--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it is true that a picture paints a…" description: "\"“If it is true that a picture paints a thousand words, then there was a Roman centurion who got a dictionary full. All he did was see Jesus suffer. He ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/max-lucado-190_faith_if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-th_1036720.jpg" --- # If it is true that a picture paints a thousand words, then… ![“If it is true that a picture paints a thousand words, then there was a Roman centurion who got a dictionary full. All he did was see Jesus suffer. He never heard him preach or saw him heal or followed him through the crowds. He never witnessed him still the wind; he only witnessed the way he died…” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/max-lucado-190_faith_if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-th_1036720.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/max-lucado-190_faith_if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-th_1036720.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/max-lucado-190_faith_if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-th_1036720.jpg) > ““If it is true that a picture paints a thousand words, then there was a Roman centurion who got a dictionary full. All he did was see Jesus suffer. He never heard him preach or saw him heal or followed him through the crowds. He never witnessed him still the wind; he only witnessed the way he died. But that was all it took to cause this weather-worn soldier to take a giant step in faith. “Surely this was a righteous man.”1 That says a lot, doesn’t it? It says the rubber of faith meets the road of reality under hardship. It says the trueness of one’s belief is revealed in pain. Genuineness and character are unveiled in misfortune. Faith is at its best, not in three-piece suits on Sunday mornings or at V.B.S. on summer days, but at hospital bedsides, cancer wards, and cemeteries. Maybe that’s what moved this old, crusty soldier. Serenity in suffering is a stirring testimony. Anybody can preach a sermon on a mount surrounded by daisies. But only one with a gut full of faith can live a sermon on a mountain of pain.”” [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True faith is proven through hardship; suffering reveals genuine belief and character more than comfortable rituals. **In simple terms:** Faith shows its strength in pain. Key Takeaway Seek authentic faith that endures trials. Themes faith suffering authenticity character resilience Mood reflective somber Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - hospital bedside - cancer ward - graveyard - personal loss - military service Key Concepts spiritual testing moral integrity humility Questions to Reflect On - What does suffering teach about your beliefs? - How can you support others in painful trials? A Different Perspective Faith may waver under extreme duress without community support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Surely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-surely-2400185/) [Jesus Suffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-suffer-1388305/) [Misfortune Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune-faith-2400184/) [Righteous man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous-man/) [Stirring Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stirring-testimony-2400183/) [Summer days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer-days/) [Thousand words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-words/) ## Related quotes > [Always consider your intellect to be lacking; otherwise too much faith in it surely leads to error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/always-consider-your-intellect-to-be-lacking-otherwise-too-much-faith/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [Weak faith will as surely land the Christian in heaven as strong faith, for it is impossible the least dram of true grace should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/weak-faith-will-as-surely-land-the-christian-in-heaven-as-strong/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“Encounter Jesus. Suffer with him to experience his life more fully. Be holy in your love for God and his church as God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-louis-metzger/encounter-jesus-suffer-with-him-to-experience-his-life-more-fully-be/) [Paul Louis Metzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-louis-metzger/) > [Jesus who cannot suffer long to keep you in affliction will come to relieve and comfort you by infusing fresh courage into your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/jesus-who-cannot-suffer-long-to-keep-you-in-affliction-will-come-to/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [“Did Jesus suffer for his lack of faith? Was he “smitten by God” because he was a bad person or because he didn’t love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-davis-jr/did-jesus-suffer-for-his-lack-of-faith-was-he-smitten-by-god-because/) [Will Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-davis-jr/) > [“PRO12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pro12-10-a-righteous-man-regardeth-the-life-of-his-beast-but-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because of his sinless life, Jesus walked in perfect dominion. God did whatever he asked, NOT because he was God's son, but because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-copeland/because-of-his-sinless-life-jesus-walked-in-perfect-dominion-god-did/) [Kenneth Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-copeland/) > [The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides By the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/the-path-of-the-righteous-man-is-beset-on-all-sides-by-the-inequities/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [“as I prayed, the heavens were opened, and I see the woman whom I had desired saluting me from the sky, and saying, “Hail,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/as-i-prayed-the-heavens-were-opened-and-i-see-the-woman-whom-i-had/) [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) > [Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting he is a righteous man. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/who-is-righteous-anyone-who-is-repenting-no-matter-how-bad-he-has/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [We are ashamed of our fear; for we know that a righteous man would not suspect danger nor incur any. Wherever a man feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-ashamed-of-our-fear-for-we-know-that-a-righteous-man-would-not/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The blessings of the priesthood are available to every righteous man and woman. We may all receive the Holy Ghost, obtain personal revelation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/the-blessings-of-the-priesthood-are-available-to-every-righteous-man/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked (Proverbs 10:11).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/the-mouth-of-a-righteous-man-is-a-well-of-life-but-violence-covereth/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“Here the crucified Christ was seen less as the sacrifice which God creates to reconcile the world to himself, and more as the exemplary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-rgen-moltmann/here-the-crucified-christ-was-seen-less-as-the-sacrifice-which-god/) [Jurgen Moltmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-rgen-moltmann/) > [Time is the best preserver of righteous men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pindar/time-is-the-best-preserver-of-righteous-men/) [Pindar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pindar/) ## More by Max Lucado > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Ageing. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we cant't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/ageing-we-laugh-about-it-and-we-groan-about-it-we-resist-it-but-we/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“You’ve already learned, haven’t you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? Just because someone is called your dad, that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-ve-already-learned-haven-t-you-that-a-promise-made-is-not-always/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God is near whether you sense His presence or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-near-whether-you-sense-his-presence-or-not/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If there are a thousand steps between us and God, He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-there-are-a-thousand-steps-between-us-and-god-he-will-take-all-but/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God's love never ceases. Never... God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-never-ceases-never-god-doesn-t-love-us-less-if-we-fail-or/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Explore all 968 Max Lucado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## More Faith quotes > [“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/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) [Matt Morris (1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-morris-1/) > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If it is true that a picture paints a thousand words, then there was a Roman centurion who got a dictionary full. All he did was see Jesus suffer. He never heard him preach or saw him heal or followed him through the crowds. He never witnessed him still the wind; he only witnessed the way he died. But that was all it took to cause this weather-worn soldier to take a giant step in faith. “Surely this was a righteous man.”1 That says a lot, doesn’t it? It says the rubber of faith meets the road of reality under hardship. It says the trueness of one’s belief is revealed in pain. Genuineness and character are unveiled in misfortune. Faith is at its best, not in three-piece suits on Sunday mornings or at V.B.S. on summer days, but at hospital bedsides, cancer wards, and cemeteries. Maybe that’s what moved this old, crusty soldier. Serenity in suffering is a stirring testimony. Anybody can preach a sermon on a mount surrounded by daisies. But only one with a gut full of faith can live a sermon on a mountain of pain.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Lucado" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-thousand-words-then-there-was-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faith" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-thousand-words-then-there-was-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/max-lucado-190_faith_if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-th_1036720.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/max-lucado-190_faith_if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-th_1036720.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/max-lucado-190_faith_if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-th_1036720.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it is true that a picture paints a thousand words, then there was a Roman centurion who got a dictionary…” — Max Lucado", "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": "Max Lucado", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If it is true that a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-thousand-words-then-there-was-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-it-is-true-that-a-picture-paints-a-thousand-words-then-there-was-a/#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 } } ] } ```