--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a…" description: "\"“Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should be so; but experience testifies, that a long course of ease and prosperity, without painful c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/950/john-newton-6629_prayer_afflictions-quicken-us-to-prayer-it-is-a_907340.jpg" --- # Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should… ![“Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should be so; but experience testifies, that a long course of ease and prosperity, without painful changes—has an unhappy tendency to make us cold and formal in our secret worship. But troubles rouse our spirits, and constrain us to call upon the…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/950/john-newton-6629_prayer_afflictions-quicken-us-to-prayer-it-is-a_907340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/950/john-newton-6629_prayer_afflictions-quicken-us-to-prayer-it-is-a_907340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/950/john-newton-6629_prayer_afflictions-quicken-us-to-prayer-it-is-a_907340.jpg) > ““Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should be so; but experience testifies, that a long course of ease and prosperity, without painful changes—has an unhappy tendency to make us cold and formal in our secret worship. But troubles rouse our spirits, and constrain us to call upon the Lord in good earnest—when we feel a need of that help which we only can have from his almighty arm. Afflictions are useful, and in a degree necessary, to keep alive in us—a conviction of the vanity and unsatisfying nature of the present world, and all its enjoyments; to remind us that this world is not our rest, and to call our thoughts upwards, where our true treasure is, and where our heart ought to be. When things go on much to our wish, our hearts are too prone to say, "It is good to be here!”” [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering prompts prayer and deepens spiritual awareness, reminding us that earthly comforts are fleeting. **In simple terms:** Hardship drives us to seek God. Key Takeaway Recognize trials as spiritual catalysts. Themes faith suffering spirituality Mood reflective hopeful Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - church teaching - counseling - writing Key Concepts theodicy humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond to hardship? - What practices keep you spiritually grounded? A Different Perspective Suffering can also lead to despair if not guided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I'll except your prayer; never your pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-vernon/i-ll-except-your-prayer-never-your-pity/) [Aimee Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-vernon/) > [“XXIV Morning Reverie Water mixed with a little salt Warmed by an erratic heart A sad sigh from a heavy breast And yet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bee/xxiv-morning-reverie-water-mixed-with-a-little-salt-warmed-by-an/) [Michael Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bee/) > [When we let our mind relax, a moment will come when we rest without thoughts. This stable state is like an ocean without waves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bokar-rinpoche/when-we-let-our-mind-relax-a-moment-will-come-when-we-rest-without/) [Bokar Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bokar-rinpoche/) > [“If I can’t be your love, then let me be a simple brooch so I may rest a while against your chest. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/if-i-can-t-be-your-love-then-let-me-be-a-simple-brooch-so-i-may-rest/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [The afflictions to which we are accustomed, do not disturb us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/the-afflictions-to-which-we-are-accustomed-do-not-disturb-us/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [Afflictions are but the shadows of God's wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/afflictions-are-but-the-shadows-of-god-s-wings/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Afflictions clarify the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/afflictions-clarify-the-soul/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Afflictions, like bills and pikes, make a terrible show when they cannot reach us; but the temptations of prosperity, like unseen bullets, wound and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-downame/afflictions-like-bills-and-pikes-make-a-terrible-show-when-they/) George Downame > [ “As Christians, if sin were the reason for our afflictions, then we should all be in ICU" ~ R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/as-christians-if-sin-were-the-reason-for-our-afflictions-then-we/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [Afflictions tend to wean us from the world - and to fix our affections on things above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-angell-james/afflictions-tend-to-wean-us-from-the-world-and-to-fix-our-affections/) [John Angell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-angell-james/) > [Saints spring and thrive most internally, when they are most externally afflicted. Afflictions are the mother of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/saints-spring-and-thrive-most-internally-when-they-are-most/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [“What kind of person is void of compassion? A heartless one. But alas, compassion cannot exist without the endurance of afflictions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/what-kind-of-person-is-void-of-compassion-a-heartless-one-but-alas/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by John Newton > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/i-compare-the-troubles-which-we-have-to-undergo-in-the-course-of-the/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [God works powerfully, but for the most part gently and gradually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/god-works-powerfully-but-for-the-most-part-gently-and-gradually/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [Time, by