--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we depend on anything smaller than…" description: "\"When we depend on anything smaller than God to provide us with the security, significance, meaning, and value that we long for, God will love us enough..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_anger_when-we-depend-on-anything-smaller-than_2829629.png" --- # When we depend on anything smaller than God to provide us… ![“When we depend on anything smaller than God to provide us with the security, significance, meaning, and value that we long for, God will love us enough to take it away. Much of our anger and bitterness, therefore, is God prying open our hands and taking away something we've held onto more tightly…” quote by Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_anger_when-we-depend-on-anything-smaller-than_2829629.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_anger_when-we-depend-on-anything-smaller-than_2829629.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_anger_when-we-depend-on-anything-smaller-than_2829629.png) > “When we depend on anything smaller than God to provide us with the security, significance, meaning, and value that we long for, God will love us enough to take it away. Much of our anger and bitterness, therefore, is God prying open our hands and taking away something we've held onto more tightly than him.” [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on anything less than God for meaning leads to loss when God removes it, revealing deeper dependence. **In simple terms:** God removes false securities to deepen trust. Key Takeaway Trust God, let go of false securities. Themes faith trust spiritual growth Mood reflective somber Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual awakening - loss of material security Key Concepts dependence surrender divine testing Questions to Reflect On - What are you clinging to that limits your faith? - How can loss become a pathway to deeper trust? A Different Perspective Human tendency to cling to tangible comforts can hinder spiritual growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger and bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-and-bitterness/) [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Gods will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-will/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“Your pain could be God prying open your life and heart to remove a gift of His that you've been holding on to more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/your-pain-could-be-god-prying-open-your-life-and-heart-to-remove-a/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Your pain could be God prying open your life and heart to remove a gift of His that you've been on to more dearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/your-pain-could-be-god-prying-open-your-life-and-heart-to-remove-a-2/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [As we pour out our bitterness, God pours in his peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/as-we-pour-out-our-bitterness-god-pours-in-his-peace/) [F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [FORGIVENESS IS MEDICINE. It is Gods way of healing your wounded soul. He wants you to RELEASE YOUR SADNESS in order to RECEIVE HIS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mikando/forgiveness-is-medicine-it-is-gods-way-of-healing-your-wounded-soul/) Patricia Mikando > [“Imprecatory psalms. Imprecatory psalms (Ps 12; 35; 52; 57—59; 69; 70; 83; 109; 137; 140) are usually lament psalms where the writer’s bitterness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-r-osborne/imprecatory-psalms-imprecatory-psalms-ps-12-35-52-57-59-69-70-83-109/) [Grant R. Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-r-osborne/) > [“My fear, at root, was a spiritual problem that was all tied up with selfishness and a growing bitterness toward God for my lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-k-grieser/my-fear-at-root-was-a-spiritual-problem-that-was-all-tied-up-with/) [Hannah K. Grieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-k-grieser/) > [Legalism says God will love us if we change. The gospel says God will change us because He loves us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/legalism-says-god-will-love-us-if-we-change-the-gospel-says-god-will/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [They promised me that this would be my home. That girls like you would always be my sisters. But they weren't my sisters, were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/they-promised-me-that-this-would-be-my-home-that-girls-like-you-would/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Anger and bitterness are two noticeable signs of being focused on self and not trusting God's sovereignty in your life. When you believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-broger/anger-and-bitterness-are-two-noticeable-signs-of-being-focused-on/) [John C. Broger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-broger/) > [I wished I died in that attack with my cousin, with my south Vietnamese soldiers. I wish I died at that time so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-wished-i-died-in-that-attack-with-my-cousin-with-my-south/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/a-gentle-answer-turns-away-wrath-but-a-harsh-word-stirs-up-anger/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [When I first got into the studio once again, and I started hearing the beats, the anger and bitterness was coming out of me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-sunshine/when-i-first-got-into-the-studio-once-again-and-i-started-hearing-the/) [Tony Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-sunshine/) > [The more we hold on to our hurts, anger and bitterness, the more we become slaves to unforgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/the-more-we-hold-on-to-our-hurts-anger-and-bitterness-the-more-we/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [“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/) > [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) ## More by Tullian Tchividjian > [Grace is upside-down, to-do-list wrecking, scandalous and way-too free. It's one-way love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/grace-is-upside-down-to-do-list-wrecking-scandalous-and-way-too-free/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“There is but one good,” C. S. Lewis writes in The Great Divorce; “that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/there-is-but-one-good-c-s-lewis-writes-in-the-great-divorce-that-is/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Once God saves us He doesn't move us beyond the gospel, but He moves us more deeply into the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/once-god-saves-us-he-doesn-t-move-us-beyond-the-gospel-but-he-moves/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“An institution theoretically devoted to providing comfort to those in need (the church) is in trouble because it has embraced the same pressure cooker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/an-institution-theoretically-devoted-to-providing-comfort-to-those-in/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [A preacher who doesn't believe he's that bad will attract people who don't think they're that bad. And that's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/a-preacher-who-doesn-t-believe-he-s-that-bad-will-attract-people-who/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Our assurance is anchored in the love and grace of God expressed in the glorious exchange: our sin for His righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/our-assurance-is-anchored-in-the-love-and-grace-of-god-expressed-in/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [I think for far too long the Church has concluded that Christians don't need the gospel, it's simple what non-Christian people need in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/i-think-for-far-too-long-the-church-has-concluded-that-christians-don/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [While our sin reaches far, God's grace reaches farther. God came after us not to strip away our freedom but to strip away our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/while-our-sin-reaches-far-god-s-grace-reaches-farther-god-came-after/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Jesus has done everything for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/jesus-has-done-everything-for-you/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [If you have suffered the loss of a family member to chronic disease, if you suffer debilitating seasons of depression, if you have lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/if-you-have-suffered-the-loss-of-a-family-member-to-chronic-disease/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Sanctification consists of the daily realization that in Christ we have died, and in Christ we have been raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/sanctification-consists-of-the-daily-realization-that-in-christ-we/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The ironic thing about legalism is that it not only doesn't make people work harder, it makes them give up. Moralism doesn't produce morality;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-ironic-thing-about-legalism-is-that-it-not-only-doesn-t-make/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The good news of suffering is that it brings us to the end of ourselves - a purpose it has certainly served in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-good-news-of-suffering-is-that-it-brings-us-to-the-end-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The Gospel is not ultimately a defense from pain, it is the message of God's rescue through pain. In fact, it allows us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-gospel-is-not-ultimately-a-defense-from-pain-it-is-the-message-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [God is inviting you today to appropriately grieve your pains and losses and to acknowledge the world is seriously broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/god-is-inviting-you-today-to-appropriately-grieve-your-pains-and/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) [Explore all 292 Tullian Tchividjian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we depend on anything smaller than God to provide us with the security, significance, meaning, and value that we long for, God will love us enough to take it away. 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