--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self pity is of the devil, and if I…" description: "\"Self pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot be used by God for his purpose in the world.\" — Oswald Chambers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/oswald-chambers-205_devil_self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallo_1199936.png" --- # Self pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot… ![“Self pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot be used by God for his purpose in the world.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/oswald-chambers-205_devil_self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallo_1199936.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/oswald-chambers-205_devil_self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallo_1199936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/oswald-chambers-205_devil_self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallo_1199936.png) > “Self pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot be used by God for his purpose in the world.” [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pity invites self‑absorption, blocking divine purpose; letting go frees us for God’s work. **In simple terms:** Self‑pity blocks purpose. Key Takeaway Release self‑pity to serve. Themes spirituality purpose self‑control Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - ministry - overcoming despair Key Concepts theology inner transformation Questions to Reflect On - What does letting go of self‑pity look like for you? - How can you turn suffering into service? A Different Perspective Self‑pity can be a coping mechanism, not just a barrier. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [God Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-purpose/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-devil-3594498/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-pity/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Used God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-god-464921/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/i-must-learn-that-the-purpose-of-my-life-belongs-to-god-not-me-god-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You Nazis! I pity the devil when you boys start arriving in bunches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-siodmak/you-nazis-i-pity-the-devil-when-you-boys-start-arriving-in-bunches/) [Curt Siodmak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-siodmak/) > [I used to have a real problem with self-pity. Every time the devil would throw a pity party, I would attend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-used-to-have-a-real-problem-with-self-pity-every-time-the-devil/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-not-sent-to-do-battle-for-god-but-to-be-used-by-god-in-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-you-are-going-to-be-used-by-god-he-will-take-you-through-a-number/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-you-are-going-to-be-used-by-god-he-will-take-you-through-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. His purpose is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-must-never-put-our-dreams-of-success-as-god-s-purpose-for-us-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts. God’s purpose is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-believe-in-jesus-it-is-not-what-we-gain-but-what-he-pours/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow . . . .” John 7:38     Jesus did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/he-who-believes-in-me-out-of-his-heart-will-flow-john-7-38-jesus-did/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“We are apt to imagine that if Jesus Christ constrains us and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success; but He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-apt-to-imagine-that-if-jesus-christ-constrains-us-and-we-obey/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/i-am-called-to-live-in-such-a-perfect-relationship-with-god-that-my/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [God's purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/god-s-purpose-is-not-to-perfect-me-to-make-me-a-trophy-in-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-trap-to-presume-that-god-wants-to-make-us-perfect-specimens/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The resentment of discipline of any kind will warp the whole life away from God's purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-resentment-of-discipline-of-any-kind-will-warp-the-whole-life/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) ## More by Oswald Chambers > [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More Devil quotes > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There God and the Devil strive for mastery, and the battleground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/beauty-is-not-only-a-terrible-thing-it-is-also-a-mysterious-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“The devil?” Jason heaved the tick over his shoulder like a collier with his sack. “Satan. The adversary. The enemy of the plan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-devil-jason-heaved-the-tick-over-his-shoulder-like-a-collier-with/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist”—Charles Baudelaire “The second greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-greatest-trick-the-devil-ever-pulled-was-convincing-the-world-he/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) [Browse all 4,283 Devil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Self pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot be used by God for his purpose in the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oswald Chambers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallow-in-it-i-cannot-be-used-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Devil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallow-in-it-i-cannot-be-used-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/oswald-chambers-205_devil_self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallo_1199936.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/oswald-chambers-205_devil_self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallo_1199936.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/oswald-chambers-205_devil_self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallo_1199936.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Self pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot be used by God for his purpose in the world.” — Oswald Chambers", "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": "Oswald Chambers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Self pity is of the devil,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallow-in-it-i-cannot-be-used-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/self-pity-is-of-the-devil-and-if-i-wallow-in-it-i-cannot-be-used-by/#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 } } ] } ```