--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The apostles had this instinct: When in…" description: "\"The apostles had this instinct: When in trouble, pray. When intimidated, pray. When challenged, pray. When persecuted, pray!\" — Jim Cymbala" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jim-cymbala-7997_apostles_the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-t_2382572.png" --- # The apostles had this instinct: When in trouble, pray… ![“The apostles had this instinct: When in trouble, pray. When intimidated, pray. When challenged, pray. When persecuted, pray!” quote by Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jim-cymbala-7997_apostles_the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-t_2382572.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jim-cymbala-7997_apostles_the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-t_2382572.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jim-cymbala-7997_apostles_the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-t_2382572.png) > “The apostles had this instinct: When in trouble, pray. When intimidated, pray. When challenged, pray. When persecuted, pray!” [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates prayer as a constant response to life's challenges. **In simple terms:** Prayer is a reliable tool in all difficulties. Key Takeaway Turn to prayer in every crisis. Themes faith resilience spiritual practice Mood reflective encouraging Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - conflict - career setbacks - health challenges Key Concepts prayer trust divine support Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt prayer helped you? - What alternatives exist for non‑believers? A Different Perspective May not resonate with non‑religious individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apostles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostles/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Intimidated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidated/) [Intimidated Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidated-pray-5905691/) [Persecuted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecuted/) [Persecuted Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecuted-pray-5905692/) [Pray Intimidated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-intimidated-5905689/) [Pray Persecuted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-persecuted-5905690/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-pray-1085241/) ## Related quotes > [“Father, I pray for those in the persecuted church and for their leaders. Strengthen them, encourage them, and grant miracles of provision and deliverance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/father-i-pray-for-those-in-the-persecuted-church-and-for-their/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) > [Whenever I'm in trouble, I pray. And because I'm in trouble all of the time, I pray almost constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/whenever-i-m-in-trouble-i-pray-and-because-i-m-in-trouble-all-of-the/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [Most of us wait until we're in trouble, and then we pray like the dickens. Wonder what would happen if, some morning, we'd wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/most-of-us-wait-until-we-re-in-trouble-and-then-we-pray-like-the/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us. Prayer changes life. Sometimes an event has been manifested that needs to be stopped, midair. Don't pray just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/prayer-changes-things-prayer-changes-us-prayer-changes-life-sometimes/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [ God is punishing America for the way they have persecuted us at Westboro Baptist Church, and worse and more of \[the Virginia Tech massacre\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-phelps/god-is-punishing-america-for-the-way-they-have-persecuted-us-at/) [Fred Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-phelps/) > [I am poor and feeble, persecuted and vulnerable, Yeshua conquered me, and with the New Man he honored me, He delivered me from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-zion/i-am-poor-and-feeble-persecuted-and-vulnerable-yeshua-conquered-me/) [Daniel Zion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-zion/) > [Christianity persecuted, tortured, and burned. Like a hound it tracked the very scent of heresy. It kindled wars, and nursed furious hatreds and ambitions...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/christianity-persecuted-tortured-and-burned-like-a-hound-it-tracked/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Before the civil war, Pottibakia was a normal member of the Comity of Nations. She erected tariff walls, broke treaties, persecuted minorities, obstructed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/before-the-civil-war-pottibakia-was-a-normal-member-of-the-comity-of/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Where do find the most persecuted Christians in the world?... in the classrooms of our government schools, where the assault is not upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/where-do-find-the-most-persecuted-christians-in-the-world-in-the/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Christians are being persecuted, not just in the Middle East but here in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/christians-are-being-persecuted-not-just-in-the-middle-east-but-here/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Paranoia is a state of heightened awareness. Most people are persecuted beyond their wildest delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-steiner/paranoia-is-a-state-of-heightened-awareness-most-people-are/) [Claude Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-steiner/) > [I think it is not only important that people go to the Anne Frank House to see the secret annex, but also that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-frank/i-think-it-is-not-only-important-that-people-go-to-the-anne-frank/) [Otto Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-frank/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## More by Jim Cymbala > [The old saying is true: If you have only the Word, you dry up. If you have only the Spirit, you blow up. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-old-saying-is-true-if-you-have-only-the-word-you-dry-up-if-you/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [The reason "other churches" don't grow: "Jim, the truth is, I couldn't have a real prayer meeting in my church. I'd be embarrassed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-reason-other-churches-don-t-grow-jim-the-truth-is-i-couldn-t-have/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [People who have a seeking heart still make mistakes. But their reaction to rebuke and correction shows the condition of that heart. It determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/people-who-have-a-seeking-heart-still-make-mistakes-but-their/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [“In too many churches today, people don’t see manifestations of God’s power in answer to fervent praying. Instead, they hear arguments about theological issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/in-too-many-churches-today-people-don-t-see-manifestations-of-god-s/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [The more we pray, the more we sense our need to pray. And the more we sense a need to pray, the more we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-more-we-pray-the-more-we-sense-our-need-to-pray-and-the-more-we/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [What does it say about our churches today that God birthed the church in a prayer meeting, and prayer meetings today are almost extinct?