--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the first time in my life, I fully…" description: "\"“For the first time in my life, I fully realized that I was not in charge. I knew that I needed to submit to Heavenly Father's will. I couldn't have wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/kevin-w-pearson-40185_adversity_for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-fully-re_2501759.jpg" --- # For the first time in my life, I fully realized that I was… ![“For the first time in my life, I fully realized that I was not in charge. I knew that I needed to submit to Heavenly Father's will. I couldn't have what I wanted when and how I wanted it just because I was keeping the commandments. The purpose of prayer was not to tell Heavenly Father what to do…” quote by Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/kevin-w-pearson-40185_adversity_for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-fully-re_2501759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/kevin-w-pearson-40185_adversity_for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-fully-re_2501759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/kevin-w-pearson-40185_adversity_for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-fully-re_2501759.jpg) > ““For the first time in my life, I fully realized that I was not in charge. I knew that I needed to submit to Heavenly Father's will. I couldn't have what I wanted when and how I wanted it just because I was keeping the commandments. The purpose of prayer was not to tell Heavenly Father what to do, rather to find out what He would have me do and learn. I needed to align my will with His...Prayer is less about changing our circumstances and more about changing us. It is about seeking His will and asking for His help to do what we need to do." June 2013 Ensign, "Improving Your Personal Prayers”” [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer is a practice of aligning personal desires with divine will, emphasizing inner transformation over external outcomes. **In simple terms:** Prayer changes us, not circumstances. Key Takeaway Seek to align your will with a higher purpose. Themes faith humility spiritual growth Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - decision making - coping with disappointment - seeking guidance Key Concepts divine will submission inner change Questions to Reflect On - How can you tell the difference between divine guidance and personal desire? - What habits help you stay humble in prayer? A Different Perspective May overlook personal agency; interpreting divine will can be ambiguous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Heavenly father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavenly-father/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [“Aunt Mare, do you ever wish you’d had a different life? Something not so…hard?” “Sometimes. But then the hard is what makes us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ganshert/aunt-mare-do-you-ever-wish-you-d-had-a-different-life-something-not/) [Katie Ganshert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ganshert/) > [By our attitude to prayer we tell God that what was begun in the Spirit we can finish in the flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/by-our-attitude-to-prayer-we-tell-god-that-what-was-begun-in-the/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [“The reason God responds to persistence is because prayer is changing the one who prays. As we pray, God is making us spiritually fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/the-reason-god-responds-to-persistence-is-because-prayer-is-changing/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [A mother's love is like a beacon, Burning bright with Faith and Prayer, And through the changing scenes of life, We can find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/a-mother-s-love-is-like-a-beacon-burning-bright-with-faith-and-prayer/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [Prayer is not about changing God, but being willing to let God change us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/prayer-is-not-about-changing-god-but-being-willing-to-let-god-change/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Prayer is less about changing the world than it is about changing ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolpe/prayer-is-less-about-changing-the-world-than-it-is-about-changing/) [David Wolpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolpe/) > [“The purpose of prayer is purification.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-purpose-of-prayer-is-purification/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The primary purpose of prayer is not to make requests. The primary purpose is to praise, to sing, to chant. Because the essence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-make-requests-the-primary/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [The purpose of all prayer is to find God's will and to make that our prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/the-purpose-of-all-prayer-is-to-find-god-s-will-and-to-make-that-our/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“The great purpose of prayer is not getting things from God but getting God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mathis/the-great-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-getting-things-from-god-but/) [David Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mathis/) > [“The purpose of prayer is transformation; we go from a creature that relies on the world to one who depends on G-d.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weiss/the-purpose-of-prayer-is-transformation-we-go-from-a-creature-that/) [Edward Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weiss/) > [Prayer is not an agency by which my will is to be accomplished upon the earth. The purpose of prayer is to get God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-smith/prayer-is-not-an-agency-by-which-my-will-is-to-be-accomplished-upon/) [Chuck Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-smith/) > [The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-get-something-but-to-know/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [The basic purpose of prayer is not to bend God's will to mine, but to mold my will into His.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-basic-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-bend-god-s-will-to-mine-but-to/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The purpose of prayer is the alignment of the mind with the thoughts and the will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-purpose-of-prayer-is-the-alignment-of-the-mind-with-the-thoughts/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More by Kevin W. Pearson > [Don't let something you don't fully understand unravel everything you do know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/don-t-let-something-you-don-t-fully-understand-unravel-everything-you/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [Average is the enemy of excellence, and average commitment will prevent you from enduring to the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/average-is-the-enemy-of-excellence-and-average-commitment-will/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [Choose to live by faith and not fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/choose-to-live-by-faith-and-not-fear/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [If you lose the Spirit, you are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/if-you-lose-the-spirit-you-are-lost/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [Personal righteousness is a choice. Faith is a gift from God, and one possessed of it can receive enormous spiritual power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/personal-righteousness-is-a-choice-faith-is-a-gift-from-god-and-one/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [Casual obedience and lukewarm commitment weaken faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/casual-obedience-and-lukewarm-commitment-weaken-faith/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [We get what we focus on consistently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/we-get-what-we-focus-on-consistently/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [Enduring to the end requires total commitment to the Savior and to our covenants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/enduring-to-the-end-requires-total-commitment-to-the-savior-and-to/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [In a household of faith, there is no need to fear or doubt. Choose to live by faith and not fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/in-a-household-of-faith-there-is-no-need-to-fear-or-doubt-choose-to/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [As patterns of obedience develop, the specific blessings associated with obedience are realized and belief emerges. Desire, hope, and belief are forms of faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/as-patterns-of-obedience-develop-the-specific-blessings-associated/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) [Explore all 11 Kevin W. Pearson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For the first time in my life, I fully realized that I was not in charge. I knew that I needed to submit to Heavenly Father's will. I couldn't have what I wanted when and how I wanted it just because I was keeping the commandments. 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