--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If God had let me come at once, as I…" description: "\"“If God had let me come at once, as I prayed, then everything would have been different, I should only have had a little bread to bring to grandmother,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/johanna-spyri-15456_quote_if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-pray_932427.jpg" --- # If God had let me come at once, as I prayed, then… ![“If God had let me come at once, as I prayed, then everything would have been different, I should only have had a little bread to bring to grandmother, and I should not have been able to read, which is such a comfort to her; but God has arranged it all so much better than I knew how to; everything…” quote by Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/johanna-spyri-15456_quote_if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-pray_932427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/johanna-spyri-15456_quote_if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-pray_932427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/johanna-spyri-15456_quote_if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-pray_932427.jpg) > ““If God had let me come at once, as I prayed, then everything would have been different, I should only have had a little bread to bring to grandmother, and I should not have been able to read, which is such a comfort to her; but God has arranged it all so much better than I knew how to; everything has happened just as the other grandmother said it would”” [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses faith that divine providence guides life events better than personal wishes, emphasizing trust in a higher plan **In simple terms:** God’s plan surpasses personal desire Key Takeaway Trust in divine timing Themes faith trust destiny Mood thoughtful hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - personal loss - career setbacks - health challenges Key Concepts Providence humility grace Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile faith with personal effort? - When should you accept outcomes versus intervene? A Different Perspective Blind trust may ignore practical action and personal agency ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grandmother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandmother/) ## Related quotes > [“Raz i’Syul,” she explained. “The Grandmother said in the old desert tongue it means ‘Child of the Sun.’ It’s what a lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-o-connor/raz-i-syul-she-explained-the-grandmother-said-in-the-old-desert/) [Bryce O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-o-connor/) > [“There are two ways to respond when life hands you something unpleasant,” the grandmother said, smiling down at the infant in her lap. “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/there-are-two-ways-to-respond-when-life-hands-you-something/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“But no matter,” Grandmother said. “Let’s let small-minded people live within the confines of their small-minded assumptions while the rest of us carry on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-paulson/but-no-matter-grandmother-said-let-s-let-small-minded-people-live/) [Ingrid Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-paulson/) > [so my grandmother was not without humanity. and if she wore cocktail dresses when she labored in the garden, they were cocktail dresses she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/so-my-grandmother-was-not-without-humanity-and-if-she-wore-cocktail/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Like my grandmother always said, 'you never know the blessings that come from suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/like-my-grandmother-always-said-you-never-know-the-blessings-that/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [God has arranged events, and placed people in your life for a reason. in the same way, you have been appointed to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/god-has-arranged-events-and-placed-people-in-your-life-for-a-reason/) Pacifiersucker > [It would be a good thing if young people were wise and old people were strong, but God has arranged things better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-would-be-a-good-thing-if-young-people-were-wise-and-old-people/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [When I'm judging a theory, I ask myself whether, if I were God, I would have arranged the world in such a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/when-i-m-judging-a-theory-i-ask-myself-whether-if-i-were-god-i-would/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ “Therefore have the Jews departed from God, in not receiving His Word, but imagining that they could know the Father \[apart\] by Himself, without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/therefore-have-the-jews-departed-from-god-in-not-receiving-his-word/) The Church Fathers > [ \[God\] arranged that the boy Samuel should be chosen but instead of teaching him directly He had him, turn once or twice to an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/god-arranged-that-the-boy-samuel-should-be-chosen-but-instead-of/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [God has arranged everything in the universe in consideration of everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-of-bingen/god-has-arranged-everything-in-the-universe-in-consideration-of/) [Hildegard of Bingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-of-bingen/) > [“We are all just complicated arrangements of atoms and subatomic particles. We don't live...but our atoms do move about in such a way as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-de-heer/we-are-all-just-complicated-arrangements-of-atoms-and-subatomic/) Rolf de Heer > [God has so arranged the chronometry of our spirits, that there shall be thousands of silent moments between the striking hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martineau/god-has-so-arranged-the-chronometry-of-our-spirits-that-there-shall/) [James Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martineau/) > [The man who prays is the one who thinks that god has arranged matters all wrong, but who also thinks that he can instruct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-man-who-prays-is-the-one-who-thinks-that-god-has-arranged-matters/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Oh, I wish that God had not given me what I prayed for! It was not so good as I thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/oh-i-wish-that-god-had-not-given-me-what-i-prayed-for-it-was-not-so/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) ## More by Johanna Spyri > [Go now and wash yourself first, for the sun will laugh at you if he sees how dirty you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/go-now-and-wash-yourself-first-for-the-sun-will-laugh-at-you-if-he/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Her peculiarities must not be punished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/her-peculiarities-must-not-be-punished/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Dont grieve any more, see I am coming up with you everyday now, and if there is anything the matter, you can come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/dont-grieve-any-more-see-i-am-coming-up-with-you-everyday-now-and-if/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Heidi began to read of the son when he was happily at home, and went out into the fields with his father's flocks, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/heidi-began-to-read-of-the-son-when-he-was-happily-at-home-and-went/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [God arranges everything for us, so that we need have no more fear or trouble and may be quite sure that all things