--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suffering is arguably God's choicest tool…" description: "\"Suffering is arguably God's choicest tool in shaping the character of Christ in us.\" — Joni Eareckson Tada" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/joni-eareckson-tada-2943_character_suffering-is-arguably-god-s-choicest-too_2077122.png" --- # Suffering is arguably God's choicest tool in shaping the… ![“Suffering is arguably God's choicest tool in shaping the character of Christ in us.” quote by Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/joni-eareckson-tada-2943_character_suffering-is-arguably-god-s-choicest-too_2077122.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/joni-eareckson-tada-2943_character_suffering-is-arguably-god-s-choicest-too_2077122.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/joni-eareckson-tada-2943_character_suffering-is-arguably-god-s-choicest-too_2077122.png) > “Suffering is arguably God's choicest tool in shaping the character of Christ in us.” [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering is presented as a divine instrument shaping Christ-like character within believers. **In simple terms:** Suffering shapes Christ-like character. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship as spiritual growth. Themes faith spirituality character development theodicy Mood reflective solemn Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal trials - religious reflection - counseling - support groups - spiritual direction Key Concepts divine purpose transformation redemptive suffering Questions to Reflect On - How does suffering deepen faith? - Can growth arise without suffering? A Different Perspective May overlook the role of personal agency and resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [We are all God's children. But world-peace-dreamers, world-peace-lovers and world-peace-servers are undoubtedly God's choicest children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/we-are-all-god-s-children-but-world-peace-dreamers-world-peace-lovers/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [True faith takes its character and quality from its object. Its strength therefore depends on the character of Christ. Even those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/true-faith-takes-its-character-and-quality-from-its-object-its/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [“This is difficult to comprehend when one pauses to consider the character of Christ. Admittedly there have been many false caricatures of this Person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-keller/this-is-difficult-to-comprehend-when-one-pauses-to-consider-the/) Phillip Keller > [“The only character worth exalting in Scripture is the character of Christ. 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It is not our tears, but His blood; it is not our sighs, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/our-sins-are-debts-that-none-can-pay-but-christ-it-is-not-our-tears/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More by Joni Eareckson Tada > [“Joni discovered the best way to put the halter on her horse without being animal resisting and fleeing was to turn her back until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/joni-discovered-the-best-way-to-put-the-halter-on-her-horse-without/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/when-life-is-rosy-we-may-slide-by-with-knowing-about-jesus-with/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [If churches around the world would grasp the revolutionary truth that Christ's transforming power always comes through sacrifice and weakness, it would dramatically alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/if-churches-around-the-world-would-grasp-the-revolutionary-truth-that/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/let-him-who-walks-in-the-dark-who-has-no-light-trust-in-the-name-of/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [What a way to learn great theology! That's what comes to mind whenever I sing one of those old hymns. "And Can It Be"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/what-a-way-to-learn-great-theology-that-s-what-comes-to-mind-whenever/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [A broken life in the hands of God is ripe for blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/a-broken-life-in-the-hands-of-god-is-ripe-for-blessing/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [The success of God's Word in our lives is linked intrinsically to our application of its truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/the-success-of-god-s-word-in-our-lives-is-linked-intrinsically-to-our/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [No other religion, no other, promises new bodies, hearts, and minds. Only in the gospel of Christ do hurting people find such incredible hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/no-other-religion-no-other-promises-new-bodies-hearts-and-minds-only/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [“The more righteous God appeared, the more resentful I became.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/the-more-righteous-god-appeared-the-more-resentful-i-became/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [“Tada references the accusation in Jeremiah that the people have forsaken God as Living Water by remembering a hiking trip from her younger days.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/tada-references-the-accusation-in-jeremiah-that-the-people-have/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [Thankfully, God brought wise Christian friends alongside to help me discover life-transforming precepts in his Word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/thankfully-god-brought-wise-christian-friends-alongside-to-help-me/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [The Bible is replete with commands to persevere, especially in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/the-bible-is-replete-with-commands-to-persevere-especially-in-the/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [Many good Christians are confused about complex social issues of our day, such as doctor-assisted death or medical research which uses stem cells from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/many-good-christians-are-confused-about-complex-social-issues-of-our/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [The Bible isn't quick to give answers; it mainly gives the Answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/the-bible-isn-t-quick-to-give-answers-it-mainly-gives-the-answer/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [God is more concerned with conforming me to the likeness of His Son than leaving me in my comfort zones. God is more interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/god-is-more-concerned-with-conforming-me-to-the-likeness-of-his-son/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) [Explore all 144 Joni Eareckson Tada quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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