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/what-does-it-say-about-our-churches-today-that-god-birthed-the-church/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [Jesus called fishermen, not graduates of rabbinical schools. The main requirement was to be natural and sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/jesus-called-fishermen-not-graduates-of-rabbinical-schools-the-main/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [God nowhere asks anyone to have a large church. He only calls us to do his work, proclaiming his Word to people he loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/god-nowhere-asks-anyone-to-have-a-large-church-he-only-calls-us-to-do/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [For all of us involved in preaching the gospel, performing music, publishing Christian materials, and all the rest, there is an uncomfortable message here:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/for-all-of-us-involved-in-preaching-the-gospel-performing-music/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [The work of God can only be carried on by the power of God. The key is not $, organization, cleverness or education. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-work-of-god-can-only-be-carried-on-by-the-power-of-god-the-key-is/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/you-can-tell-how-popular-a-church-is-by-who-comes-on-sunday-morning/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [“The British Bible translator J. B. Phillips, after completing his work on this section of Scripture, could not help reflecting on what he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-british-bible-translator-j-b-phillips-after-completing-his-work/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [Prayer cannot truly be taught by principles and seminars and symposiums. It has to be born out of a whole environment of felt need.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/prayer-cannot-truly-be-taught-by-principles-and-seminars-and/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [Persistent calling upon the name of the Lord breaks through every stronghold of the devil, for nothing is impossible with God. For Christians in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/persistent-calling-upon-the-name-of-the-lord-breaks-through-every/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [“the Creator of all things is looking throughout the whole earth for a certain kind of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-creator-of-all-things-is-looking-throughout-the-whole-earth-for-a/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) [Explore all 82 Jim Cymbala quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) ## More Apostles quotes > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [As a Fundamentalist I had discovered while I was in college that it is possible to dismiss the entire Church as having gone off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-howard-3rd-duke-of-norfolk/as-a-fundamentalist-i-had-discovered-while-i-was-in-college-that-it/) [Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-howard-3rd-duke-of-norfolk/) > [Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master's book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/amidst-the-flood-of-dangerous-reading-i-plead-for-my-master-s-book-i/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“I argue that the Jesus of the Gospels is essentially a myth. The Gospels are largely fiction. They were created around the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-elleg-rd/i-argue-that-the-jesus-of-the-gospels-is-essentially-a-myth-the/) [Alvar Ellegård](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-elleg-rd/) > [the Republicans love to say that the Democratic Party is ruled by 'special interests.' But when pressed to name these 'special interests,' the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/the-republicans-love-to-say-that-the-democratic-party-is-ruled-by/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [The Apostle John said, " Beloved, now we are the sons of God." He didn't say by and by we are going to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-apostle-john-said-beloved-now-we-are-the-sons-of-god-he-didn-t/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [The first duty of a Christian, of a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, is to deny himself. To deny oneself means to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-of-alaska/the-first-duty-of-a-christian-of-a-disciple-and-follower-of-jesus/) [Innocent of Alaska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innocent-of-alaska/) > [The gifts that Yeshua left in the earth realm to enforce His authority were apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. The gift that gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-pierce/the-gifts-that-yeshua-left-in-the-earth-realm-to-enforce-his/) [Chuck Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-pierce/) > [... faithfully and strenuously you should resist the heretics in defense of the only true and life-giving faith, which the Church has received -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-clement-i/faithfully-and-strenuously-you-should-resist-the-heretics-in-defense/) [Pope Clement I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-clement-i/) > [ Listen to these words of \[apostle\] Paul: "We war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, and the rulers of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/listen-to-these-words-of-apostle-paul-we-war-not-against-flesh-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Our Lord Jesus Christ, a little before his departure, commissioned his apostles to Go, and teach all nations; or, as another evangelist expresses it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/our-lord-jesus-christ-a-little-before-his-departure-commissioned-his/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [What cursed spirit of falsehood moveth priests to close themselves within stone walls for all their life, since Christ commanded all his apostles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wycliffe/what-cursed-spirit-of-falsehood-moveth-priests-to-close-themselves/) [John Wycliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wycliffe/) > [...it is proper that the duty of helping the poor and unfortunate should especially stir Catholics, since they are members of the Mystical Body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxii/it-is-proper-that-the-duty-of-helping-the-poor-and-unfortunate-should/) [Pope John XXII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxii/) > [“The Ancient Church Fathers, including disciples of the twelve apostles, were firmly premillennial, pretribulational, and very pro-Israel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-johnson/the-ancient-church-fathers-including-disciples-of-the-twelve-apostles/) [Ken Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-johnson/) [Browse all 366 Apostles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The apostles had this instinct: When in trouble, pray. When intimidated, pray. When challenged, pray. When persecuted, pray!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Cymbala" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-trouble-pray-when-intimidated/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apostles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-trouble-pray-when-intimidated/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jim-cymbala-7997_apostles_the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-t_2382572.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jim-cymbala-7997_apostles_the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-t_2382572.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jim-cymbala-7997_apostles_the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-t_2382572.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The apostles had this instinct: When in trouble, pray. When intimidated, pray. When challenged, pray. When…” — Jim Cymbala", "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": "Jim Cymbala", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The apostles had this instinct: When...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-trouble-pray-when-intimidated/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-apostles-had-this-instinct-when-in-trouble-pray-when-intimidated/#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 } } ] } ```