Cases Quote by Timothy Keller
“Some suffering is given in order to chastise and correct a person for wrongful patterns of life (as in the case of Jonah imperiled by the storm), some suffering is given not to correct past wrongs but to prevent future ones (as in the case of Joseph sold into slavery), and some suffering has no purpose other than to lead a person to love God more ardently for himself alone and so discover the ultimate peace and freedom.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Purpose of Suffering, 2015
Suffering can serve to correct, prevent future harm, or deepen love for God, leading to ultimate peace and freedom.
In simple terms: Suffering may correct, prevent, or deepen faith.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning in hardship.
Themes
spirituality
redemption
purpose
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
theological
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal trials
- counseling
- spiritual formation
Key Concepts
theodicy
faith development
psychological growth
Questions to Reflect On
- What suffering have you transformed into growth?
- How can you support others facing purposeless pain?
A Different Perspective
Suffering may also be random or harmful without purpose.
![“24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: [Alexis de] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a special salience today — because while we have gotten very good at deconstructing old stories (the religion that was the subject of my first chapter…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85a/timothy-keller-240_sad_24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the_25320.jpg)
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