--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, you might say: how can this be? I…" description: "\"“Now, you might say: how can this be? I cannot feel his presence in any way. Listen to this. Sensing his presence is not in your power but in his. He w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/meister-eckhart-1044_quote_now-you-might-say-how-can-this-be-i-cann_442333.jpg" --- # Now, you might say: how can this be? I cannot feel his… ![“Now, you might say: how can this be? I cannot feel his presence in any way. Listen to this. Sensing his presence is not in your power but in his. He will show himself when it suits him to do so, and he can also remain hidden if that is his wish. This is what Christ meant when he said to Nicodemus…” quote by Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/meister-eckhart-1044_quote_now-you-might-say-how-can-this-be-i-cann_442333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/meister-eckhart-1044_quote_now-you-might-say-how-can-this-be-i-cann_442333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/meister-eckhart-1044_quote_now-you-might-say-how-can-this-be-i-cann_442333.jpg) > ““Now, you might say: how can this be? I cannot feel his presence in any way. Listen to this. Sensing his presence is not in your power but in his. He will show himself when it suits him to do so, and he can also remain hidden if that is his wish. This is what Christ meant when he said to Nicodemus: ‘The spirit breathes where it will: you hear its voice but do not know where it comes from, or where it is going’ (John 3:8).”” [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual presence is felt not by human effort but by divine will; the spirit moves where it chooses, beyond human comprehension. **In simple terms:** Divine presence is beyond human control. Key Takeaway Seek humility and trust in unseen guidance. Themes spirituality faith humility Mood contemplative reverent Type mystical philosophical When to use this quote - personal meditation - interfaith dialogue - spiritual counseling - theological study Key Concepts theology mysticism divine will Questions to Reflect On - How do we discern divine guidance? - What role does humility play in spiritual experience? A Different Perspective Human perception is limited; divine mystery persists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-presence/) [Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/) [Presence Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence-power-1341393/) [Presence Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence-way-758051/) [Spirit Breathes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-breathes-2230770/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes someones absence is better than his/here presence, it is a way to know his value in presence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-someones-absence-is-better-than-his-here-presence-it-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Presence, power and warmth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-fox-cabane/presence-power-and-warmth/) [Olivia Fox Cabane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-fox-cabane/) > [Victory is not the absence of problems, it is the presence of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/victory-is-not-the-absence-of-problems-it-is-the-presence-of-power/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Do not let your conscience be clouded by unknown storms. Trust in the atmosphere of spirit that breathes so calmly deep within you at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick-brennan/do-not-let-your-conscience-be-clouded-by-unknown-storms-trust-in-the/) [Sean Patrick Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick-brennan/) > [The Spirit breathes upon the Word and brings the truth to sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-spirit-breathes-upon-the-word-and-brings-the-truth-to-sight/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [We don’t seek God’s power, we seek His presence. His power & everything else we need is always found in His presence..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/we-don-t-seek-god-s-power-we-seek-his-presence-his-power-everything/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [“Your presence is your power. Be mindful of how your thoughts, words, and energy disconnect you from the Universe. And know the difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/your-presence-is-your-power-be-mindful-of-how-your-thoughts-words-and/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [So it is essential to bring more consciousness into your life in ordinary situations when everything is going relatively smoothly. In this way, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/so-it-is-essential-to-bring-more-consciousness-into-your-life-in/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [And then I think now we are - you know his - like I've always said. His spirit is so large that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey-sagal/and-then-i-think-now-we-are-you-know-his-like-i-ve-always-said-his/) [Katey Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey-sagal/) > [I was extremely close to my mother-in-law and after she, and later my father-in-law passed away, I continue to feel their presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/i-was-extremely-close-to-my-mother-in-law-and-after-she-and-later-my/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [Before two human beings come in close physical contact, their auras have mingled; that is the reason why we 'feel the presence of another'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/before-two-human-beings-come-in-close-physical-contact-their-auras/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [“The ability to feel the presence of one's wife in her absence is indeed one of the greatest blessing a man can achieve!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahad-basheer/the-ability-to-feel-the-presence-of-one-s-wife-in-her-absence-is/) [Fahad Basheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahad-basheer/) > [I'm even a little afraid of the dark. If I'm alone in the dark I'll sometimes feel that there's a presence behind me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/i-m-even-a-little-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-alone-in-the-dark-i-ll/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) > [“And yet I feel I have to ask: if this is all the case, and you are so little and so weak … why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-stein/and-yet-i-feel-i-have-to-ask-if-this-is-all-the-case-and-you-are-so/) [Charlotte Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-stein/) > [“You will never feel whole in the presence of your mate if you don’t feel whole standing alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-fileta/you-will-never-feel-whole-in-the-presence-of-your-mate-if-you-don-t/) [Debra Fileta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-fileta/) ## More by Meister Eckhart > [God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again, making a