Discipleship Quote by Oswald Chambers
““Holy Suffering "Choosing to suffer means that there must be something wrong with you, but choosing God's will - even if it means you will suffer - is something very different...and no saint should ever dare to interfere with the lesson of suffering being taught in another saint's life...the people used to strengthen us are never those who sympathize with us; in fact, we are hindered by those who give us sympathy, because sympathy only serves to weaken us...Jesus said self-pity was of the devil (Matthew 16:21-23: 'Get thee behind me, Satan!') Look at God's incredible waste of His saints, according to the world's judgement. God seems to plant His saints in the most useless places...Jesus never measured His life by how or where He was of greatest use. God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: “The Lesson of Suffering,” 1930s (published in My Utmost for His Highest)
Choosing suffering as a divine lesson differs from self‑pity; true growth comes from embracing hardship without seeking sympathy.
In simple terms: Suffering can be a teacher, not a reason for self‑pity.
Key Takeaway
Embrace hardship as a path to purpose.
Themes
suffering
faith
humility
spiritual growth
self‑reliance
Mood
solemn
determined
Type
theological
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal loss
- health challenges
- career setbacks
- spiritual testing
- family hardship
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
spiritual discipline
stoicism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you transform pain into purpose?
- What role does humility play in suffering?
A Different Perspective
Relying on sympathy can weaken resilience and distract from divine purpose.
