--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do Something! I was sitting on a plane…" description: "\"“Do Something! I was sitting on a plane after a long, tiring business trip. I was a bit grouchy and irritable because the rigorous schedule I had made ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/steve-maraboli-178_asking-god_do-something-i-was-sitting-on-a-plane-af_1219014.jpg" --- # Do Something! I was sitting on a plane after a long… ![“Do Something! I was sitting on a plane after a long, tiring business trip. I was a bit grouchy and irritable because the rigorous schedule I had made for myself left me exhausted. Looking to not talk to the person next to me and simply endure the flight, I decided to open my newspaper and read…” quote by Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/steve-maraboli-178_asking-god_do-something-i-was-sitting-on-a-plane-af_1219014.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/steve-maraboli-178_asking-god_do-something-i-was-sitting-on-a-plane-af_1219014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/steve-maraboli-178_asking-god_do-something-i-was-sitting-on-a-plane-af_1219014.jpg) > ““Do Something! I was sitting on a plane after a long, tiring business trip. I was a bit grouchy and irritable because the rigorous schedule I had made for myself left me exhausted. Looking to not talk to the person next to me and simply endure the flight, I decided to open my newspaper and read about what was happening in the world. As I continued to read, it seemed that everywhere I looked there were stories of injustice, pain, suffering, and people losing hope. Finally, fueled by my tired, irritable state, I became overcome with compassion and frustration for the way things were. I got up and went to the bathroom and broke down. With tears streaming down my face, I helplessly looked to the sky and yelled to God. “God, look at this mess. Look at all this pain and suffering. Look at all this killing and hate. God, how could you let this happen? Why don’t you do something?” Just then, a quiet stillness pacified my heart. A feeling of peace I won’t ever forget engulfed my body. And, as I looked into my own eyes in the mirror, the answer to my own question came back to me… “Steve, stop asking God to do something. God already did something, he gave you life. Now YOU do something!”” [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage describes a moment of existential frustration that transforms into personal responsibility, urging action rather than waiting for divine intervention. **In simple terms:** Feeling overwhelmed leads to a realization that one must act personally. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for change. Themes self‑empowerment responsibility spiritual questioning compassion Mood reflective hopeful determined Type motivational philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - flight anxiety - reading news - spiritual doubt - emotional breakdown Key Concepts agency existentialism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What personal actions can you take to address global suffering? - How do you balance personal limits with desire to help? A Different Perspective It assumes individuals can effect change, which may not be realistic in systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asking god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-god/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Feeling Of Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-of-peace/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Making a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-difference/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Pain and suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-and-suffering/) [Prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayers/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Pain and suffering that are not transformed are usually projected onto others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/pain-and-suffering-that-are-not-transformed-are-usually-projected/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I do not yet understand whether my life is worth that. 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I really think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/everyone-suffers-life-is-pain-and-death-is-the-final-punctuation-at/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/god-whispers-to-us-in-our-pleasures-speaks-to-us-in-our-conscience/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More by Steve Maraboli > [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. 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Speak only the good you know of other people and encourage others to do the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/walk-away-from-gossip-and-verbal-defamation-speak-only-the-good-you/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Even though she would dream of love, respect, and unfettered romance... it was a cyclical dilemma in her life that she seemed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/even-though-she-would-dream-of-love-respect-and-unfettered-romance-it/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) [Explore all 990 Steve Maraboli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## More Asking god quotes > [The seeker asking, Where is God? 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God does not tell you what He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/have-you-been-asking-god-what-he-is-going-to-do-he-will-never-tell/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Browse all 123 Asking god quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Do Something! I was sitting on a plane after a long, tiring business trip. I was a bit grouchy and irritable because the rigorous schedule I had made for myself left me exhausted. Looking to not talk to the person next to me and simply endure the flight, I decided to open my newspaper and read about what was happening in the world. As I continued to read, it seemed that everywhere I looked there were stories of injustice, pain, suffering, and people losing hope. Finally, fueled by my tired, irritable state, I became overcome with compassion and frustration for the way things were. I got up and went to the bathroom and broke down. With tears streaming down my face, I helplessly looked to the sky and yelled to God. “God, look at this mess. Look at all this pain and suffering. Look at all this killing and hate. God, how could you let this happen? Why don’t you do something?” Just then, a quiet stillness pacified my heart. A feeling of peace I won’t ever forget engulfed my body. And, as I looked into my own eyes in the mirror, the answer to my own question came back to me… “Steve, stop asking God to do something. God already did something, he gave you life. 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