--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: According to Jesus, acknowledging our…" description: "\"“According to Jesus, acknowledging our neediness opens the door to genuine and lasting happiness. Religions usually talk about what a person has to \"do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/paul-e-miller-17022_happiness_according-to-jesus-acknowledging-our-nee_1092606.jpg" --- # According to Jesus, acknowledging our neediness opens the… ![“According to Jesus, acknowledging our neediness opens the door to genuine and lasting happiness. Religions usually talk about what a person has to "do", but Jesus talks about what we "can't do". He says that our weakness, not our power or what we bring to God, enables us to know God.” quote by Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/paul-e-miller-17022_happiness_according-to-jesus-acknowledging-our-nee_1092606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/paul-e-miller-17022_happiness_according-to-jesus-acknowledging-our-nee_1092606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/paul-e-miller-17022_happiness_according-to-jesus-acknowledging-our-nee_1092606.jpg) > ““According to Jesus, acknowledging our neediness opens the door to genuine and lasting happiness. Religions usually talk about what a person has to "do", but Jesus talks about what we "can't do". He says that our weakness, not our power or what we bring to God, enables us to know God.”” [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jesus teaches that admitting our weakness opens us to authentic joy, unlike other religions focusing on deeds. **In simple terms:** Admitting need leads to true happiness. Key Takeaway Embrace humility to connect with the divine. Themes spirituality humility faith Mood reverent introspective Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - prayer - counseling - personal reflection Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does humility affect your faith? - Can weakness be a strength? A Different Perspective Reliance on weakness may be misinterpreted as fatalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Neediness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neediness/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“Getting to a place where we realize that we have nothing and can achieve nothing without God enables us to rely solely on Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisa-hope-wagner/getting-to-a-place-where-we-realize-that-we-have-nothing-and-can/) [alisa hope wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisa-hope-wagner/) > [Smiling even in pressures and pain is not pretending.. It's a strength from GOD that enables us to go on in spite of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/smiling-even-in-pressures-and-pain-is-not-pretending-it-s-a-strength/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [When golden moments come, when God enables one really to pray without words, who but a fool would reject the gift?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-golden-moments-come-when-god-enables-one-really-to-pray-without/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Smiling even in pressure is not pretending, its a strength from GOD enables us to go on inspite of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laine/smiling-even-in-pressure-is-not-pretending-its-a-strength-from-god/) [Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laine/) > [“Divine permission, given to people who think they have god on their side, enables actions that a morally normal unbeliever would not contemplate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/divine-permission-given-to-people-who-think-they-have-god-on-their/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It is God who enables us to return to life after tragedy-not by eradicating all suffering but by giving us the strength and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-levy/it-is-god-who-enables-us-to-return-to-life-after-tragedy-not-by/) Naomi Levy > [“By God’s grace, I can resist the temptation to treat my children as interruptions to my will for my life. Instead, God enables me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-reinke/by-god-s-grace-i-can-resist-the-temptation-to-treat-my-children-as/) [Tony Reinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-reinke/) > [“It certainly takes grace to able to find joy in our hearts when people are experiencing joy over a gain that is, in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/it-certainly-takes-grace-to-able-to-find-joy-in-our-hearts-when/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [I do not believe that God tortures any person simply for its own sake. 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McGill > [“We are unhappy because we think that love is something we require from someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-japin/we-are-unhappy-because-we-think-that-love-is-something-we-require/) [Arthur Japin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-japin/) > [Poverty is often concealed in splendor, and often in extravagance. It is the task of many people to conceal their neediness from others. Consequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/poverty-is-often-concealed-in-splendor-and-often-in-extravagance-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am. Because of this I don't need to apply spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/god-not-only-loves-me-as-i-am-but-also-knows-me-as-i-am-because-of/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“Parents are programmed to want the best for their kids, regardless of what they get in return. That's what love is supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/parents-are-programmed-to-want-the-best-for-their-kids-regardless-of/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) ## More by Paul E. Miller > [“God takes everyone he loves through a desert. It is his cure for our wandering hearts, restlessly searching for a new Eden... The best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/god-takes-everyone-he-loves-through-a-desert-it-is-his-cure-for-our/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/the-criteria-for-coming-to-jesus-is-weariness-come-overwhelmed-with/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“Prayer is asking God to incarnate, to get dirty in your life. Yes, the eternal God scrubs floors. For sure we know he washes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/prayer-is-asking-god-to-incarnate-to-get-dirty-in-your-life-yes-the/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“Prayer is a moment of incarnation - God with us. God involved in the details of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/prayer-is-a-moment-of-incarnation-god-with-us-god-involved-in-the/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“Cynicism creates a numbness toward life. Cynicism begins with a wry assurance that everyone has an angle. 