--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from…" description: "\"It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/pope-benedict-xvi-414_accepting_it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-fro_1432001.jpg" --- # It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that… ![“It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love.” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/pope-benedict-xvi-414_accepting_it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-fro_1432001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/pope-benedict-xvi-414_accepting_it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-fro_1432001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/pope-benedict-xvi-414_accepting_it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-fro_1432001.jpg) > “It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love.” [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Healing comes not from avoiding pain but from embracing it, growing through it, and finding purpose in shared suffering with Christ’s love. **In simple terms:** Accept pain, grow, find meaning with Christ. Key Takeaway Embrace suffering to mature. Themes faith spirituality healing meaning love Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - counseling - grief support - spiritual retreats - personal crisis - caregiving Key Concepts theology psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn personal pain into spiritual growth? - What role does community play in this process? A Different Perspective May overlook practical limits of acceptance without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ Suffered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-suffered-1320306/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Fleeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fleeing/) [Fleeing Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fleeing-suffering-5101524/) [Healed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healed/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite/) [Infinite love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mature/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Healed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-healed-5101523/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [“I believe like a child that suffering will be healed and made up for, that all the humiliating absurdity of human contradictions will vanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-believe-like-a-child-that-suffering-will-be-healed-and-made-up-for/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Young people in particular, I appeal to you: bear witness to your faith through the digital world!…Employ these new technologies to make the Gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/young-people-in-particular-i-appeal-to-you-bear-witness-to-your-faith/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [This book was not written because I wanted to offer a supreme model to the man who struggles; I wanted to show him that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/this-book-was-not-written-because-i-wanted-to-offer-a-supreme-model/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we too may have increased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/because-jesus-christ-suffered-greatly-he-understands-our-suffering-he/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [If... God highly exalted Christ because He humbled Himself, suffered dishonour, was tempted and endured a shameful cross and death for our sake, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/if-god-highly-exalted-christ-because-he-humbled-himself-suffered/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [“I am somewhat proud of this," Mab's cold voice said. "To be sure, the White Christ never suffered so long or so terribly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-am-somewhat-proud-of-this-mab-s-cold-voice-said-to-be-sure-the/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [He makes this favor common to all, because it is propounded to all, and not because it is in reality extended to all; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/he-makes-this-favor-common-to-all-because-it-is-propounded-to-all-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [I now understand what Christ suffered in Gethsemane as well as any man living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-hardie/i-now-understand-what-christ-suffered-in-gethsemane-as-well-as-any/) [Keir Hardie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-hardie/) > [Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayely-saldana/be-alert-and-of-sober-mind-your-enemy-the-devil-prowls-around-like-a/) [Nayely Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayely-saldana/) > [There is a lot of people walking around who don't understand why our lord had to die on the cross at Calvary to save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/there-is-a-lot-of-people-walking-around-who-don-t-understand-why-our/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/therefore-since-christ-suffered-in-his-body-arm-yourselves-with-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The problems will come because God never promised an easy Life. Instead, He said as Christ suffered so shall you. Just keep Praying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-problems-will-come-because-god-never-promised-an-easy-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Jesus Christ suffered,to bear the sin of mankind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/jesus-christ-suffered-to-bear-the-sin-of-mankind/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynette-eason/you-have-been-called-for-this-purpose-since-christ-also-suffered-for/) [Lynette Eason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynette-eason/) > [Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/christ-also-suffered-once-for-sins-the-righteous-for-the-unrighteous/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) ## More by Pope Benedict XVI > [The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-fact-that-the-lord-can-work-and-act-even-with-insufficient-means/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/continue-to-witness-to-the-gospel-every-day-and-commit-yourselves/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. While prayer is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-example-of-fidelity-to-prayer-challenges-us-to-examine-the-time/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which God has passed through history, we truly see that here is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-we-look-to-the-saints-this-great-luminous-wake-with-which-god-has/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Joy is the true gift of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joy-is-the-true-gift-of-christmas/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [God loves us despite our shortcomings and sins, and his love gives meaning to our lives and to the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-loves-us-despite-our-shortcomings-and-sins-and-his-love-gives/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-s-a-great-responsibility-before-god-the-judge-who-guides-us-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Discovering the beauty and joy of faith is a path that every new generation must take on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/discovering-the-beauty-and-joy-of-faith-is-a-path-that-every-new/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) [Explore all 575 Pope Benedict XVI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Benedict XVI" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-from-suffering-that-we-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-from-suffering-that-we-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/pope-benedict-xvi-414_accepting_it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-fro_1432001.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/pope-benedict-xvi-414_accepting_it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-fro_1432001.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/pope-benedict-xvi-414_accepting_it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-fro_1432001.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for…” — Pope Benedict XVI", "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": "Pope Benedict XVI", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not by sidestepping or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-from-suffering-that-we-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-not-by-sidestepping-or-fleeing-from-suffering-that-we-are/#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 } } ] } ```