--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the main ways we move from…" description: "\"“One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about God to a personal encounter with him as a living reality is through the furnace of afflicti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/timothy-keller-240_affliction_one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstra_2224994.png" --- # One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about… ![“One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about God to a personal encounter with him as a living reality is through the furnace of affliction.” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/timothy-keller-240_affliction_one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstra_2224994.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/timothy-keller-240_affliction_one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstra_2224994.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/timothy-keller-240_affliction_one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstra_2224994.png) > ““One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about God to a personal encounter with him as a living reality is through the furnace of affliction.”” [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## 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 deepen personal faith by confronting abstract belief with lived experience. **In simple terms:** Hardship can make faith real. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to grow spiritually. Themes faith suffering personal growth Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - spiritual retreats - personal crisis - mission work Key Concepts theology psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How can we support those in suffering? - When does suffering become destructive? A Different Perspective Not all suffering leads to faith; some may cause doubt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/after-an-encounter-with-the-living-son-of-the-living-god-nothing-is/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“...the furnace of affliction comes from doing what seems right in our own eyes...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/the-furnace-of-affliction-comes-from-doing-what-seems-right-in-our/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [As sure as God puts His children in the furnace of affliction, He will be with them in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/as-sure-as-god-puts-his-children-in-the-furnace-of-affliction-he-will/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The furnace of affliction produces refinement, in states as well as individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-furnace-of-affliction-produces-refinement-in-states-as-well-as/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The Lord has said, ‘I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.’ (Isaiah 48:10, 1 Nephi 20:10). He knows, being omniscient, how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-lord-has-said-i-have-chosen-thee-in-the-furnace-of-affliction/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The furnace of affliction refines us from earthly drossiness, and softens us for the impression of God's own stamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bayle/the-furnace-of-affliction-refines-us-from-earthly-drossiness-and/) [Pierre Bayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayle/) > [I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-invite-all-christians-everywhere-at-this-very-moment-to-a-renewed/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Thus we dare not conclude that because we learn about the Spirit we for that reason actually know Him. Knowing Him comes only by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/thus-we-dare-not-conclude-that-because-we-learn-about-the-spirit-we/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [“It is not likely that you will ever have a personal encounter with the adversary; he does not show himself that way. But even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/it-is-not-likely-that-you-will-ever-have-a-personal-encounter-with/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [“Evangelicals may have some dysfunctional, subjectivistic ways of expressing this truth, and we may cultivate the experience in shortsighted ways, even using it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-sanders/evangelicals-may-have-some-dysfunctional-subjectivistic-ways-of/) [Fred Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-sanders/) > [Christ comes among us at Christmas: it is the perfect time for a personal encounter with the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/christ-comes-among-us-at-christmas-it-is-the-perfect-time-for-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/behold-i-have-refined-you-but-not-as-silver-i-have-tested-you-in-the/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [The furnace of affliction is a good place for you, Christian; it benefits you; it helps you to become more like Christ, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-furnace-of-affliction-is-a-good-place-for-you-christian-it/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [God's way of answering the Christian's prayer for more patience, experience, hope and love often is to put him into the furnace of affliction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/god-s-way-of-answering-the-christian-s-prayer-for-more-patience/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [The furnace of affliction refines us from earthly drossiness, and softens us for the impression of Gods own stamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/the-furnace-of-affliction-refines-us-from-earthly-drossiness-and-2/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) ## More by Timothy Keller > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The coming of the messianic King occurs in two stages. At his first coming, he saved us from the penalty of sin and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-coming-of-the-messianic-king-occurs-in-two-stages-at-his-first/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the-following-alexis-de/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“To stay away from Christianity because part of the Bible's teaching is offensive to you assumes that if there is a God he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-stay-away-from-christianity-because-part-of-the-bible-s-teaching/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-the-preaching-of-our-ministers-and-the-practice-of-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“of temple, presence, and sacrifice; of covenant and faithfulness; of kingdom and victory. When we seek to communicate the gospel to a particular culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/of-temple-presence-and-sacrifice-of-covenant-and-faithfulness-of/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Finally, you are ready to launch your church. Begin by developing action steps and goals that can be used as benchmarks to track your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/finally-you-are-ready-to-launch-your-church-begin-by-developing/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If you are a child of God, you don’t lose your status if you have a bad week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-a-child-of-god-you-don-t-lose-your-status-if-you-have-a/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [God's salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-s-salvation-does-not-come-in-response-to-a-changed-life-a-changed/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-anything-in-life-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-your-happiness/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Suffering is the stripping of our hope in finite things, therefore we do not put our ultimate hope in anything finite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/suffering-is-the-stripping-of-our-hope-in-finite-things-therefore-we/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Christ will do everything for you or nothing. He's either all of your righteousness or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christ-will-do-everything-for-you-or-nothing-he-s-either-all-of-your/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If we give God things in hope that they'll earn us blessings, we're really not doing anything for him. It's for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-we-give-god-things-in-hope-that-they-ll-earn-us-blessings-we-re/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Explore all 843 Timothy Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## 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": "“One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about God to a personal encounter with him as a living reality is through the furnace of affliction.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Timothy Keller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstract-knowledge-about-god-to-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affliction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstract-knowledge-about-god-to-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/timothy-keller-240_affliction_one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstra_2224994.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/timothy-keller-240_affliction_one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstra_2224994.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/timothy-keller-240_affliction_one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstra_2224994.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about God to a personal encounter with him as a living…” — Timothy Keller", "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": "Timothy Keller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“One of the main ways we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstract-knowledge-about-god-to-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/one-of-the-main-ways-we-move-from-abstract-knowledge-about-god-to-a/#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 } } ] } ```