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But it has to be your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/the-kingdom-comes-when-jesus-becomes-king-of-your-life-but-it-has-to/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“Everything you do is connected to who you are as a person and, in turn, creates the person you are becoming. Everything you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/everything-you-do-is-connected-to-who-you-are-as-a-person-and-in-turn/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“be truth-focused. The truth is that I need to love the other person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/be-truth-focused-the-truth-is-that-i-need-to-love-the-other-person/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“...Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/jesus-opens-his-arms-to-his-needy-children-and-says-come-to-me-all/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“When I begin praying Christ into someone’s life, God often permits suffering in that person’s life. If Satan’s basic game plan is pride, seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/when-i-begin-praying-christ-into-someone-s-life-god-often-permits/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“If you are not praying, then you are quietly confident that time, money, and talent are all you need in life. You'll always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/if-you-are-not-praying-then-you-are-quietly-confident-that-time-money/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“There's not a lot of drama in helpfulness, but it is the fabric of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/there-s-not-a-lot-of-drama-in-helpfulness-but-it-is-the-fabric-of-love/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [“Why is hesed love so important? Because life is moody. Feelings come and go. Pressures rise and fall. Passions ebb and flow. Hesed is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/why-is-hesed-love-so-important-because-life-is-moody-feelings-come/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) [Explore all 38 Paul E. Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) ## More Acknowledging quotes > [“My mum always taught me the value of knowing, recognizing and acknowledging when you had a good day. There are so many bad days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/my-mum-always-taught-me-the-value-of-knowing-recognizing-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Washington culture has always had a difficult time acknowledging untruth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/washington-culture-has-always-had-a-difficult-time-acknowledging/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [How dare you ever in ya life walk past me without acknowledging their man as God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/how-dare-you-ever-in-ya-life-walk-past-me-without-acknowledging-their/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [Acknowledging the Lord's hand in our lives cultivates gratitude. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/acknowledging-the-lord-s-hand-in-our-lives-cultivates-gratitude/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [You know, I get frustrated with our country's administration, which is really the people who are not acknowledging global warming. I mean, it's accepted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/you-know-i-get-frustrated-with-our-country-s-administration-which-is/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Real empathy is sometimes not insisting that it will be okay but acknowledging that it is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/real-empathy-is-sometimes-not-insisting-that-it-will-be-okay-but/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“You can’t fear the devil without also acknowledging God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-adams/you-can-t-fear-the-devil-without-also-acknowledging-god/) [Taylor Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-adams/) > [We do an epically bad job of acknowledging one another's work and checking our sources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/we-do-an-epically-bad-job-of-acknowledging-one-another-s-work-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [We are acknowledging the close personal nature of our 10 years at war and the strong bonds of fidelity that Marines have for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-amos/we-are-acknowledging-the-close-personal-nature-of-our-10-years-at-war/) [James F. 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I think President Trump wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/you-had-two-men-who-knew-the-exact-same-thing-which-is-russia-did/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [I would hope it's better, but I'm actually acknowledging now that I want to explore all these levels from a whisper to a scream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coverdale/i-would-hope-it-s-better-but-i-m-actually-acknowledging-now-that-i/) [David Coverdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coverdale/) > [Voter fraud happens on both sides of the aisle. And if nothing else, I'm glad Democrats are acknowledging that it exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/voter-fraud-happens-on-both-sides-of-the-aisle-and-if-nothing-else-i/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) Browse all 117 Acknowledging quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“According to Jesus, acknowledging our neediness opens the door to genuine and lasting happiness. Religions usually talk about what a person has to \"do\", but Jesus talks about what we \"can't do\". He says that our weakness, not our power or what we bring to God, enables us to know God.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul E. 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