--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your afflictions may only prove that you…" description: "\"Your afflictions may only prove that you are more immediately under the Father's hand. There is no time that the patient is such an object of tender in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-murray-m-cheyne-9824_affliction_your-afflictions-may-only-prove-that-you_1418266.png" --- # Your afflictions may only prove that you are more… ![“Your afflictions may only prove that you are more immediately under the Father's hand. There is no time that the patient is such an object of tender interest to the surgeon, as when he is bleeding beneath his knife. So you may be sure if you are suffering from the hand of a reconciled God, that…” quote by Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-murray-m-cheyne-9824_affliction_your-afflictions-may-only-prove-that-you_1418266.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-murray-m-cheyne-9824_affliction_your-afflictions-may-only-prove-that-you_1418266.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-murray-m-cheyne-9824_affliction_your-afflictions-may-only-prove-that-you_1418266.png) > “Your afflictions may only prove that you are more immediately under the Father's hand. There is no time that the patient is such an object of tender interest to the surgeon, as when he is bleeding beneath his knife. So you may be sure if you are suffering from the hand of a reconciled God, that His eye is all the more bent on you.” [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering can indicate divine care; when we are most vulnerable, God's attention is greatest. **In simple terms:** Pain can show God's closeness. Key Takeaway Trust that hardship may be a sign of divine concern. Themes faith suffering divine care trust Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual theological When to use this quote - illness - personal crisis - spiritual growth - prayer Key Concepts theodicy spiritual intimacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you interpret personal pain in spiritual terms? - What does it mean to feel watched by a caring deity? A Different Perspective God may also allow suffering for growth, not just comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [Afflictions Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afflictions-prove-5015593/) [Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bent/) [Bleeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bleeding/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Hand Reconciled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-reconciled-5015596/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [His eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-eyes/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Knives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knives/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-hand-2771288/) [Surgeon Bleeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgeon-bleeding-5015594/) [Surgeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgeons/) [Tender Surgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tender-surgeon-5015595/) ## Related quotes > [Pain is an event ... Suffering, on the other hand, is the nightmare reliving of unscrutinized and unmetabolized pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/pain-is-an-event-suffering-on-the-other-hand-is-the-nightmare/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“Bliss and suffering, it seems, always go hand in hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kentetsu-takamori/bliss-and-suffering-it-seems-always-go-hand-in-hand/) [Kentetsu Takamori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kentetsu-takamori/) > [I've seen suffering first-hand, and we have to make sure we relieve people's suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-gomez/i-ve-seen-suffering-first-hand-and-we-have-to-make-sure-we-relieve/) [Jimmy Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-gomez/) > [Editing might be a bloody trade. But knives aren't the exclusive property of butchers. Surgeons use them too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-morrison/editing-might-be-a-bloody-trade-but-knives-aren-t-the-exclusive/) [Blake Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-morrison/) > [We became a congresswoman, a stay-at-home mom, a filmmaker, and a journalist. And Lino and I taught our children that they could rise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degette/we-became-a-congresswoman-a-stay-at-home-mom-a-filmmaker-and-a/) [Diana DeGette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degette/) > [Well, we're just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. And he's been very busy naming a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/well-we-re-just-a-couple-of-weeks-from-new-president-barack-obama/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The best prescription is knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-everett-koop/the-best-prescription-is-knowledge/) [C. Everett Koop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-everett-koop/) > [Men of science, osteologists And surgeons, beat some poets, in respect For nature,-count nought common or unclean, Spend raptures upon perfect specimens Of indurated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/men-of-science-osteologists-and-surgeons-beat-some-poets-in-respect/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [If you lay a hand on me I'll ram your testicles so far up inside your abdomen it'll take a heart surgeon to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/if-you-lay-a-hand-on-me-i-ll-ram-your-testicles-so-far-up-inside-your/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [...No one died from infection under Keen. ...He (Keen) began to chronicle the results in statistical articles. He was threatened with expulsion from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-douglas/no-one-died-from-infection-under-keen-he-keen-began-to-chronicle-the/) [Paul Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-douglas/) > [My final word, before I'm done, Is "Cancer can be rather fun"- Provided one confronts the tumour with a sufficient sense of humour. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/my-final-word-before-i-m-done-is-cancer-can-be-rather-fun-provided/) [John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/) > [Alex: Rosie, I wanted you to be the first person to no that I’ve decided to become a heart surgeon! Rosie: Cool, does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/alex-rosie-i-wanted-you-to-be-the-first-person-to-no-that-i-ve/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [If you need someone to come out of the sewer with a wire you don't hire someone who needs laborious collective instruction. You let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/if-you-need-someone-to-come-out-of-the-sewer-with-a-wire-you-don-t/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [Heart surgeons do not have the world's smallest egos: when you ask them to name the world's three leading practitioners, they never can remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/heart-surgeons-do-not-have-the-world-s-smallest-egos-when-you-ask/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-lawyers-are-disbarred-and-clergymen-defrocked-doesn-t-it-follow/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) ## More by Robert Murray M'Cheyne > [Even in the wildest storms the sky is not all dark; and so in the darkest dealings of God with His children, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/even-in-the-wildest-storms-the-sky-is-not-all-dark-and-so-in-the/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [If Christ justifies you, He will sanctify you! He will not save you and leave you in your sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/if-christ-justifies-you-he-will-sanctify-you-he-will-not-save-you-and/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/one-gem-from-that-ocean-is-worth-all-the-pebbles-of-earthly-streams/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [There cannot be a secret Christian. Grace is like ointment hid in the hand; it betrayeth itself. If you truly feel the sweetness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/there-cannot-be-a-secret-christian-grace-is-like-ointment-hid-in-the/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [Do not fear the face of man. Remember how small their anger will appear in eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/do-not-fear-the-face-of-man-remember-how-small-their-anger-will/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [“Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in Him. Let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/let-your-soul-be-filled-with-a-heart-ravishing-sense-of-the-sweetness/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [Remember also, the present is your only time to be saved. There is no believing, no repenting, no conversion in the grave---no minister will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/remember-also-the-present-is-your-only-time-to-be-saved-there-is-no/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [I never see a sign Licensed to sell spirits without thinking that it is a license to ruin souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/i-never-see-a-sign-licensed-to-sell-spirits-without-thinking-that-it/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [The purest joy in the world is joy in Christ Jesus. When the Spirit is poured down, his people get very near and clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/the-purest-joy-in-the-world-is-joy-in-christ-jesus-when-the-spirit-is/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [It is not so much great talents that God blesses, as great likeness to Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/it-is-not-so-much-great-talents-that-god-blesses-as-great-likeness-to/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness. Then he is like a rose blooming in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/you-will-never-find-jesus-so-precious-as-when-the-world-is-one-vast/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [Go on, dear brother; but an inch of time remains, and then eternal ages roll on for ever--but an inch on which we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/go-on-dear-brother-but-an-inch-of-time-remains-and-then-eternal-ages/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [O believing brethren! What an instrument is this which God hath put into your hands! Prayer moves Him that moves the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/o-believing-brethren-what-an-instrument-is-this-which-god-hath-put/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [When the voice of Christ speaks through the Word, then you will arise, and leave all, and follow Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/when-the-voice-of-christ-speaks-through-the-word-then-you-will-arise/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [Remember, you are not a tree, that can live or stand alone. You are only a branch. And it is only while you abide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/remember-you-are-not-a-tree-that-can-live-or-stand-alone-you-are-only/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) [Explore all 70 Robert Murray M'Cheyne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) ## More Affliction quotes > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Henceforth, I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself, 'Enough, enough, and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/henceforth-i-ll-bear-affliction-till-it-do-cry-out-itself-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/new-materials-are-one-of-the-great-afflictions-of-contemporary-art/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-anshaw/aimee-parkison-offers-a-distinct-new-voice-to-contemporary-fiction/) [Carol Anshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-anshaw/) > [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Religion prescribes to every miserable man the means of bettering his condition; nay, it shows him that the bearing of his afflictions as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/religion-prescribes-to-every-miserable-man-the-means-of-bettering-his/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) [Browse all 598 Affliction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your afflictions may only prove that you are more immediately under the Father's hand. 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