will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/god-arranges-everything-for-us-so-that-we-need-have-no-more-fear-or/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“She is not fashioned for a life among strangers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/she-is-not-fashioned-for-a-life-among-strangers/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [Oh, I wish that God had not given me what I prayed for! It was not so good as I thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/oh-i-wish-that-god-had-not-given-me-what-i-prayed-for-it-was-not-so/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“You mustn't hurt him. Let him go”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/you-mustn-t-hurt-him-let-him-go/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [God certainly knows of some happiness for us which He is going to bring out of the trouble, only we must have patience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/god-certainly-knows-of-some-happiness-for-us-which-he-is-going-to/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“The poor child felt like a little bird that is placed in a glittering cage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/the-poor-child-felt-like-a-little-bird-that-is-placed-in-a-glittering/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [We must never forget to pray, and to ask God to remember us when He is arranging things, so that we too may feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/we-must-never-forget-to-pray-and-to-ask-god-to-remember-us-when-he-is/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Not long after, and while it was still twilight, the grandfather also went to bed, for he was up every morning at sunrise, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/not-long-after-and-while-it-was-still-twilight-the-grandfather-also/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Isn't that a beautiful tale, grandfather," said Heidi, as the latter continued to sit without speaking, for she had expected him to express pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/isn-t-that-a-beautiful-tale-grandfather-said-heidi-as-the-latter/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [If you have a sorrow that you cannot tell to anyone, you can go to our Father in Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/if-you-have-a-sorrow-that-you-cannot-tell-to-anyone-you-can-go-to-our/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Then you must wait," she said, "and keep on saying to yourself: God certainly knows of some happiness for us which He is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/then-you-must-wait-she-said-and-keep-on-saying-to-yourself-god/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) [Explore all 43 Johanna Spyri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) ## More Grandmother quotes > [“Did he kill Grandmother?” I whispered. “Don’t be ridiculous,” Erra’s voice said in my ear. “She is already dead. Besides, your grandmother was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/did-he-kill-grandmother-i-whispered-don-t-be-ridiculous-erra-s-voice/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [“Because he doesn’t want me talking to my grandmother.” Barabas looked at Curran. Curran shrugged. “It’s a family thing. Sometimes your father puts your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/because-he-doesn-t-want-me-talking-to-my-grandmother-barabas-looked/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [My grandmother was a minister as well, which was not that common in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/my-grandmother-was-a-minister-as-well-which-was-not-that-common-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. And she'd come over and pick us boys up, and we would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-grandmother-made-sure-that-i-went-to-church-every-sunday-and-she-d/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Honestly, and seriously, I know I have to do a Telugu film. It was my grandmother's dream to see me in a Telugu film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swara-bhaskar/honestly-and-seriously-i-know-i-have-to-do-a-telugu-film-it-was-my/) [Swara Bhaskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swara-bhaskar/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [I guessed my mother figured if my father got right down to the task of eating he wouldn’t be so inclined to jump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-guessed-my-mother-figured-if-my-father-got-right-down-to-the-task/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I'm a grandmother, and a mighty proud one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/i-m-a-grandmother-and-a-mighty-proud-one/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [I grew up in Harlem. My grandmother was one of the best cooks around, but the first thing she did on Sunday mornings when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-grew-up-in-harlem-my-grandmother-was-one-of-the-best-cooks-around/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [I have a role now that I think becomes me. I am a grandmother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-have-a-role-now-that-i-think-becomes-me-i-am-a-grandmother/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [My hero among heroes is my grandmother, she's the epitome of strength and I try to mock that strength all the time. She's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeriel-miranda/my-hero-among-heroes-is-my-grandmother-she-s-the-epitome-of-strength/) [Aeriel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeriel-miranda/) > [I use the phrase 'sibling society' to suggest a culture fundamentally without fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, or ancestors. The thinking is horizontal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/i-use-the-phrase-sibling-society-to-suggest-a-culture-fundamentally/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [I'm proud of my hands; they look like my grandma's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serinda-swan/i-m-proud-of-my-hands-they-look-like-my-grandma-s/) [Serinda Swan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serinda-swan/) [Browse all 1,839 Grandmother quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandmother/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If God had let me come at once, as I prayed, then everything would have been different, I should only have had a little bread to bring to grandmother, and I should not have been able to read, which is such a comfort to her; but God has arranged it all so much better than I knew how to; everything has happened just as the other grandmother said it would”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johanna Spyri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-prayed-then-everything-would-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grandmother" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-prayed-then-everything-would-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/johanna-spyri-15456_quote_if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-pray_932427.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/johanna-spyri-15456_quote_if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-pray_932427.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/johanna-spyri-15456_quote_if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-pray_932427.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If God had let me come at once, as I prayed, then everything would have been different, I should only have…” — Johanna Spyri", "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": "Johanna Spyri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If God had let me come...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-prayed-then-everything-would-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-prayed-then-everything-would-have/#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 } } ] } ```