moments, steals away, First the hour, and then the day; Small the daily loss appears, Yet it soon amounts to years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/time-by-moments-steals-away-first-the-hour-and-then-the-day-small-the/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [Whether men are pleased or not, we will, we must, worship the Lamb that was slain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/whether-men-are-pleased-or-not-we-will-we-must-worship-the-lamb-that/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [If two angels were sent down from heaven,--one to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street,--they would feel no inclination to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/if-two-angels-were-sent-down-from-heaven-one-to-conduct-an-empire-and/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [A soul disengaged from the world is a heavenly one; and then are we ready for heaven when our heart is there before us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/a-soul-disengaged-from-the-world-is-a-heavenly-one-and-then-are-we/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [By one hour's intimate access to the throne of grace, where the Lord causes His glory to pass before the soul that seeks Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/by-one-hour-s-intimate-access-to-the-throne-of-grace-where-the-lord/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“The weapons of our warfare, and which alone are powerful to break down the strongholds of error, are not carnal, but spiritual. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/the-weapons-of-our-warfare-and-which-alone-are-powerful-to-break-down/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/if-two-angels-were-to-receive-at-the-same-moment-a-commission-from/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [If it were possible for me to alter any part of his plan, I could only spoil it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/if-it-were-possible-for-me-to-alter-any-part-of-his-plan-i-could-only/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [May we sit at the foot of the cross; and there learn what sin has done, what justice has done, what love has done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/may-we-sit-at-the-foot-of-the-cross-and-there-learn-what-sin-has-done/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines—as well as upon works!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/self-righteousness-can-feed-upon-doctrines-as-well-as-upon-works/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-can-easily-manage-if-we-will-only-take-each-day-the-burden/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) [Explore all 98 John Newton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) ## More Afflictions quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“What kind of person is void of compassion? A heartless one. But alas, compassion cannot exist without the endurance of afflictions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/what-kind-of-person-is-void-of-compassion-a-heartless-one-but-alas/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Saints spring and thrive most internally, when they are most externally afflicted. Afflictions are the mother of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/saints-spring-and-thrive-most-internally-when-they-are-most/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Afflictions tend to wean us from the world - and to fix our affections on things above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-angell-james/afflictions-tend-to-wean-us-from-the-world-and-to-fix-our-affections/) [John Angell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-angell-james/) > [ “As Christians, if sin were the reason for our afflictions, then we should all be in ICU" ~ R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/as-christians-if-sin-were-the-reason-for-our-afflictions-then-we/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [Afflictions, like bills and pikes, make a terrible show when they cannot reach us; but the temptations of prosperity, like unseen bullets, wound and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-downame/afflictions-like-bills-and-pikes-make-a-terrible-show-when-they/) George Downame > [Afflictions clarify the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/afflictions-clarify-the-soul/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Afflictions are but the shadows of God's wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/afflictions-are-but-the-shadows-of-god-s-wings/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The afflictions to which we are accustomed, do not disturb us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/the-afflictions-to-which-we-are-accustomed-do-not-disturb-us/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [“Afflictions are but the shadow of His wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/afflictions-are-but-the-shadow-of-his-wings/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Afflictions are... if we can so take them, our share in the Passion of Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/afflictions-are-if-we-can-so-take-them-our-share-in-the-passion-of/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [God takes the most eminent and choicest of His servants for the choicest and most eminent afflictions. They who have received most grace from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-caryl/god-takes-the-most-eminent-and-choicest-of-his-servants-for-the/) Joseph Caryl > [Your mercies are more than your afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-burroughs/your-mercies-are-more-than-your-afflictions/) [Jeremiah Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-burroughs/) Browse all 46 Afflictions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should be so; but experience testifies, that a long course of ease and prosperity, without painful changes—has an unhappy tendency to make us cold and formal in our secret worship. 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