--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How do I make more than a fumbling…" description: "\"“How do I make more than a fumbling attempt to explain that faith is not legislated, that it is not a small box which works twenty-four hours a day? If..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/madeleine-l-engle-345_believe_how-do-i-make-more-than-a-fumbling-attem_3109283.jpg" --- # How do I make more than a fumbling attempt to explain that… ![“How do I make more than a fumbling attempt to explain that faith is not legislated, that it is not a small box which works twenty-four hours a day? If I 'believe' for two minutes once every month or so, I'm doing well.” quote by Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/madeleine-l-engle-345_believe_how-do-i-make-more-than-a-fumbling-attem_3109283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/madeleine-l-engle-345_believe_how-do-i-make-more-than-a-fumbling-attem_3109283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/madeleine-l-engle-345_believe_how-do-i-make-more-than-a-fumbling-attem_3109283.jpg) > ““How do I make more than a fumbling attempt to explain that faith is not legislated, that it is not a small box which works twenty-four hours a day? If I 'believe' for two minutes once every month or so, I'm doing well.”” [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith is not a rigid schedule; it is a lived, ongoing relationship, not a brief, infrequent ritual. **In simple terms:** Faith should be lived daily, not just occasional. Key Takeaway Cultivate continuous, authentic spiritual practice. Themes faith practice authenticity spirituality Mood inspirational thoughtful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - daily prayer - meditation - community worship - personal reflection Key Concepts religious experience personal belief habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate faith into everyday routines? - What does genuine belief look like beyond rituals? A Different Perspective It may be challenging for those with busy lives to maintain consistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I think it is impossible to explain faith. It is like trying to explain air, which one cannot do by dividing it into its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-white/i-think-it-is-impossible-to-explain-faith-it-is-like-trying-to/) [Patrick White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-white/) > [Beth could not reason upon or explain the faith that gave her courage and patience to give up life, and cheerfully wait for death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/beth-could-not-reason-upon-or-explain-the-faith-that-gave-her-courage/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [The Puritans were accustomed to explain faith by the word 'recumbency.' It meant leaning upon a thing. Lean with all your weight upon Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-puritans-were-accustomed-to-explain-faith-by-the-word-recumbency/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“… a person who tries to use reasoning to explain faith gets lost in the wilderness of incomprehension.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chando/a-person-who-tries-to-use-reasoning-to-explain-faith-gets-lost-in-the/) [Janvier Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chando/) > [Understanding sometimes is not enough to explain something. Only faith is sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ley/understanding-sometimes-is-not-enough-to-explain-something-only-faith/) [Robert Ley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ley/) > [“The great theologians from Paul and Augustine to G. C. Berkouwer and Karl Barth ... have been able to explain what the faith does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-great-theologians-from-paul-and-augustine-to-g-c-berkouwer-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Each time before I sleep I plan for the next day because I believe God will let me to see another day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simie/each-time-before-i-sleep-i-plan-for-the-next-day-because-i-believe/) [Simie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simie/) > [At the end of the day, I believe truth is stronger than any lie that's out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-nagin/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-believe-truth-is-stronger-than-any-lie-that-s/) [Ray Nagin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-nagin/) > [To this day I do not believe I'm great at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathie-lee-gifford/to-this-day-i-do-not-believe-i-m-great-at-anything/) [Kathie Lee Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathie-lee-gifford/) > [Today is April Fools' Day. Believe nothing and trust no one... Just like any other day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-is-april-fools-day-believe-nothing-and-trust-no-one-just-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is a Day" There's always a day when I can't believe what was there. There's always that day when I didn't understand how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-aanya-leigh/there-is-a-day-there-s-always-a-day-when-i-can-t-believe-what-was/) [Isabel Aanya Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-aanya-leigh/) > [“I realize i do believe in people. In their strength to help each other, and to thrive in spite of the odds. I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-realize-i-do-believe-in-people-in-their-strength-to-help-each-other/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I want to ignore the reality because the day I will believe on it, I know I will break as I love her from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paras-matalia/i-want-to-ignore-the-reality-because-the-day-i-will-believe-on-it-i/) Paras Matalia > [Don't cry upon you losses Don't mesure today with tommorows Don't trust to passed and coming day Believe in now - and be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/don-t-cry-upon-you-losses-don-t-mesure-today-with-tommorows-don-t/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Today is April Fools Day. Believe nothing, and trust no one...So it's like any other day. Right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-is-april-fools-day-believe-nothing-and-trust-no-one-so-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Madeleine L'Engle > [“One of the hardest lessons I have to learn is how not to be judgmental about people who are judgmental. When I see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/one-of-the-hardest-lessons-i-have-to-learn-is-how-not-to-be/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Inspiration more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of an artist is to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/inspiration-more-often-comes-during-the-work-than-before-it-because/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-have-to-write-the-book-that-wants-to-be-written-and-if-the-book/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Severe illness isolates those in close contact with it, because it inevitably narrows the focus of concern. To a certain extent this can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/severe-illness-isolates-those-in-close-contact-with-it-because-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Goodness has never been a guarantee of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/goodness-has-never-been-a-guarantee-of-safety/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/faith-is-what-makes-life-bearable-with-all-its-tragedies-and/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Instead of rejoicing in this glorious “impossible” which gives meaning and dignity to our lives, we try to domesticate God, to make his mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/instead-of-rejoicing-in-this-glorious-impossible-which-gives-meaning/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I have never lived before...Until this summer, I did not know what it was to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-have-never-lived-before-until-this-summer-i-did-not-know-what-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [On the other side of pain, there is still love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/on-the-other-side-of-pain-there-is-still-love/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“To love is to be vulnerable; and it is only in vulnerability and risk—not safety and security—that we overcome darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/to-love-is-to-be-vulnerable-and-it-is-only-in-vulnerability-and-risk/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“IT was the most horrible, the most repellent thing she had ever seen, far more nauseating then anything she had ever imagined with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/it-was-the-most-horrible-the-most-repellent-thing-she-had-ever-seen/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I feel as though I'm not breathing when I'm out of his presence. He's the oxygen in my air, the sun in my universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-feel-as-though-i-m-not-breathing-when-i-m-out-of-his-presence-he-s/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Rather than feeling lost and unimportant and meaningless, set against galaxies which go beyond the reach of the furthest telescopes, I feel that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/rather-than-feeling-lost-and-unimportant-and-meaningless-set-against/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [My husband is my most ruthless critic... sometimes he will say, 'It's been said better before.' Of course it has. It's all been said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/my-husband-is-my-most-ruthless-critic-sometimes-he-will-say-it-s-been/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [If we aren't capable of being hurt we aren't capable of feeling joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-we-aren-t-capable-of-being-hurt-we-aren-t-capable-of-feeling-joy/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) [Explore all 660 Madeleine L'Engle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How do I make more than a fumbling attempt to explain that faith is not legislated, that it is not a small box which works twenty-four hours a day? 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