--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest difficulty always comes…" description: "\"The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.\" — Joel Osteen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/joel-osteen-194_adversity_the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-rig_2739857.jpg" --- # The greatest difficulty always comes right before the… ![“The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.” quote by Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/joel-osteen-194_adversity_the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-rig_2739857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/joel-osteen-194_adversity_the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-rig_2739857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/joel-osteen-194_adversity_the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-rig_2739857.jpg) > “The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.” [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The hardest challenges appear just before a dream begins, testing resolve before success. **In simple terms:** Obstacles precede the start of dreams. Key Takeaway Persevere through pre‑dream struggles. Themes determination faith adversity Mood motivational hopeful Type inspirational religious When to use this quote - startup launch - personal goal planning - creative projects Key Concepts psychological barrier goal setting spiritual belief Questions to Reflect On - What fuels persistence at the brink? - How to recognize a challenge as a sign of growth? A Different Perspective Fear may cause abandonment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ## Related quotes > [“The difficulty comes from our lack of confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-difficulty-comes-from-our-lack-of-confidence/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Lift up your eyes upon This day breaking for you. Give birth again To the dream. Women, children, men, Take it into the palms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/lift-up-your-eyes-upon-this-day-breaking-for-you-give-birth-again-to/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Birth is a dream, spontaneous and innate. Death, on the other hand, is a slow, false, divine calamity. It is like love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-moffett/birth-is-a-dream-spontaneous-and-innate-death-on-the-other-hand-is-a/) [Kevin Moffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-moffett/) > [It seems that the greatest difficulty is to find the end. Don't try to find it, it's there already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-coppola/it-seems-that-the-greatest-difficulty-is-to-find-the-end-don-t-try-to/) [Sofia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-coppola/) > [The greatest difficulty of Travel is that one is forced to take oneself along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-greatest-difficulty-of-travel-is-that-one-is-forced-to-take/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [But how to raise a sum in the different States has been my greatest difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulton/but-how-to-raise-a-sum-in-the-different-states-has-been-my-greatest/) [Robert Fulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulton/) > [Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/our-most-significant-opportunities-will-be-found-in-times-of-greatest/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Can we fight against and subdue ourselves? That is the greatest difficulty we ever encountered, and the most arduous warfare we ever engaged in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/can-we-fight-against-and-subdue-ourselves-that-is-the-greatest/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Difficulty comes not only because of your mistakes, but once you try to make an excuse or accuse someone else, your mind stops thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/difficulty-comes-not-only-because-of-your-mistakes-but-once-you-try/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [“Do not become upset when difficulty comes your way. Laugh in its face and know that you are in the hands of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-francis-de-sales/do-not-become-upset-when-difficulty-comes-your-way-laugh-in-its-face/) [St. Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-francis-de-sales/) > [Every sorrow and difficulty that comes in your way are stepping stones for a better tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/every-sorrow-and-difficulty-that-comes-in-your-way-are-stepping/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) > [“The very best things in life are born of difficulty. Whatever comes too easily is easily abandoned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/the-very-best-things-in-life-are-born-of-difficulty-whatever-comes-2/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [“The very best things in life are born of difficulty. Whatever comes too easily is easily abandoned.” “It is the height of irony. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/the-very-best-things-in-life-are-born-of-difficulty-whatever-comes/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/certainly-none-of-us-enjoy-going-through-struggles-but-you-have-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [For me, the greatest obstacles are never on the ice itself. That's the area I excel in. That's where my passion is. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-bancroft/for-me-the-greatest-obstacles-are-never-on-the-ice-itself-that-s-the/) [Ann Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-bancroft/) ## More by Joel Osteen > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I don't have to figure out how God is going to solve my problem. I don't have to understand how He's going to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-don-t-have-to-figure-out-how-god-is-going-to-solve-my-problem-i-don/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The only difference between black coal and a precious diamond is the amount of pressure it endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-only-difference-between-black-coal-and-a-precious-diamond-is-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Faith is easy; I think people complicate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/faith-is-easy-i-think-people-complicate-it/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [There's pros and cons of a big church. Cons is I don't get to know everybody, I don't get to go to their ballgame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/there-s-pros-and-cons-of-a-big-church-cons-is-i-don-t-get-to-know/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [When you smile and project an aura of warmth, kindness, and friendliness, you will attract warms, kindness, and friendliness. Happy people will be drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-you-smile-and-project-an-aura-of-warmth-kindness-and/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [You may not have the approval of someone 'important,' but you have the favor of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-may-not-have-the-approval-of-someone-important-but-you-have-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“In the Bible, God called Gideon a mighty man of (fearless) courage. Gideon looked around and said, “Who’s He talking to? That’s not me.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/in-the-bible-god-called-gideon-a-mighty-man-of-fearless-courage/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [At the start of each new day, remind yourself: I am talented. I am creative. I am greatly favored by God. I am equipped.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/at-the-start-of-each-new-day-remind-yourself-i-am-talented-i-am/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Don't be intimidated by the size of your problem or the size of your dream. God will see to it that it is finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-be-intimidated-by-the-size-of-your-problem-or-the-size-of-your/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [No matter what's happening, choose to be happy. Don't focus on what's wrong. Find something positive in your life. Thank God for the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/no-matter-what-s-happening-choose-to-be-happy-don-t-focus-on-what-s/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I deal with more practical issues of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-deal-with-more-practical-issues-of-the-bible/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Too often we don’t realize how great we have it until something is taken away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/too-often-we-don-t-realize-how-great-we-have-it-until-something-is/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) [Explore all 960 Joel Osteen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Osteen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-right-before-the-birth-of-a-dream/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-right-before-the-birth-of-a-dream/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/joel-osteen-194_adversity_the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-rig_2739857.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/joel-osteen-194_adversity_the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-rig_2739857.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/joel-osteen-194_adversity_the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-rig_2739857.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.” — Joel Osteen", "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": "Joel Osteen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greatest difficulty always comes right...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-right-before-the-birth-of-a-dream/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-greatest-difficulty-always-comes-right-before-the-birth-of-a-dream/#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 } } ] } ```