--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard to know, isn't it, whether the…" description: "\"“It's hard to know, isn't it, whether the things we face are just because the world is full of sin and sinful people, or if God is working out a plan,'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/tricia-goyer-21426_god_it-s-hard-to-know-isn-t-it-whether-the-t_3550.jpg" --- # It's hard to know, isn't it, whether the things we face… ![“It's hard to know, isn't it, whether the things we face are just because the world is full of sin and sinful people, or if God is working out a plan,' Grandma continued. 'I happen to think it's both. There's sin, but through it all, He takes the mess we make and paints a masterpiece. In fact, I'm…” quote by Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/tricia-goyer-21426_god_it-s-hard-to-know-isn-t-it-whether-the-t_3550.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/tricia-goyer-21426_god_it-s-hard-to-know-isn-t-it-whether-the-t_3550.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/tricia-goyer-21426_god_it-s-hard-to-know-isn-t-it-whether-the-t_3550.jpg) > ““It's hard to know, isn't it, whether the things we face are just because the world is full of sin and sinful people, or if God is working out a plan,' Grandma continued. 'I happen to think it's both. There's sin, but through it all, He takes the mess we make and paints a masterpiece. In fact, I'm quite certain that before God can ever bless a woman—and use her to impact many—He uses the hammer, the file, and the furnace to do a holy work.”” [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It reflects on the coexistence of human sinfulness and divine purpose, suggesting that suffering is transformed into something beautiful by a higher power. **In simple terms:** Sin and redemption intertwine. Key Takeaway Adversity can become art. Themes theodicy redemption purpose suffering transformation faith Mood hopeful reflective inspired Type spiritual philosophical metaphorical When to use this quote - personal loss - community crisis - spiritual doubt - creative endeavor - leadership challenge Key Concepts sin divine plan masterpiece hammer file furnace Practical Applications - counseling - teaching resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does hardship reveal hidden strengths? - What role does faith play in reframing pain? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-working/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-god/) [Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redemption/) [Sin Sinful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-sinful-277780/) [Sinful People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinful-people-277779/) [Sovereignty of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereignty-of-god/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Think Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-sin-277778/) ## Related quotes > [“This is the reality of the human heart, the inevitability of two sinful people pledging to live together, with all their faults, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/this-is-the-reality-of-the-human-heart-the-inevitability-of-two/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [We’re too Christian to enjoy sin and too sinful to enjoy Christ. We’ve got just enough Jesus to be informed, but not enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/we-re-too-christian-to-enjoy-sin-and-too-sinful-to-enjoy-christ-we-ve/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Sin is not so sinful as hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-d-aubigne-marquise-de-maintenon/sin-is-not-so-sinful-as-hypocrisy/) [Francoise d'Aubigne, Marquise de Maintenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-d-aubigne-marquise-de-maintenon/) > [“One reason many people never see God working in their lives is because they never hang in long enough for God to show his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-stiles/one-reason-many-people-never-see-god-working-in-their-lives-is/) [Wayne Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-stiles/) > [That sounds so weird: "kill yourself." It makes it sound like you tried to murder someone, only that someone is you. But killing someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/that-sounds-so-weird-kill-yourself-it-makes-it-sound-like-you-tried/) [Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/) > [Where we might think of sin as slip-ups or missteps, God views sin as a godless attitude that leads to godless action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/where-we-might-think-of-sin-as-slip-ups-or-missteps-god-views-sin-as/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“I must never think a sin too small to need immediate application to the blood of Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonar-andrew-a/i-must-never-think-a-sin-too-small-to-need-immediate-application-to/) [Bonar, Andrew A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonar-andrew-a/) > [Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/never-think-there-is-anything-impossible-for-the-soul-it-is-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I don't think it's a sin to be friends with your ex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-don-t-think-it-s-a-sin-to-be-friends-with-your-ex/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [Men tell us in these days that sin is what you think it is. Well, it is not. Sin is what God thinks it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/men-tell-us-in-these-days-that-sin-is-what-you-think-it-is-well-it-is/) [John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/) > [“Rob went on to say, "I don't think sin is as black and white as people want it to be. I think sin comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-kelly/rob-went-on-to-say-i-don-t-think-sin-is-as-black-and-white-as-people/) [Wade Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-kelly/) > [I think we all sin by needlessly disobeying the apostolic injunction to "rejoice" as much as by anything else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-think-we-all-sin-by-needlessly-disobeying-the-apostolic-injunction/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“sometimes when you think that sin is dead and that it has gone away, those are the most dangerous times of all, because at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-when-you-think-that-sin-is-dead-and-that-it-has-gone-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it is a sin to look at another person as inferior to yourself because of race or because of ethnic background and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-think-it-is-a-sin-to-look-at-another-person-as-inferior-to-yourself/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I think we have a sin problem in the world. It's so easy to say we have a race problem, but we got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/i-think-we-have-a-sin-problem-in-the-world-it-s-so-easy-to-say-we/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) ## More by Tricia Goyer > [“Thank you for reminding me that the future is in God's hands.'" "'You're welcome. And remember, wherever you go, in body and mind, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/thank-you-for-reminding-me-that-the-future-is-in-god-s-hands-you-re/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“For so long, she'd taken her memories of Patty - the memories they'd created together - and held them outside of herself, protecting herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/for-so-long-she-d-taken-her-memories-of-patty-the-memories-they-d/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“Sunlight and shade,' his oma had commented once. Jathan liked that, mostly because shade meant that even though things were dim for a time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/sunlight-and-shade-his-oma-had-commented-once-jathan-liked-that/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“The place is special, but mostly because how it turns my thoughts." He looked around them. "When I look at mountains like that, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/the-place-is-special-but-mostly-because-how-it-turns-my-thoughts-he/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“Just go to bed and rest your little heart. Pray to God, and remember that He can sweep all your worries away like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/just-go-to-bed-and-rest-your-little-heart-pray-to-god-and-remember/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [She was drowning-in friendliness, in community-and she was starting to think she didn't want to get pulled out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/she-was-drowning-in-friendliness-in-community-and-she-was-starting-to/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [Every time that God gives us a child, it's His way of saying He trusts us-trusts us to offer love and to guide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/every-time-that-god-gives-us-a-child-it-s-his-way-of-saying-he-trusts/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“So many times in life we try to protect what we value, but we are doubly blessed when we give it away. Have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/so-many-times-in-life-we-try-to-protect-what-we-value-but-we-are/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“She glanced again at the number of page views on her blog from last month: 18. Three for every post she'd written. Sean, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/she-glanced-again-at-the-number-of-page-views-on-her-blog-from-last/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“Tramp Soup (Potato Soup) (contributed by Diana Miller) 1 pound sausage 1 onion, finely diced 5 to 6 potatoes, peeled and cubed 2 stalks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/tramp-soup-potato-soup-contributed-by-diana-miller-1-pound-sausage-1/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [No matter where she went, God was her family. He was her hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/no-matter-where-she-went-god-was-her-family-he-was-her-hope/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“There are people from your community who love Him in a quiet, reverent way. There are others who are more bold and vocal about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/there-are-people-from-your-community-who-love-him-in-a-quiet-reverent/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“That's why God gave us families - an community. No one is meant to live life alone, to carry their grief alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/that-s-why-god-gave-us-families-an-community-no-one-is-meant-to-live/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“As she walked, the horror stories she'd heard from Felix and the others became real. This is what their underground efforts were fighting against.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/as-she-walked-the-horror-stories-she-d-heard-from-felix-and-the/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“Her whole life she always pictured falling in love being full of nervous emotion, peaks of romance, and the excitement of wondering if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/her-whole-life-she-always-pictured-falling-in-love-being-full-of/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) [Explore all 29 Tricia Goyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. 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