---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trials always change our relationship…"
description: "\"Trials always change our relationship with God. Either they drive us to Him, or they drive us away from Him. The extent of our fear of Him and our awar..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/jerry-bridges-1451_awareness_trials-always-change-our-relationship-wi_1860549.png"
---

#  Trials always change our relationship with God. Either…

![“Trials always change our relationship with God. Either they drive us to Him, or they drive us away from Him. The extent of our fear of Him and our awareness of His love for us determine in which direction we will move.” quote by Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/jerry-bridges-1451_awareness_trials-always-change-our-relationship-wi_1860549.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/jerry-bridges-1451_awareness_trials-always-change-our-relationship-wi_1860549.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/jerry-bridges-1451_awareness_trials-always-change-our-relationship-wi_1860549.png)

> “Trials always change our relationship with God. Either they drive us to Him, or they drive us away from Him. The extent of our fear of Him and our awareness of His love for us determine in which direction we will move.”

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Trials test faith, pushing believers either toward God or away, depending on fear and love awareness.

**In simple terms:** Trials shape our relationship with God.

Key Takeaway

Let love guide you through trials.

Themes

faith trials relationship

Mood

contemplative serious

Type

spiritual reflective

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- church counseling
- life challenges

Key Concepts

theology psychology spiritual growth

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you see trials as distance or draw?
- How can love outweigh fear?

A Different Perspective

Fear can dominate, obscuring love.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Change Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-relationship/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [God Drive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-drive-1181668/) [His love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-love/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Our relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-relationship/) [Relationship God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-god/) [Relationship with god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-with-god/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Trials Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials-change-2501629/)

## Related quotes

> [“Use your pain to draw you to God, not to drive you away from Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-dy/use-your-pain-to-draw-you-to-god-not-to-drive-you-away-from-him/)

[Nelson Dy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-dy/)

> [God can't drive a parked car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-can-t-drive-a-parked-car/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [If you change your relationship with time, you will change your life. The most important time of your life is right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/if-you-change-your-relationship-with-time-you-will-change-your-life/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [When you let God drive you an take the wheel God will NEVER use reverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-j-cowell/when-you-let-god-drive-you-an-take-the-wheel-god-will-never-use/)

[Larry J Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-j-cowell/)

> [Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you - your relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-security-can-only-be-found-in-that-which-can-never-be-taken-from/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If u desire to grow in your relationship w God - don't do it alone. Find a community of people heading in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-mineo/if-u-desire-to-grow-in-your-relationship-w-god-don-t-do-it-alone-find/)

[Andy Mineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-mineo/)

> [Uncertainty as to our relationship with God is one of the most enfeebling and dispiriting of things. It makes a man heartless. It takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/uncertainty-as-to-our-relationship-with-god-is-one-of-the-most/)

[Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/)

> [Religion should be about your relationship with God, not what the church says you can and can't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-guerrero/religion-should-be-about-your-relationship-with-god-not-what-the/)

[Eddie Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-guerrero/)

> [God is interested in developing your character. At times He lets you proceed, but He will never let you go too far without discipline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-blackaby/god-is-interested-in-developing-your-character-at-times-he-lets-you/)

[Henry Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-blackaby/)

> [To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some meaningful time alone with Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/to-strengthen-our-relationship-with-god-we-need-some-meaningful-time/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [All the other religions I had ever read about dealt with the idea of God, and your relationship with God. Buddhism is the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/all-the-other-religions-i-had-ever-read-about-dealt-with-the-idea-of/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [Begin within. If it shows up in your life, it's coming to tell you something about you that you're acting like you don't know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/begin-within-if-it-shows-up-in-your-life-it-s-coming-to-tell-you/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [You must never sacrifice your relationship with God for the sake of a relationship with another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/you-must-never-sacrifice-your-relationship-with-god-for-the-sake-of-a/)

[Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/)

> [All our problems are theological ones, William Temple said. All of them have to do with our relationship to God and his to us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/all-our-problems-are-theological-ones-william-temple-said-all-of-them/)

[Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/)

> [The most important thing as a leader is your relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/the-most-important-thing-as-a-leader-is-your-relationship-with-god/)

[Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/)

