--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must understand then, that even though…" description: "\"We must understand then, that even though God doesn't always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need for our salvation.\" — Saint Augustine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c5/saint-augustine-328_giving_we-must-understand-then-that-even-though_1819504.png" --- # We must understand then, that even though God doesn't… ![“We must understand then, that even though God doesn't always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need for our salvation.” quote by Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c5/saint-augustine-328_giving_we-must-understand-then-that-even-though_1819504.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c5/saint-augustine-328_giving_we-must-understand-then-that-even-though_1819504.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c5/saint-augustine-328_giving_we-must-understand-then-that-even-though_1819504.png) > “We must understand then, that even though God doesn't always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need for our salvation.” [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God may not grant desires, but provides what is needed for salvation. **In simple terms:** God gives need, not always want. Key Takeaway Trust in divine provision beyond personal wishes. Themes faith trust divine will Mood hopeful serene Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal loss - career setbacks - health crises Key Concepts theodicy salvation Questions to Reflect On - What needs have you received that you initially rejected? - How does this perspective affect your goals? A Different Perspective Accepting unmet desires can be painful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“If you think that there's anything that you need to do for salvation, then you've missed the point of the Gospel. Eternal life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-sakkab/if-you-think-that-there-s-anything-that-you-need-to-do-for-salvation/) Ibrahim Sakkab > [Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is a medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/let-us-understand-that-god-is-a-physician-and-that-suffering-is-a/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [If you understand, it is not God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/if-you-understand-it-is-not-god/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“If you have never been saved,you need to stop right where you are and admit to God that you are a sinner in need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-l-ross/if-you-have-never-been-saved-you-need-to-stop-right-where-you-are-and/) Jerry L. Ross > [Most of them have, of course, an agenda; mostly born-again Christians looking to save my soul. I suppose the assumption is made that because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-rudolph/most-of-them-have-of-course-an-agenda-mostly-born-again-christians/) [Eric Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-rudolph/) > [Where lies our salvation? You asked. We do not need any salvation. Does not our end lie on this beginning shore?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-awoonor/where-lies-our-salvation-you-asked-we-do-not-need-any-salvation-does/) [Kofi Awoonor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-awoonor/) > [The human race was in need of salvation because of the perversity of sin. For when people who are ill are cured from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-human-race-was-in-need-of-salvation-because-of-the-perversity-of/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from God, would be just as desperately in need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-world-of-nice-people-content-in-their-own-niceness-looking-no/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Sin is a spiritual illness; thus sinners are in need of salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/sin-is-a-spiritual-illness-thus-sinners-are-in-need-of-salvation/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [I guess I am trying to get the point across that all of us are in need of salvation; that we are dead in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eugene-edwards/i-guess-i-am-trying-to-get-the-point-across-that-all-of-us-are-in/) David Eugene Edwards > [I'm not knocking the poor homosexual, I'm not. They need salvation just like anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-swaggart/i-m-not-knocking-the-poor-homosexual-i-m-not-they-need-salvation-just/) [Jimmy Swaggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-swaggart/) > [How does God save His people from the pleasure of sin? The answer is, “By imparting to them a nature which hates evil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/how-does-god-save-his-people-from-the-pleasure-of-sin-the-answer-is/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If you do not understand what God's present claims over you are, you may depend upon it that as days of testing come on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wigram/if-you-do-not-understand-what-god-s-present-claims-over-you-are-you/) [George Wigram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wigram/) > [Life gives us what we need when we need it; receiving what it gives us is a whole other thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-houston/life-gives-us-what-we-need-when-we-need-it-receiving-what-it-gives-us/) [Pam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-houston/) > [“Child, the Lord gives you what you need, when you need it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-martin/child-the-lord-gives-you-what-you-need-when-you-need-it/) [Charles Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-martin/) ## More by Saint Augustine > [Lust indulged became habit, and habit unresisted became necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/lust-indulged-became-habit-and-habit-unresisted-became-necessity/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The playthings of our elders are called business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-playthings-of-our-elders-are-called-business/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Do what you can and pray for what you cannot yet do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/do-what-you-can-and-pray-for-what-you-cannot-yet-do/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [For I did not know that the soul needs to be enlightened by light from outside itself, so that it can participate in truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-i-did-not-know-that-the-soul-needs-to-be-enlightened-by-light/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [My mother spoke of Christ to my father, by her feminine and childlike virtues, and, after having borne his violence without a murmur or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/my-mother-spoke-of-christ-to-my-father-by-her-feminine-and-childlike/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Wicked sons do not have the Holy Ghost in the same way as do beloved sons, and yet they do have Baptism. So, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/wicked-sons-do-not-have-the-holy-ghost-in-the-same-way-as-do-beloved/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [To wisdom belongs the intellectual apprehension of things eternal; to knowledge, the rational apprehension of things temporal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/to-wisdom-belongs-the-intellectual-apprehension-of-things-eternal-to/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [It is this one Spirit who makes it possible for an infant to be regenerated . . . when that infant is brought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/it-is-this-one-spirit-who-makes-it-possible-for-an-infant-to-be/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [God has no need of your money, but the poor have. You give it to the poor, and God receives it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/god-has-no-need-of-your-money-but-the-poor-have-you-give-it-to-the/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Nothing conquers except truth and the victory of truth is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/nothing-conquers-except-truth-and-the-victory-of-truth-is-love/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“O God, who is ever at work and ever at rest. May I be ever at work and ever at rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/o-god-who-is-ever-at-work-and-ever-at-rest-may-i-be-ever-at-work-and/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Our Lord reserved to Himself certain things which He would do in due time in a manner outside the course and order of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/our-lord-reserved-to-himself-certain-things-which-he-would-do-in-due/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/give-me-chastity-and-continence-but-not-yet/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/nothing-therefore-happens-unless-the-omnipotent-wills-it-to-happen-he/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The reward of patience Is patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-reward-of-patience-is-patience/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) [Explore all 672 Saint Augustine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must understand then, that even though God doesn't always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need for our salvation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint Augustine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/we-must-understand-then-that-even-though-god-doesn-t-always-give-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/we-must-understand-then-that-even-though-god-doesn-t-always-give-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c5/saint-augustine-328_giving_we-must-understand-then-that-even-though_1819504.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c5/saint-augustine-328_giving_we-must-understand-then-that-even-though_1819504.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c5/saint-augustine-328_giving_we-must-understand-then-that-even-though_1819504.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must understand then, that even though God doesn't always give us what we want, He always gives us what…” — Saint Augustine", "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": "Saint Augustine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must understand then, that even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/we-must-understand-then-that-even-though-god-doesn-t-always-give-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/we-must-understand-then-that-even-though-god-doesn-t-always-give-us/#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 } } ] } ```