--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ah, how many Marahs have been sweetened…" description: "\"Ah, how many Marahs have been sweetened by a simple, satisfying glimpse of the Tree and the Love which underwent its worst confict there. Yes, the Cros..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/jim-elliot-7510_bitterness_ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-b_602927.jpg" --- # Ah, how many Marahs have been sweetened by a simple… ![“Ah, how many Marahs have been sweetened by a simple, satisfying glimpse of the Tree and the Love which underwent its worst confict there. Yes, the Cross is the tree that sweetens the waters. 'Love never faileth.” quote by Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/jim-elliot-7510_bitterness_ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-b_602927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/jim-elliot-7510_bitterness_ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-b_602927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/jim-elliot-7510_bitterness_ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-b_602927.jpg) > “Ah, how many Marahs have been sweetened by a simple, satisfying glimpse of the Tree and the Love which underwent its worst confict there. Yes, the Cross is the tree that sweetens the waters. 'Love never faileth.” [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual love transforms suffering into sweetness, symbolized by the Cross. **In simple terms:** Love turns pain into sweetness. Key Takeaway Seek love’s transformative power. Themes faith suffering love redemption Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - prayer during hardship - supporting grieving friends - reading sacred texts Key Concepts theology spiritual growth symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How does love change your view of suffering? - Can you find sweetness in painful moments? A Different Perspective Not all experience love as transformative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Cross Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross-tree-4911024/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Easter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easter/) [Glimpse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glimpse/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Marahs Sweetened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marahs-sweetened-4911023/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Sweetens Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweetens-waters-4911025/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Tree Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree-love-553234/) [Tree Sweetens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree-sweetens-4911022/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) ## Related quotes > [“We are only a dream of a dream. This world is not what it seems. We are the wind that carries the seeds. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-malia/we-are-only-a-dream-of-a-dream-this-world-is-not-what-it-seems-we-are/) [Tina Malia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-malia/) > [I should say that, in addition to my tree - love (it was originally called The Tree), it arose from my own pre-occupation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/i-should-say-that-in-addition-to-my-tree-love-it-was-originally/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“Love is the seed, love is the tree, love is the shade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/love-is-the-seed-love-is-the-tree-love-is-the-shade/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Love is like an apple tree. Love is the apple in the tree of life. well you are the apple. the shinnest apple in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hess-117/love-is-like-an-apple-tree-love-is-the-apple-in-the-tree-of-life-well/) [Carl Hess 117](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hess-117/) > [“I love you, I love you, my heart is a rose which your love has brought to bloom, my life is a desert fanned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-love-you-i-love-you-my-heart-is-a-rose-which-your-love-has-brought/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The tree of love its roots hath spread Deep in my heart, and rears its head; Rich are its fruits: they joy dispense; Transport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/the-tree-of-love-its-roots-hath-spread-deep-in-my-heart-and-rears-its/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [Tomorrow we will only give them a leaf of the tree of our love, a leaf which will fall on the earth like if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/tomorrow-we-will-only-give-them-a-leaf-of-the-tree-of-our-love-a-leaf/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [If kisses were the water I would give you the sea, if hugs were the leaves I would give you a tree, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yarne-gaskins/if-kisses-were-the-water-i-would-give-you-the-sea-if-hugs-were-the/) [Yarne Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yarne-gaskins/) > [What happened instead was that the tree fell in love with him and began to murmur fondly of the joy to be found in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/what-happened-instead-was-that-the-tree-fell-in-love-with-him-and/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Do you say that tree isn't pretty cause it doesn't look like that tree? We're all trees. You're a tree. I'm a tree. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/do-you-say-that-tree-isn-t-pretty-cause-it-doesn-t-look-like-that/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [If kisses were a tree Id give you a forest, If hugs were leafs Id give you a tree, If love was water I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-kisses-were-a-tree-id-give-you-a-forest-if-hugs-were-leafs-id-give/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If kisses were a tree, Id give you a forest. If hugs were leaves, Id give you a tree. If love was water, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-kisses-were-a-tree-id-give-you-a-forest-if-hugs-were-leaves-id/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If kisses were water I would give you the sea, if hugs were the leaves I would give you a tree, but if love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-kisses-were-water-i-would-give-you-the-sea-if-hugs-were-the-leaves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like to look at a tree and see that it's love. Don't you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-like-to-look-at-a-tree-and-see-that-it-s-love-don-t-you/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## More by Jim Elliot > [Children are arrows in a quiver, and they are to be trained as missionaries and shot at the Devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/children-are-arrows-in-a-quiver-and-they-are-to-be-trained-as/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [I couldn’t have asked for more than God in deliberate grace has surprised me with!