--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God sweetens outward pain with inward…" description: "\"God sweetens outward pain with inward peace.\" — Thomas Watson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/thomas-watson-4209_affliction_god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-pe_2637980.png" --- # God sweetens outward pain with inward peace. ![“God sweetens outward pain with inward peace.” quote by Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/thomas-watson-4209_affliction_god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-pe_2637980.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/thomas-watson-4209_affliction_god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-pe_2637980.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/thomas-watson-4209_affliction_god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-pe_2637980.png) > “God sweetens outward pain with inward peace.” [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. External suffering is softened by inner peace, offering divine consolation. **In simple terms:** Inner peace eases external pain. Key Takeaway Seek inner peace. Themes faith comfort spirituality Mood calming hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - prayer - meditation - counseling - stress relief Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does inner peace change your perception of pain? - What practices bring you inner peace? A Different Perspective Pain may persist despite inner peace. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [God Sweetens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-sweetens-2243983/) [Inward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inward/) [Inward Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inward-peace-366104/) [Outward Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outward-pain-2243985/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Inward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-inward-2243986/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Sweetens Outward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweetens-outward-2243984/) ## Related quotes > [The Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-holy-ghost-is-the-greatest-guarantor-of-inward-peace-in-our/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Both above and below, without and within, which way so ever thou dost turn thee, everywhere thou shalt find the Cross; and everywhere of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/both-above-and-below-without-and-within-which-way-so-ever-thou-dost/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“I ask some of you here today . . . you have prestige, you have money; but you haven't found inward peace and happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-doucette/i-ask-some-of-you-here-today-you-have-prestige-you-have-money-but-you/) [Patrick Doucette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-doucette/) > [Caution is crediting, and reserve in speaking, and in revealing one's self to but very few, are the best securities both of a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/caution-is-crediting-and-reserve-in-speaking-and-in-revealing-one-s/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [A man must seek his happiness and inward peace from objects which cannot be taken away from him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/a-man-must-seek-his-happiness-and-inward-peace-from-objects-which/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [“You can't be well without health or happy without inward peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/you-can-t-be-well-without-health-or-happy-without-inward-peace/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [“The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed. Think for yourself whether much of your sorrow has not arisen from someone speaking slightingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/the-labor-of-self-love-is-a-heavy-one-indeed-think-for-yourself/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [“As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/as-long-as-you-set-yourself-up-as-a-little-god-to-which-you-must-be-2/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [For where there is true love, a man is neither out of measure lifted up by prosperity, nor cast down by mishap; whether you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/for-where-there-is-true-love-a-man-is-neither-out-of-measure-lifted/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [Never be hurried in anything. Do all things calmly and in a spirit of repose. Do not lose your inward peace even if everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/never-be-hurried-in-anything-do-all-things-calmly-and-in-a-spirit-of/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [The quest for this unwearied peace is constant and universal. Probe deeply into the teaching of Buddha, Maimonides, or a Kempis, and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-quest-for-this-unwearied-peace-is-constant-and-universal-probe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed. Think whether much of your sorrow has not arisen from someone speaking slightingly of you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-labor-of-self-love-is-a-heavy-one-indeed-think-whether-much-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Without prayer there is no inward peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/without-prayer-there-is-no-inward-peace/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Let tears flow of their own accord; their flowing is not inconsistent with inward peace and harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/let-tears-flow-of-their-own-accord-their-flowing-is-not-inconsistent/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Affliction may be lasting, but it is not everlasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/affliction-may-be-lasting-but-it-is-not-everlasting/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) ## More by Thomas Watson > [“Oh, Christian, if you are overspread with this fretting leprosy, you carry the man of sin about you, for you set yourself above God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/oh-christian-if-you-are-overspread-with-this-fretting-leprosy-you/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [A wicked man in prayer may lift up his hands, but he cannot lift up his face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/a-wicked-man-in-prayer-may-lift-up-his-hands-but-he-cannot-lift-up/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [Joining a company is an act that calls for absolute loyalty in big matters and little ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/joining-a-company-is-an-act-that-calls-for-absolute-loyalty-in-big/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [It is our work to cast care, and it is God's work to take care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/it-is-our-work-to-cast-care-and-it-is-god-s-work-to-take-care/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [“It is easy to catch a disease from another, but not to catch health. The bad will sooner corrupt the good, than the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/it-is-easy-to-catch-a-disease-from-another-but-not-to-catch-health/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [“The world is but a great inn, where we are to stay a night or two, and be gone; what madness is it so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-world-is-but-a-great-inn-where-we-are-to-stay-a-night-or-two-and/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [The Ediles among the Romans had their doors always standing open, that all who had petitions might have free access to them. The door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-ediles-among-the-romans-had-their-doors-always-standing-open-that/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [“This judgment is on many, the earth swallows up their time, and thoughts, and discourse, they are buried twice; their hearts are buried in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/this-judgment-is-on-many-the-earth-swallows-up-their-time-and/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [“Upon our turning to God, we have more restored to us in Christ—than ever was lost in Adam. God says to the repenting soul,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/upon-our-turning-to-god-we-have-more-restored-to-us-in-christ-than/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/christ-went-more-willingly-to-the-cross-than-we-do-to-the-throne-of/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [The more we enjoy of God, the more we are ravished with delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-more-we-enjoy-of-god-the-more-we-are-ravished-with-delight/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [“To obey God, is not so much our duty—as our privilege; his commands carry food in the mouth of them. He bids us repent—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/to-obey-god-is-not-so-much-our-duty-as-our-privilege-his-commands/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [Prayer is the offering up of our desires to God in the name of Christ, for such things as are agreeable to his will.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/prayer-is-the-offering-up-of-our-desires-to-god-in-the-name-of-christ/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [Affliction may be lasting, but it is not everlasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/affliction-may-be-lasting-but-it-is-not-everlasting/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [Prayer delights God's ear; it melts His heart; and opens His hand. God cannot deny a praying soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/prayer-delights-god-s-ear-it-melts-his-heart-and-opens-his-hand-god/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) [Explore all 113 Thomas Watson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) ## 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": "God sweetens outward pain with inward peace.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Watson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-peace/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affliction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-peace/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/thomas-watson-4209_affliction_god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-pe_2637980.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/thomas-watson-4209_affliction_god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-pe_2637980.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/thomas-watson-4209_affliction_god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-pe_2637980.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God sweetens outward pain with inward peace.” — Thomas Watson", "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": "Thomas Watson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "God sweetens outward pain with inward...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-peace/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/god-sweetens-outward-pain-with-inward-peace/#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 } } ] } ```