knot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/god-holds-each-of-us-by-a-string-when-we-sin-we-cut-the-string-but/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [When I think of God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-i-think-of-god-s-kingdom-i-am-compelled-to-be-silent-because-of/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Action and becoming are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/action-and-becoming-are-one/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Whoever wants to receive the body of our Lord does not need to scrutinize what they are feeling at the time or how great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/whoever-wants-to-receive-the-body-of-our-lord-does-not-need-to/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Nothing will be able to hinder us, if we desire and seek God alone, and take pleasure in nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/nothing-will-be-able-to-hinder-us-if-we-desire-and-seek-god-alone-and/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [ \[W\]e must come into a transformed knowing, an unknowing which comes not from ignorance but from knowledge. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/w-e-must-come-into-a-transformed-knowing-an-unknowing-which-comes-not/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [I need to be silent for awhile, worlds are forming in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/i-need-to-be-silent-for-awhile-worlds-are-forming-in-my-heart/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [One person who has mastered life is better than a thousand persons who have mastered only the contents of books, but no one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/one-person-who-has-mastered-life-is-better-than-a-thousand-persons/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“But where is this true possession of God, whereby we really possess him, to be found? This real possession of God is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/but-where-is-this-true-possession-of-god-whereby-we-really-possess/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [The most powerful prayer, one well-nigh omnipotent, and the worthiest work of all is the outcome of a quiet mind. The quieter it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/the-most-powerful-prayer-one-well-nigh-omnipotent-and-the-worthiest/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-we-seek-god-for-our-own-good-and-profit-we-are-not-seeking-god/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Our bodily food is changed into us, but our spiritual food changes us into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/our-bodily-food-is-changed-into-us-but-our-spiritual-food-changes-us/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“Concerning this desert, Jeremiah writes: ‘I will lead my beloved into the wilderness and will speak to her in her heart’ (Hosea 2:14) .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/concerning-this-desert-jeremiah-writes-i-will-lead-my-beloved-into/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [If the seal is pressed completely through the wax so that no wax remains without being impressed by the seal, then it becomes indistinguishably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-the-seal-is-pressed-completely-through-the-wax-so-that-no-wax/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Be ready at all times for the gifts of God, and always for new ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/be-ready-at-all-times-for-the-gifts-of-god-and-always-for-new-ones/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) [Explore all 301 Meister Eckhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## More Presence quotes > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [“Only through absence can we understand presence, he told me, and I understood that by then. I understood it well. After”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-domet/only-through-absence-can-we-understand-presence-he-told-me-and-i/) [Sarah Domet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-domet/) > [Racism has never been outright gone in the history of this nation, but I think we've had moments where everybody has been really fed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/racism-has-never-been-outright-gone-in-the-history-of-this-nation-but/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-is-frank-one-s-very-presence-is-a-compliment/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [“A spark of every fire we seek is already within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/a-spark-of-every-fire-we-seek-is-already-within-us/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [In solitude, at last, we’re able to let God define us the way we are always supposed to be defined—by relationship: the I-thou relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-solitude-at-last-we-re-able-to-let-god-define-us-the-way-we-are/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Throughout my years, I've had the pleasure of assembling and training what I believe to be the best group of people in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/throughout-my-years-i-ve-had-the-pleasure-of-assembling-and-training/) [Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/) > [“I was thinking how most people don't make you feel much of anything at all. Don't make you feel like time spent with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lotter/i-was-thinking-how-most-people-don-t-make-you-feel-much-of-anything/) [Jane Lotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lotter/) > [Seeing my children makes me come most alive. I come home and I see my kids' faces light up when they see me at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/seeing-my-children-makes-me-come-most-alive-i-come-home-and-i-see-my/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [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/) > [“In your darkest times, never be afraid. The Lord's presence is always with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/in-your-darkest-times-never-be-afraid-the-lord-s-presence-is-always/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [What distinguishes a great player is his presence. When he goes on to the court, his presence dominates the atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-russell/what-distinguishes-a-great-player-is-his-presence-when-he-goes-on-to/) [Bill Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-russell/) > [“But with Dimitri, I never felt like I had to be anything more what I already was. I didn't have to entertain him or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/but-with-dimitri-i-never-felt-like-i-had-to-be-anything-more-what-i/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Browse all 1,426 Presence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Now, you might say: how can this be? I cannot feel his presence in any way. Listen to this. Sensing his presence is not in your power but in his. He will show himself when it suits him to do so, and he can also remain hidden if that is his wish. 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