--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only when we understand the…" description: "\"It is only when we understand the transcendence of God that we see how amazing his immanence is, and what a huge privilege it is to be able to enjoy Go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/nicky-gumbel-9068_able_it-is-only-when-we-understand-the-transc_3122060.png" --- # It is only when we understand the transcendence of God… ![“It is only when we understand the transcendence of God that we see how amazing his immanence is, and what a huge privilege it is to be able to enjoy God's intimate friendship.” quote by Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/nicky-gumbel-9068_able_it-is-only-when-we-understand-the-transc_3122060.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/nicky-gumbel-9068_able_it-is-only-when-we-understand-the-transc_3122060.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/nicky-gumbel-9068_able_it-is-only-when-we-understand-the-transc_3122060.png) > “It is only when we understand the transcendence of God that we see how amazing his immanence is, and what a huge privilege it is to be able to enjoy God's intimate friendship.” [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing God's ultimate other reveals the depth of His closeness, making divine friendship a profound gift. **In simple terms:** Seeing God's greatness makes His closeness feel special. Key Takeaway Cherish and seek intimate relationship with the divine. Themes spirituality humility intimacy divine Mood contemplative hopeful reverent Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - small group fellowship - spiritual retreats - daily meditation Key Concepts transcendence immanence theology friendship Questions to Reflect On - How does you experience God's presence? - What practices deepen your sense of divine friendship? A Different Perspective Understanding can be abstract without practical experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enjoy God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-god-271598/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [God Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-amazing-573879/) [God Intimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-intimate-309748/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Intimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimate/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Transcendence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendence/) [Transcendence God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendence-god-1435401/) [Understand Transcendence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-transcendence-4969906/) ## Related quotes > [Sex has the unparalleled power to make us absurd to ourselves. It also has the power to make us understand transcendence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/sex-has-the-unparalleled-power-to-make-us-absurd-to-ourselves-it-also/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [The father's life is surrounded by mysterious prestige: the hours he spends in the home, the room where he works, the objects around him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-father-s-life-is-surrounded-by-mysterious-prestige-the-hours-he/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“By insisting specially on the immanence of God we get introspection, self-isolation, quietism, social indifference – Tibet. By insisting specially on the transcendence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/by-insisting-specially-on-the-immanence-of-god-we-get-introspection/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [I assure you, my children, that when a Christian carries out with love the most insignificant everyday action, that action overflows with the transcendence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josemaria-escriva/i-assure-you-my-children-that-when-a-christian-carries-out-with-love/) [Josemaria Escriva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josemaria-escriva/) > [“Transcendence is when God exists outside space and time while immanence is when He is present in time and space. Travel between them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-nyarangi-akoya/transcendence-is-when-god-exists-outside-space-and-time-while/) [JOEL NYARANGI AKOYA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-nyarangi-akoya/) > [I've never been on good terms with God, but now I'm becoming His intimate, for He is truly absolute and extremely legitimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/i-ve-never-been-on-good-terms-with-god-but-now-i-m-becoming-his/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“No matter which road you decide to take on your life's journey, just make sure God is an intimate part of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-darer-littman/no-matter-which-road-you-decide-to-take-on-your-life-s-journey-just/) [Sarah Darer Littman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-darer-littman/) > [Before God, I'm an intimate. Before people, I'm a servant. 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His holiness is also transcendent. The word transcendence means literally "to climb across." It is defined as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/god-s-holiness-is-more-than-just-separateness-his-holiness-is-also/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [The more we enjoy of God, the more we are ravished with delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-more-we-enjoy-of-god-the-more-we-are-ravished-with-delight/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/god-is-the-highest-good-of-the-reasonable-creature-the-enjoyment-of/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Our life should be enjoyed and we need to learn to find our calling and purpose, so that we can live it joyfully. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-robert-payne/our-life-should-be-enjoyed-and-we-need-to-learn-to-find-our-calling/) [Matthew Robert Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-robert-payne/) > [“God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/god-is-the-highest-good-of-the-reasonable-creature-and-the-enjoyment/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) ## More by Nicky Gumbel > [If we knew what people had been through, their sorrow and suffering, we would not be so quick to judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/if-we-knew-what-people-had-been-through-their-sorrow-and-suffering-we/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [Stop looking for the perfect church. It does not exist. Even if it did exist, the moment we joined it, it would no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/stop-looking-for-the-perfect-church-it-does-not-exist-even-if-it-did/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [There are many things that were harder to discuss back in the 80's and early 90's than they are now, and this also works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/there-are-many-things-that-were-harder-to-discuss-back-in-the-80-s/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [If God answers 'Yes', He is increasing your faith. If 'Wait', He is increasing your patience. If 'No', He has something better for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/if-god-answers-yes-he-is-increasing-your-faith-if-wait-he-is/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [Appreciate those who love you. Serve those who need you. Forgive those who hurt you. Thank those who help you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/appreciate-those-who-love-you-serve-those-who-need-you-forgive-those/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [You can't change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/you-can-t-change-how-people-treat-you-or-what-they-say-about-you-all/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [I think a lot of people do have questions about life, 'What's the purpose of my life?', 'What's the meaning of my life?', 'Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/i-think-a-lot-of-people-do-have-questions-about-life-what-s-the/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [There is a story behind every person, a reason why they are the way they are. Don't be quick to judge. Be kind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/there-is-a-story-behind-every-person-a-reason-why-they-are-the-way/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [A happy relationship is made up of two good forgivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/a-happy-relationship-is-made-up-of-two-good-forgivers/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [Life is short. Make the most of it. Put God first. Love deeply. Forgive quickly. Laugh a lot. Find and live out your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/life-is-short-make-the-most-of-it-put-god-first-love-deeply-forgive/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [A lot of problems in the world would be solved if we talked to each other instead of about each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/a-lot-of-problems-in-the-world-would-be-solved-if-we-talked-to-each/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [With our own shortcomings, we are in no position to judge anyone else. The best way to forget the faults of others is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/with-our-own-shortcomings-we-are-in-no-position-to-judge-anyone-else/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [I was an atheist and I came to experience a relationship with God which had a radically transforming effect on my life, on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/i-was-an-atheist-and-i-came-to-experience-a-relationship-with-god/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [Friendship multiplies joy and divides sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/friendship-multiplies-joy-and-divides-sorrow/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [Difficulties come into our lives to develop us. Every storm is a school. Every trial is a teacher. Every experience is an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/difficulties-come-into-our-lives-to-develop-us-every-storm-is-a/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) [Explore all 75 Nicky Gumbel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) ## More Able 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/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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