## More by Jerry Bridges

> [We must allow the Bible to say what is says, not what we think it ought to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-must-allow-the-bible-to-say-what-is-says-not-what-we-think-it/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 PETER 3:18)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/grow-in-the-grace-and-knowledge-of-our-lord-and-savior-jesus-christ-2/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [It is not the fact that we are united in common goals or purposes that makes us a community. Rather, it is the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/it-is-not-the-fact-that-we-are-united-in-common-goals-or-purposes/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [A son or daughter in any human family is either born to or adopted by the parents. By definition, a child can't be both.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/a-son-or-daughter-in-any-human-family-is-either-born-to-or-adopted-by/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [“We must be careful to let the Holy Spirit do this searching. If we try to search our own hearts, we are apt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-must-be-careful-to-let-the-holy-spirit-do-this-searching-if-we-try/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [“Though the power for godly character comes from Christ, the responsibility for developing and displaying that character is ours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/though-the-power-for-godly-character-comes-from-christ-the/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [God's Word must be so strongly fixed in our minds that it becomes the dominant influence in our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/god-s-word-must-be-so-strongly-fixed-in-our-minds-that-it-becomes-the/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [The cure for impatience with the fulfillment of God's timetable is to believe His promises, obey His will, and leave the results to Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-cure-for-impatience-with-the-fulfillment-of-god-s-timetable-is-to/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [In a sermon entitled “God's Providence,” C. H. Spurgeon said, “Napoleon once heard it said, that man proposes and God disposes. 'Ah,' said Napoleon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/in-a-sermon-entitled-god-s-providence-c-h-spurgeon-said-napoleon-once/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [Patience is the ability to suffer a long time under the mistreatment of others without growing resentful or bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/patience-is-the-ability-to-suffer-a-long-time-under-the-mistreatment/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [Jesus said, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). We must honestly face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/jesus-said-any-of-you-who-does-not-give-up-everything-he-has-cannot/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [We ought to be as earnest and frequent in our prayers of thanksgiving when the cupboard is full as we would be in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-ought-to-be-as-earnest-and-frequent-in-our-prayers-of-thanksgiving/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [... self-control is not control by oneself through one's own willpower but rather control of oneself through the power of the Holy Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/self-control-is-not-control-by-oneself-through-one-s-own-willpower/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [The fruit of patience in all its aspects - long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance - is a fruit that is most intimately associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-fruit-of-patience-in-all-its-aspects-long-suffering-forbearance/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [Bitterness arises in our hearts when we do not trust in the sovereign rule of God in our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/bitterness-arises-in-our-hearts-when-we-do-not-trust-in-the-sovereign/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

[Explore all 234 Jerry Bridges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

## More Awareness quotes

> [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/)

[Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/)

> [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/)

[Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/)

> [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/)

[Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/)

> [I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/i-know-the-importance-of-highly-trained-awareness-of-the-moment-and/)

[Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/)

> [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/)

[Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/)

> [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/)

[Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/)

> [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/)

[Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/)

> [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/)

[Vashti Quiroz-Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vashti-quiroz-vega/)

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/)

[Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/)

> [Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-means-to-have-a-goal-but-finding-means-to-be-free-to-be/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/)

[Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/)

[Browse all 4,768 Awareness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Trials always change our relationship with God. Either they drive us to Him, or they drive us away from Him. The extent of our fear of Him and our awareness of His love for us determine in which direction we will move.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jerry Bridges"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/trials-always-change-our-relationship-with-god-either-they-drive-us/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Awareness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/trials-always-change-our-relationship-with-god-either-they-drive-us/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/jerry-bridges-1451_awareness_trials-always-change-our-relationship-wi_1860549.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/jerry-bridges-1451_awareness_trials-always-change-our-relationship-wi_1860549.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/jerry-bridges-1451_awareness_trials-always-change-our-relationship-wi_1860549.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Trials always change our relationship with God. Either they drive us to Him, or they drive us away from Him…” — Jerry Bridges",
                "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": "Jerry Bridges",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Trials always change our relationship with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/trials-always-change-our-relationship-with-god-either-they-drive-us/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/trials-always-change-our-relationship-with-god-either-they-drive-us/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
