--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have found that there are three stages…" description: "\"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.\" — Hudson Taylor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/hudson-taylor-5026_christian_i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages_1062102.png" --- # I have found that there are three stages in every great… ![“I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” quote by Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/hudson-taylor-5026_christian_i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages_1062102.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/hudson-taylor-5026_christian_i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages_1062102.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/hudson-taylor-5026_christian_i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages_1062102.png) > “I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great works start impossible, become difficult, then are completed. **In simple terms:** Impossible → difficult → done. Key Takeaway Persist through stages of challenge. Themes faith perseverance progress Mood inspirational encouraging Type wisdom motivation When to use this quote - mission work - personal projects - learning - team building Key Concepts spiritual growth goal achievement Questions to Reflect On - What seems impossible now? - How can you break it into steps? A Different Perspective Success may require external help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [God first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-first/) [God Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-impossible/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-difficult-741261/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Work God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-god/) ## Related quotes > [“There are three stages to every great work of God; first it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/there-are-three-stages-to-every-great-work-of-god-first-it-is/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [I have found there are three stages to every great work of God: first it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-found-there-are-three-stages-to-every-great-work-of-god-first/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are three stages in the work of God: impossible, difficult,done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-three-stages-in-the-work-of-god-impossible-difficult-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Trust God for the impossible-miracles are His department. Our job is to do our best, letting the Lord do the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/trust-god-for-the-impossible-miracles-are-his-department-our-job-is/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [The word impossible seems to be most difficult thing. But it is nothing without the power of your negative thoughts. Think positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/the-word-impossible-seems-to-be-most-difficult-thing-but-it-is/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Ah, it is impossible." "No, it is only very difficult - so very difficult that I shall be sure to accomplish it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-d-e-n-southworth/ah-it-is-impossible-no-it-is-only-very-difficult-so-very-difficult/) [E.D.E.N. Southworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-d-e-n-southworth/) > [The Lord never asks the impossible. Often the difficult, but never the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-haight/the-lord-never-asks-the-impossible-often-the-difficult-but-never-the/) [David B. Haight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-haight/) > [Teaching literature is impossible; that is why it is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/teaching-literature-is-impossible-that-is-why-it-is-difficult/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Avoid losers. If you hear someone use the words 'impossible', 'never', 'too difficult' too often, drop him or her from your social network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/avoid-losers-if-you-hear-someone-use-the-words-impossible-never-too/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [In this day of wonders no one will say that a thing or an idea is worthless because it is new. To say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/in-this-day-of-wonders-no-one-will-say-that-a-thing-or-an-idea-is/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Men are generally idle, and ready to satisfy themselves, and intimidate the industry of others, by calling that impossible which is only difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/men-are-generally-idle-and-ready-to-satisfy-themselves-and-intimidate/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Too often we attempt to work for God to the limit of our incompetency, rather than to the limit of God's omnipotency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/too-often-we-attempt-to-work-for-god-to-the-limit-of-our-incompetency/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [“God's work done in God's way will never lack God's provision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-s-work-done-in-god-s-way-will-never-lack-god-s-provision/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [Let us see that we keep God before our eyes; that we walk in His ways and seek to please and glorify Him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/let-us-see-that-we-keep-god-before-our-eyes-that-we-walk-in-his-ways/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [God's work done God's way will never lack God's supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-s-work-done-god-s-way-will-never-lack-god-s-supply/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) ## More by Hudson Taylor > [Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/do-not-have-your-concert-first-and-then-tune-your-instrument/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [So if God should place me in serious perplexity, must He not give me much guidance; in places of great difficulty, much grace; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/so-if-god-should-place-me-in-serious-perplexity-must-he-not-give-me/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [We have heard of many people who trusted God too little, but have you ever heard of anyone who trusted Him too much?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/we-have-heard-of-many-people-who-trusted-god-too-little-but-have-you/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [God's work is not man working for God; it is God's own work, though often wrought through man's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-s-work-is-not-man-working-for-god-it-is-god-s-own-work-though/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [Brother, if you would enter that Province, you must go forward on your knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/brother-if-you-would-enter-that-province-you-must-go-forward-on-your/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/in-shansi-i-found-chinese-christians-who-were-accustomed-to-spend/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [I often think that God must have been looking for someone small enough and weak enough for Him to use, and that He found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/i-often-think-that-god-must-have-been-looking-for-someone-small/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking God to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/i-used-to-ask-god-to-help-me-then-i-asked-if-i-might-help-him-i-ended/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [Satan may build a hedge about us and fence us in and hinder our movements, but he cannot roof us in and prevent our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/satan-may-build-a-hedge-about-us-and-fence-us-in-and-hinder-our/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [God means just what He says and He will do all that He has promised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-means-just-what-he-says-and-he-will-do-all-that-he-has-promised/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [Unless there is an element of risk in our exploits for God, there is no need for faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/unless-there-is-an-element-of-risk-in-our-exploits-for-god-there-is/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [If we are faithful to God in little things, we shall gain experience and strength that will be helpful to us in the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/if-we-are-faithful-to-god-in-little-things-we-shall-gain-experience/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing. There are not two Christs--an easygoing one for easygoing Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/fruit-bearing-involves-cross-bearing-there-are-not-two-christs-an/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [As a rule, prayer is answered and funds come in, but if we are kept waiting, the spiritual blessing that is the outcome is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/as-a-rule-prayer-is-answered-and-funds-come-in-but-if-we-are-kept/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [“God's work done in God's way will never lack God's provision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-s-work-done-in-god-s-way-will-never-lack-god-s-provision/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) [Explore all 104 Hudson Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. 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Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hudson Taylor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages-in-every-great-work-of-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages-in-every-great-work-of-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/hudson-taylor-5026_christian_i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages_1062102.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/hudson-taylor-5026_christian_i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages_1062102.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/hudson-taylor-5026_christian_i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages_1062102.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is…” — Hudson Taylor", "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": "Hudson Taylor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have found that there are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages-in-every-great-work-of-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/i-have-found-that-there-are-three-stages-in-every-great-work-of-god/#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 } } ] } ```