--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We look for God as though he were not…" description: "\"We look for God as though he were not already here.\" — Merrit Malloy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/merrit-malloy-18842_christianity_we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-al_3170039.jpg" --- # We look for God as though he were not already here. ![“We look for God as though he were not already here.” quote by Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/merrit-malloy-18842_christianity_we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-al_3170039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/merrit-malloy-18842_christianity_we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-al_3170039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/merrit-malloy-18842_christianity_we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-al_3170039.jpg) > “We look for God as though he were not already here.” [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We seek a divine presence as if it were absent, reflecting a yearning for external affirmation of faith. **In simple terms:** People look for God as if He isn’t already present. Key Takeaway Recognize inner divinity rather than searching outward. Themes faith spirituality longing Mood contemplative hopeful Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - personal prayer - meditation - spiritual retreats - seeking meaning Key Concepts theology existential search Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel God is external or internal? - How does this search affect your daily life? A Different Perspective It may overlook the belief that the divine is already within. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-god/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) ## Related quotes > [“I look to you, O GOD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-look-to-you-o-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The great spiritual geniuses, whether it was Moses, Buddha, Plato, Socrates, Jesus, or Emerson… have taught man to look within himself to find God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-great-spiritual-geniuses-whether-it-was-moses-buddha-plato/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [If you look back at my story, it doesn’t matter where you look, but God’s fingerprints are all over the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/if-you-look-back-at-my-story-it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-look-but-god/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Christians remind me of schoolboys who want to look up the answers to their math problems in the back of the book rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christians-remind-me-of-schoolboys-who-want-to-look-up-the-answers-to/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“Quotes By Transcendologist Kurt Kawohl 1941 - If the medieval practices and the medieval beliefs of Christianity, Judaism and Islam that are based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-kawohl/quotes-by-transcendologist-kurt-kawohl-1941-if-the-medieval-practices/) [Kurt Kawohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-kawohl/) > [“After the Lord has tried our faith, he, in the love of His heart, gives us an abundance. For the glory of His name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/after-the-lord-has-tried-our-faith-he-in-the-love-of-his-heart-gives/) [George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/) > [“Godliness is a devotion to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/godliness-is-a-devotion-to-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I think it is a sin to look at another person as inferior to yourself because of race or because of ethnic background and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-think-it-is-a-sin-to-look-at-another-person-as-inferior-to-yourself/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [“This is how we must look to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/this-is-how-we-must-look-to-god/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Look down at me and you see a fool, Look up at me and you see a god, Look straight at me and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/look-down-at-me-and-you-see-a-fool-look-up-at-me-and-you-see-a-god/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [When it hurts to look back, n ur scared to look ahead, u can look up n find god, he will always b there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-it-hurts-to-look-back-n-ur-scared-to-look-ahead-u-can-look-up-n/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is no need for particular speech in order to be with God. We have only to be quiet and to contemplate his love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cardinal-sarah/there-is-no-need-for-particular-speech-in-order-to-be-with-god-we/) [Robert Cardinal Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cardinal-sarah/) > [“When all the chips are down, always look on to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdulazeez-henry-musa/when-all-the-chips-are-down-always-look-on-to-god/) [Abdulazeez Henry Musa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdulazeez-henry-musa/) > [I don't look to God for my wins. I look for God in my daily life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/i-don-t-look-to-god-for-my-wins-i-look-for-god-in-my-daily-life/) [Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/) ## More by Merrit Malloy > [Letting people be okay without us is how we get to be okay without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/letting-people-be-okay-without-us-is-how-we-get-to-be-okay-without/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“Whatever it means, it matters, and most of it is true I loved every one of them and all of them...were you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/whatever-it-means-it-matters-and-most-of-it-is-true-i-loved-every-one/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“Compromise...is simply When we change the question To fit the answer...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/compromise-is-simply-when-we-change-the-question-to-fit-the-answer/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [What we are is our parents' children; what we become is our children's parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/what-we-are-is-our-parents-children-what-we-become-is-our-children-s/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“The Long Way Home Why is it when people feel they are losing each other they always leave each other? Why do people walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/the-long-way-home-why-is-it-when-people-feel-they-are-losing-each/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [When all that's left of me is love, Give me away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/when-all-that-s-left-of-me-is-love-give-me-away/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“There is a great fear that plagues only romantics and children... it is that they might be alright alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/there-is-a-great-fear-that-plagues-only-romantics-and-children-it-is/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“There are people who cannot say good-bye They are born this way/this is how they die They are the keepers of promises/what moves them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/there-are-people-who-cannot-say-good-bye-they-are-born-this-way-this/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [The truth isn't what we say, it's how we feel when we say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/the-truth-isn-t-what-we-say-it-s-how-we-feel-when-we-say-it/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [What we might consider is how we are good rather than how good we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/what-we-might-consider-is-how-we-are-good-rather-than-how-good-we-are/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“That One Man (from The People Who Didn't Say Goodbye) There is always that one man who you can't avoid that one face that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/that-one-man-from-the-people-who-didn-t-say-goodbye-there-is-always/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“PRIVATE PRACTICES We may all get there...we may even arrive at the same time...but we all come alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/private-practices-we-may-all-get-there-we-may-even-arrive-at-the-same/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [“We grow to deserve what we need to believe... Since I've known you I've been careful not to pray out loud Wishes have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/we-grow-to-deserve-what-we-need-to-believe-since-i-ve-known-you-i-ve/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [Everything we say about other people is really about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/everything-we-say-about-other-people-is-really-about-ourselves/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) > [What a gigantic step it is not to move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/what-a-gigantic-step-it-is-not-to-move/) [Merrit Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) [Explore all 34 Merrit Malloy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We look for God as though he were not already here.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Merrit Malloy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-already-here/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-already-here/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/merrit-malloy-18842_christianity_we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-al_3170039.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/merrit-malloy-18842_christianity_we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-al_3170039.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/merrit-malloy-18842_christianity_we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-al_3170039.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We look for God as though he were not already here.” — Merrit Malloy", "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": "Merrit Malloy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrit-malloy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We look for God as though...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-already-here/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrit-malloy/we-look-for-god-as-though-he-were-not-already-here/#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 } } ] } ```