--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be…" description: "\"“Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/phillips-brooks-2696_miracles_do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-st_2207503.png" --- # Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do… ![“Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle. 14” quote by Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/phillips-brooks-2696_miracles_do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-st_2207503.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/phillips-brooks-2696_miracles_do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-st_2207503.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/phillips-brooks-2696_miracles_do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-st_2207503.png) > ““Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle. 14”” [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ask for strength to meet challenges, not for easier tasks; growth comes from matching ability to demand. **In simple terms:** Pray for strength, not easier problems. Key Takeaway Seek growth through challenging tasks. Themes faith resilience self‑improvement Mood reflective motivational Type religious philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - academic study - physical training - volunteer service Key Concepts spiritual discipline personal development ethical living Questions to Reflect On - What tasks currently exceed your abilities? - How can you develop the needed strength? A Different Perspective Strength alone may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lives Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-pray-2349017/) [Miracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracles/) [Pray Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-easy-378155/) [Pray Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-powers-251647/) [Pray Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-stronger-255642/) [Pray Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-tasks-251648/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) ## Related quotes > [O, do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/o-do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men-do-not-pray-for/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Do not pray 4 easy lives,pray to be stronger person, do not pray 4 tasks equal 2 ur powers.pray for powers equal 2 ur task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evergreen-d/do-not-pray-4-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-person-do-not-pray-4/) [Evergreen D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evergreen-d/) > [“Do not pray for easy times, pray to be stronger. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/do-not-pray-for-easy-times-pray-to-be-stronger-do-not-pray-for-tasks/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men-and-women-do-not/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-barrie/do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men-do-not-pray-for-4/) [James M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-barrie/) > [Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Prayer is not conquering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men-do-not-pray-for/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-brooks/do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men-do-not-pray-for-2/) [Phillip Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-brooks/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Do not pray for easier lives, pray to be stronger men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-pray-for-easier-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do no pray for easier lives, pray to be stronger men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-no-pray-for-easier-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dont pray for easy lifes,pray to be stronger men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-pray-for-easy-lifes-pray-to-be-stronger-men/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't pray for an easy life, pray to be a stronger man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/don-t-pray-for-an-easy-life-pray-to-be-a-stronger-man/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [ “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. \[Quoting Reverend Phillips Brooks, during Remarks at Presidential Prayer Breakfast, February 7 1963\] ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men-quoting-reverend/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/pray-for-powers-equal-to-your-tasks/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) ## More by Phillips Brooks > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Christmas day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/christmas-day-is-a-day-of-joy-and-charity-may-god-make-you-very-rich/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Preaching is truth through personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/preaching-is-truth-through-personality/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/nothing-lies-beyond-the-reach-of-prayer-except-that-which-lies/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Everywhere the flower of obedience is intelligence. Obey a man with cordial loyalty and you will understand him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/everywhere-the-flower-of-obedience-is-intelligence-obey-a-man-with/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [O, do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/o-do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men-do-not-pray-for/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [So shall we join the disciples of our Lord, keeping faith in Him in spite of the crucifixion, and making ready, by our loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/so-shall-we-join-the-disciples-of-our-lord-keeping-faith-in-him-in/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [The trouble is that I'm in a hurry, but God isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-trouble-is-that-i-m-in-a-hurry-but-god-isn-t/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [The truest help we can render an afflicted man is not to take his burden from him, but to call out his best energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-truest-help-we-can-render-an-afflicted-man-is-not-to-take-his/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [“The danger facing all of us--let me say it again, for one feels it tremendously--is not that we shall make an absolute failure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-danger-facing-all-of-us-let-me-say-it-again-for-one-feels-it/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [There is a necessary limit to our achievement, but none to our attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/there-is-a-necessary-limit-to-our-achievement-but-none-to-our-attempt/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Character - Some day, you will be wrestling with the great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your life. But the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/character-some-day-you-will-be-wrestling-with-the-great-temptation-or/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [The essential tendency of life is toward happiness . . . . Optimism is the only true condition for a reasonable man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-essential-tendency-of-life-is-toward-happiness-optimism-is-the/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [To find his place and fill it is success for a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/to-find-his-place-and-fill-it-is-success-for-a-man/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [It is God's world still. It has been given to man not absolutely, but in trust, that man may work out in it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/it-is-god-s-world-still-it-has-been-given-to-man-not-absolutely-but/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) [Explore all 153 Phillips Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) ## More Miracles quotes > [“As I do not seem able much to heal, then maybe I can simply be a responsible witness to the miracle of the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/as-i-do-not-seem-able-much-to-heal-then-maybe-i-can-simply-be-a/) [Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/) > [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/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [“Symbols are miracles we have recorded into language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/symbols-are-miracles-we-have-recorded-into-language/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“Monsters are divine portents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/monsters-are-divine-portents/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [It was a world that I wanted to record because it was such a miracle visitation to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-lee/it-was-a-world-that-i-wanted-to-record-because-it-was-such-a-miracle/) [Laurie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-lee/) > [We artists give daily thanks for the miracle of our planet and for the inclination and the capability to honour it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/we-artists-give-daily-thanks-for-the-miracle-of-our-planet-and-for/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [When a person partners with God in delivering a miracle to another person, they have done what they were supposed to do; God can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-wilkinson/when-a-person-partners-with-god-in-delivering-a-miracle-to-another/) [Bruce Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-wilkinson/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [“he never finished any of the works he began because, so sublime was his idea of art, he saw faults even in the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/he-never-finished-any-of-the-works-he-began-because-so-sublime-was/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“miracles are the fruit of faith, not force. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/miracles-are-the-fruit-of-faith-not-force-when/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [“If we believe miracles cannot happen today but happened to our distant ancestors, what we really seem to be saying is not that miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-we-believe-miracles-cannot-happen-today-but-happened-to-our/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Although it may appear as though there have been many miracles in the world, a true miracle has never come to pass. A true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woo-myung/although-it-may-appear-as-though-there-have-been-many-miracles-in-the/) [Woo Myung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woo-myung/) > [Miracles happen because if I'm sitting here as a Hall of Famer, you can do anything in the world you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/miracles-happen-because-if-i-m-sitting-here-as-a-hall-of-famer-you/) [Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/) [Browse all 3,567 Miracles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. 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