--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: affliction is better than sin, and if God…" description: "\"“affliction is better than sin, and if God sends the one to cleanse us from the other, let us thank him, and be also content to pay the messenger.”\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bunyan-1055_affliction_affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god_2932044.jpg" --- # affliction is better than sin, and if God sends the one to… ![“affliction is better than sin, and if God sends the one to cleanse us from the other, let us thank him, and be also content to pay the messenger.” quote by John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bunyan-1055_affliction_affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god_2932044.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bunyan-1055_affliction_affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god_2932044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bunyan-1055_affliction_affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god_2932044.jpg) > ““affliction is better than sin, and if God sends the one to cleanse us from the other, let us thank him, and be also content to pay the messenger.”” [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering can be a divine corrective; when hardship replaces sin, we should be grateful for the lesson and accept the messenger of that correction. **In simple terms:** Hardship can be a lesson from God; be grateful for it. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship as a corrective gift. Themes faith redemption gratitude Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - moral failure - health challenges - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts theodicy spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate between a test and a punishment? - What gratitude can you find in current suffering? A Different Perspective Hardship may not always be clearly linked to sin, leading to misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) ## Related quotes > [We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/we-can-stand-affliction-better-than-we-can-prosperity-for-in/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Whoever brings an affliction, it is God who sends it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/whoever-brings-an-affliction-it-is-god-who-sends-it/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [“Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure, swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/better-for-him-that-each-sin-of-his-life-had-brought-its-sure-swift-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure swift penalty along with it. there was purification in punishment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/better-for-him-that-each-sin-of-his-life-had-brought-its-sure-swift/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The moral is that it is probably better not to sin at all, but if some kind of sin you must be pursuing, Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/the-moral-is-that-it-is-probably-better-not-to-sin-at-all-but-if-some/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [If you tell a lie to make a person better, then that is not a sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/if-you-tell-a-lie-to-make-a-person-better-then-that-is-not-a-sin/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [“none of sin makes you better, sin always makes you get worse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tolop-marbun/none-of-sin-makes-you-better-sin-always-makes-you-get-worse/) Tolop Marbun > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [In times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/in-times-of-affliction-we-commonly-meet-with-the-sweetest-experiences/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [The great comfort in knowing that angels minister to believers in Christ is that God Himself sends them to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-great-comfort-in-knowing-that-angels-minister-to-believers-in/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“For it is God’s love that warms me in the sun and God’s love that sends the cold rain. It is God’s love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/for-it-is-god-s-love-that-warms-me-in-the-sun-and-god-s-love-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [When you lose hope, God sends some very powerful signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-lose-hope-god-sends-some-very-powerful-signs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The man's got more money than God, and he sends you a bag of coffee?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-man-s-got-more-money-than-god-and-he-sends-you-a-bag-of-coffee/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That person who God sends, when we are down and out, who has the gift of encouragement. Who help us to get back our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/that-person-who-god-sends-when-we-are-down-and-out-who-has-the-gift/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [God sends cold according to clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/god-sends-cold-according-to-clothes/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) ## More by John Bunyan > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [To seek yourself in this world is to be lost; and to be humble is to be exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-seek-yourself-in-this-world-is-to-be-lost-and-to-be-humble-is-to/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“it is common for those that have called themselves His servants, after awhile to give Him the slip, and return again to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/it-is-common-for-those-that-have-called-themselves-his-servants-after/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [A comely sight indeed it is to see, a world of blossoms on an apple tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-comely-sight-indeed-it-is-to-see-a-world-of-blossoms-on-an-apple/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“The preeminent job of the church is to equip Christian for life's challenges. This requires the emphasis on being fitted with tested armor. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-preeminent-job-of-the-church-is-to-equip-christian-for-life-s/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“So he had them into the slaughter house, where was a butcher killing a sheep. And behold, the sheep was quiet and took her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/so-he-had-them-into-the-slaughter-house-where-was-a-butcher-killing-a/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [I will stay in prison till the moss grows on my eye lids rather than disobey God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/i-will-stay-in-prison-till-the-moss-grows-on-my-eye-lids-rather-than/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“...I am for going on, and venturing my eternal state with Christ, whether I have comfort here or no; if God doth not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/i-am-for-going-on-and-venturing-my-eternal-state-with-christ-whether/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“Evangelist spoke from his heart with great passion. “You cannot be justified by the works of the law, because it isn’t how one follows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/evangelist-spoke-from-his-heart-with-great-passion-you-cannot-be/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [God speaks once, yea twice, yet Man perceiveth it not, in a Dream, in a Vision of the night, when deep Sleep falleth upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/god-speaks-once-yea-twice-yet-man-perceiveth-it-not-in-a-dream-in-a/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [No man, without trials and temptations, can attain a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/no-man-without-trials-and-temptations-can-attain-a-true-understanding/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“It is the glory of the next world that will never wear out, while the good things of this world will vanish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/it-is-the-glory-of-the-next-world-that-will-never-wear-out-while-the/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [It is possible to learn all about the mysteries of the Bible and never be affected by it in one's soul. Great knowledge is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/it-is-possible-to-learn-all-about-the-mysteries-of-the-bible-and/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend; The difficulty will not me offend. For I perceive the way to life lies here. Come,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/this-hill-though-high-i-covet-to-ascend-the-difficulty-will-not-me/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) [Explore all 299 John Bunyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) ## More Affliction quotes > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Henceforth, I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself, 'Enough, enough, and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/henceforth-i-ll-bear-affliction-till-it-do-cry-out-itself-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/new-materials-are-one-of-the-great-afflictions-of-contemporary-art/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-anshaw/aimee-parkison-offers-a-distinct-new-voice-to-contemporary-fiction/) [Carol Anshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-anshaw/) > [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Religion prescribes to every miserable man the means of bettering his condition; nay, it shows him that the bearing of his afflictions as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/religion-prescribes-to-every-miserable-man-the-means-of-bettering-his/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) [Browse all 598 Affliction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“affliction is better than sin, and if God sends the one to cleanse us from the other, let us thank him, and be also content to pay the messenger.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Bunyan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god-sends-the-one-to-cleanse-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affliction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god-sends-the-one-to-cleanse-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bunyan-1055_affliction_affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god_2932044.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bunyan-1055_affliction_affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god_2932044.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bunyan-1055_affliction_affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god_2932044.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“affliction is better than sin, and if God sends the one to cleanse us from the other, let us thank him, and…” — John Bunyan", "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": "John Bunyan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“affliction is better than sin, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god-sends-the-one-to-cleanse-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god-sends-the-one-to-cleanse-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 } } ] } ```