religions worthy of the name are now making great efforts to purify their doctrines and return to their original standpoint, — all except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/all-religions-worthy-of-the-name-are-now-making-great-efforts-to/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) [Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel the problems I have are meant to purify me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Nouwen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to-purify-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to-purify-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/henri-nouwen-600_feel_i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to_1440170.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/henri-nouwen-600_feel_i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to_1440170.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/henri-nouwen-600_feel_i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to_1440170.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel the problems I have are meant to purify me.” — Henri Nouwen", "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": "Henri Nouwen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I feel the problems I have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to-purify-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-feel-the-problems-i-have-are-meant-to-purify-me/#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 } } ] } ```