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/i-couldn-t-have-asked-for-more-than-god-in-deliberate-grace-has/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Rest in this-it is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call, or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/rest-in-this-it-is-his-business-to-lead-command-impel-send-call-or/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [No one warns young people to follow Adam's example. He waited till God saw his need. Then God made Adam sleep, prepared for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/no-one-warns-young-people-to-follow-adam-s-example-he-waited-till-god/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/father-take-my-life-yea-my-blood-if-thou-wilt-and-consume-it-with/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [So many missionaries, intent on doing something, forget that His main work is to make something of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/so-many-missionaries-intent-on-doing-something-forget-that-his-main/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Our young men are going into the professional fields because they don't 'feel called' to the mission field. We don't need a call; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/our-young-men-are-going-into-the-professional-fields-because-they-don/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you Lord Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/i-seek-not-a-long-life-but-a-full-one-like-you-lord-jesus/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [What good are Greek, commentaries, insight, gift, and all the rest, if there is no heart for Christ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/what-good-are-greek-commentaries-insight-gift-and-all-the-rest-if/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Lord, make my way prosperous not that I achieve high station, but that my life be an exhibit to the value of knowing God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/lord-make-my-way-prosperous-not-that-i-achieve-high-station-but-that/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [We wouldn't think of rising in the morning without a face-wash, but we often neglect that purgative cleansing of the Word of the Lord.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/we-wouldn-t-think-of-rising-in-the-morning-without-a-face-wash-but-we/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [“When the time comes to die, make sure that all you have to do is die!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/when-the-time-comes-to-die-make-sure-that-all-you-have-to-do-is-die/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [It's hard to steer a parked car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/it-s-hard-to-steer-a-parked-car/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [What a brutish master sin is, taking the joy from one's life, stealing money and health, giving promise of tomorrow's pleasures, and finally leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/what-a-brutish-master-sin-is-taking-the-joy-from-one-s-life-stealing/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/father-make-of-me-a-crisis-man-bring-those-i-contact-to-decision-let/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) [Explore all 90 Jim Elliot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) ## More Bitterness quotes > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/) [Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/) > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“What?" I ask. I try not to get snappy with her. She hasn't really done anything wrong. Falling in love with Turner isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/what-i-ask-i-try-not-to-get-snappy-with-her-she-hasn-t-really-done/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [“The fairest things have fleetest end, Their scent survives their close: But the rose’s scent is bitterness To him that loved the rose. —Francis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-fairest-things-have-fleetest-end-their-scent-survives-their-close/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“No," I say. "I didn't know that," and as I say it I feel flooded with bitterness at all the things Ingrid kept secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/no-i-say-i-didn-t-know-that-and-as-i-say-it-i-feel-flooded-with/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [Forgiving someone who've done you wrong or didn't treat you right could mean that you are allowing yourself to end up away from bitterness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-t-pascua/forgiving-someone-who-ve-done-you-wrong-or-didn-t-treat-you-right/) [April T Pascua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-t-pascua/) > [You cannot be inspired if you are surrounded with negativity, open the door and step into the inspirational garden of nature. Do not let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/you-cannot-be-inspired-if-you-are-surrounded-with-negativity-open-the/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Carry it by the comfortable handles of gratitude for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-you-down-it-s-the-way-you-carry-it/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) [Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/) > [Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-not-give-in-to-pessimism-to-that-bitterness-that-the-devil/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves how bitterness tastes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rin-chupeco/sometimes-it-is-good-to-remind-ourselves-how-bitterness-tastes/) [Rin Chupeco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rin-chupeco/) > [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [Be sure there is something waiting for you after much patience, to astonish you to a degree, that you forget the bitterness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/be-sure-there-is-something-waiting-for-you-after-much-patience-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) [Browse all 1,210 Bitterness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ah, how many Marahs have been sweetened by a simple, satisfying glimpse of the Tree and the Love which underwent its worst confict there. Yes, the Cross is the tree that sweetens the waters. 'Love never faileth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Elliot" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-by-a-simple-satisfying-glimpse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bitterness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-by-a-simple-satisfying-glimpse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/jim-elliot-7510_bitterness_ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-b_602927.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/jim-elliot-7510_bitterness_ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-b_602927.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/jim-elliot-7510_bitterness_ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-b_602927.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ah, how many Marahs have been sweetened by a simple, satisfying glimpse of the Tree and the Love which…” — Jim Elliot", "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 Elliot", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ah, how many Marahs have been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-by-a-simple-satisfying-glimpse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/ah-how-many-marahs-have-been-sweetened-by-a-simple-satisfying-glimpse/#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 } } ] } ```