--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believed that there was a God because I…" description: "\"I believed that there was a God because I was told it by my grandmother and later by other adults. But when I found that I knew not only that there was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/maya-angelou-104_adults_i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because_919404.png" --- # I believed that there was a God because I was told it by… ![“I believed that there was a God because I was told it by my grandmother and later by other adults. But when I found that I knew not only that there was God but that I was a child of God, when I understood that, when I comprehended that, more than that, when I internalized that, ingested that, I…” quote by Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/maya-angelou-104_adults_i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because_919404.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/maya-angelou-104_adults_i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because_919404.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/maya-angelou-104_adults_i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because_919404.png) > “I believed that there was a God because I was told it by my grandmother and later by other adults. But when I found that I knew not only that there was God but that I was a child of God, when I understood that, when I comprehended that, more than that, when I internalized that, ingested that, I became courageous.” [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing personal divinity transforms fear into courage and self‑confidence. **In simple terms:** Seeing oneself as a child of God gives bravery. Key Takeaway Embrace your divine identity for inner strength. Themes faith identity courage Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual doubt - seeking purpose - overcoming fear Key Concepts spiritual awakening self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing yourself as divine change your actions? - What fears dissolve when you feel spiritually empowered? A Different Perspective May not resonate with non‑spiritual readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Child of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-of-god/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Commitment to god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment-to-god/) [Confidence in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-in-god/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-in-god/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God within us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-within-us/) [Grandmother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandmother/) [Greatness of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness-of-god/) [I love god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-love-god/) [Intimacy with god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy-with-god/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Mighty god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mighty-god/) [Phenomenal woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenal-woman/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Servant of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant-of-god/) [Trust in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-in-god/) ## Related quotes > [Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/pretty-women-wonder-where-my-secret-lies/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [People will never forget how you made them feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/people-will-never-forget-how-you-made-them-feel/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Thank you, always say thank you; it's the greatest gift you can give someone; because thank you is what you say to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/thank-you-always-say-thank-you-it-s-the-greatest-gift-you-can-give/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Don't trust people who don't laugh. I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/don-t-trust-people-who-don-t-laugh-i-don-t/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [It's in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care, 'Cause I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/it-s-in-the-click-of-my-heels-the-bend-of-my-hair-the-palm-of-my-hand/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/pretty-women-wonder-where-my-secret-lies-i-m-not-cute-or-built-to/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Forgiveness. It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody. You are relieved of carrying that burden of resentment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/forgiveness-it-s-one-of-the-greatest-gifts-you-can-give-yourself-to/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Don't bring negative to my door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/don-t-bring-negative-to-my-door/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Let choice whisper in your ear and love murmur in your heart. Be ready. Here comes life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/let-choice-whisper-in-your-ear-and-love-murmur-in-your-heart-be-ready/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [This is what I am learning, at 82 years old: the main thing is to be in love with the search for truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/this-is-what-i-am-learning-at-82-years-old-the-main-thing-is-to-be-in/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The desire to reach hearts is wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-desire-to-reach-hearts-is-wise/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The Holy Spirit upon my left leads my feet without ceasing into the camp of the righteous and into the tents of the free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-holy-spirit-upon-my-left-leads-my-feet-without-ceasing-into-the/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Each one of us has lived through some devastation, some loneliness, some weather superstorm or spiritual superstorm, when we look at each other we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/each-one-of-us-has-lived-through-some-devastation-some-loneliness/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/my-mission-in-life-is-not-merely-to-survive-but-to-thrive/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/in-diversity-there-is-beauty-and-there-is-strength/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More by Maya Angelou > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You want me to do something... tell me I can't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-want-me-to-do-something-tell-me-i-can-t-do-it/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Intelligence is a separate gift, for the benefit of students, so that they may think of themselves as intellectual and not very intelligent, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/intelligence-is-a-separate-gift-for-the-benefit-of-students-so-that/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-is-going-to-give-you-just-what-you-put-in-it-put-your-whole/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-may-write-me-down-in-history-with-your-bitter-twisted-lies-you/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-more-you-know-of-your-history-the-more-liberated-you-are/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Life offers us tickets to places which we have not knowingly asked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-offers-us-tickets-to-places-which-we-have-not-knowingly-asked-for/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Nathaniel Hawthorne once said that easy reading is damn hard writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/nathaniel-hawthorne-once-said-that-easy-reading-is-damn-hard-writing/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Sunday, if I'm lucky, I'll go to church or listen to some good spiritual advice on the television or on the radio. I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/sunday-if-i-m-lucky-i-ll-go-to-church-or-listen-to-some-good/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) [Explore all 1,313 Maya Angelou quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) K. Anders Ericsson > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believed that there was a God because I was told it by my grandmother and later by other adults. But when I found that I knew not only that there was God but that I was a child of God, when I understood that, when I comprehended that, more than that, when I internalized that, ingested that, I became courageous.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maya Angelou" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because-i-was-told-it-by-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adults" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because-i-was-told-it-by-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/maya-angelou-104_adults_i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because_919404.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/maya-angelou-104_adults_i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because_919404.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/maya-angelou-104_adults_i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because_919404.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believed that there was a God because I was told it by my grandmother and later by other adults. But when…” — Maya Angelou", "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": "Maya Angelou", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believed that there was a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because-i-was-told-it-by-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-believed-that-there-was-a-god-because-i-was-told-it-by-my/#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 } } ] } ```