--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Labour to grow better under all your…" description: "\"Labour to grow better under all your afflictions, lest your afflictions grow worse, lest God mingle them with more darkness, bitterness and terror.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/john-owen-1415_affliction_labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-aff_2412377.png" --- # Labour to grow better under all your afflictions, lest… ![“Labour to grow better under all your afflictions, lest your afflictions grow worse, lest God mingle them with more darkness, bitterness and terror.” quote by John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/john-owen-1415_affliction_labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-aff_2412377.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/john-owen-1415_affliction_labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-aff_2412377.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/john-owen-1415_affliction_labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-aff_2412377.png) > “Labour to grow better under all your afflictions, lest your afflictions grow worse, lest God mingle them with more darkness, bitterness and terror.” [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warns that unaddressed troubles worsen, and divine judgment can deepen suffering if ignored. **In simple terms:** Unresolved problems grow worse and may bring more darkness. Key Takeaway Address issues early to prevent escalation. Themes faith spirituality warning Mood serious reflective Type theological admonitory When to use this quote - personal struggles - spiritual counseling - church teaching Key Concepts sin divine judgment human frailty Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront personal afflictions? - What role does faith play in coping? A Different Perspective Ignoring problems can lead to greater spiritual darkness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [Afflictions Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afflictions-grow-6077634/) [Afflictions Lest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afflictions-lest-6077637/) [Better Afflictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-afflictions-6077635/) [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Grow Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-worse-1076025/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Lest Afflictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lest-afflictions-6077636/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) ## Related quotes > [If I grew up with a lot of money, where everything was just handed to me, I feel like those are the people that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/if-i-grew-up-with-a-lot-of-money-where-everything-was-just-handed-to/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [Be very circumspect in the choice of thy company. In the society of thine equals thou shalt enjoy more pleasure; in the society of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-very-circumspect-in-the-choice-of-thy-company-in-the-society-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [For the human mind is seldom at stay: If you do not grow better, you will most undoubtedly grow worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/for-the-human-mind-is-seldom-at-stay-if-you-do-not-grow-better-you/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Earth will grow worse till men redeem it, And wars more evil, ere all wars cease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/earth-will-grow-worse-till-men-redeem-it-and-wars-more-evil-ere-all/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The defects of the mind, like those of the face, grow worse with age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-defects-of-the-mind-like-those-of-the-face-grow-worse-with-age/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [In proportion as capital accumulates, the lot of the laborer, be his payment high or low, must grow worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/in-proportion-as-capital-accumulates-the-lot-of-the-laborer-be-his/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“As the generations pass they grow worse. A time will come when they have grown so wicked that they will worship power; might will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-myth-on-the-iron-age/as-the-generations-pass-they-grow-worse-a-time-will-come-when-they/) [Greek myth on the Iron Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-myth-on-the-iron-age/) > [This story, I predict, will grow to be worse than Watergate. The American people need to have the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-weldon/this-story-i-predict-will-grow-to-be-worse-than-watergate-the/) [Curt Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-weldon/) > [As capital accumulates, the lot of the laborer must grow worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-capital-accumulates-the-lot-of-the-laborer-must-grow-worse/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by John Owen > [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/if-we-do-not-abide-in-prayer-we-will-abide-in-temptation-let-this-be/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [The least grace is a better security for heaven than the greatest gifts or privileges whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-least-grace-is-a-better-security-for-heaven-than-the-greatest/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“Our belief of the Scriptures to be the word of God, or a divine revelation, and our understanding of the mind and will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/our-belief-of-the-scriptures-to-be-the-word-of-god-or-a-divine/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [How can we possibly believe the promises concerning Heaven, immortality, and glory, when we do not believe the promises concerning our present life? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/how-can-we-possibly-believe-the-promises-concerning-heaven/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [It must be observed, that the best of men, the most holy and spiritually minded, may have, nay, ought to have, their thoughts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/it-must-be-observed-that-the-best-of-men-the-most-holy-and/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [I will not judge a person to be spiritually dead whom I have judged formerly to have had spiritual life, though I see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/i-will-not-judge-a-person-to-be-spiritually-dead-whom-i-have-judged/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“And those who pretend to be teachers of others, and yet despise his teaching assistance, will one day find that they undertook a work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/and-those-who-pretend-to-be-teachers-of-others-and-yet-despise-his/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Spiritual wisdom consists in finding out the subtleties, policies, and depths of any indwelling sin... to trace this serpent in all its turnings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/spiritual-wisdom-consists-in-finding-out-the-subtleties-policies-and/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Christ by his death destroying the works of the devil, procuring the Spirit for us, hath so killed sin, as to its reign in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-by-his-death-destroying-the-works-of-the-devil-procuring-the/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [A man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/a-man-may-easier-see-without-eyes-speak-without-a-tongue-than-truly/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Christ's blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-s-blood-is-the-great-sovereign-remedy-for-sin-sick-souls/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, if it has its own way it will go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/sin-aims-always-at-the-utmost-every-time-it-rises-up-to-tempt-or/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Never was sin seen to be more abominably sinful and full of provocation than when the burden of it was upon the shoulders of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/never-was-sin-seen-to-be-more-abominably-sinful-and-full-of/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [He, then, that would really, thoroughly, and acceptably mortify any disquieting lust, let him take care to be equally diligent in all parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/he-then-that-would-really-thoroughly-and-acceptably-mortify-any/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) [Explore all 244 John Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) ## 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": "Labour to grow better under all your afflictions, lest your afflictions grow worse, lest God mingle them with more darkness, bitterness and terror.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Owen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-afflictions-lest-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affliction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-afflictions-lest-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/john-owen-1415_affliction_labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-aff_2412377.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/john-owen-1415_affliction_labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-aff_2412377.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/john-owen-1415_affliction_labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-aff_2412377.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Labour to grow better under all your afflictions, lest your afflictions grow worse, lest God mingle them…” — John Owen", "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 Owen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Labour to grow better under all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-afflictions-lest-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/labour-to-grow-better-under-all-your-afflictions-lest-your/#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 } } ] } ```