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Christianity Quote by William Gurnall

“Sometimes the soul is questioning whether it [has] any patience, any faith, till God comes and puts him into an afflicted estate, where he must exercise this faith or perish. Then it [the soul] appears like one that thinks he cannot swim, yet being thrown into the river, then uniting all his…” quote by William Gurnall
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““Sometimes the soul is questioning whether it [has] any patience, any faith, till God comes and puts him into an afflicted estate, where he must exercise this faith or perish. Then it [the soul] appears like one that thinks he cannot swim, yet being thrown into the river, then uniting all his strength, he makes a shift to swim to land, and sees what he can do. How [often] have we heard Christians say, 'I thought I could never have endured such a pain, trusted God in such a straight! But now God [has] taught me what he can do for me, what he wrought in me.””

William Gurnall

About This Quote

Source Book: “The Christian in Complete Armour” by William Gurnall, 1655

Faith is tested through suffering; hardship forces reliance on God and reveals inner strength.

In simple terms: Suffering tests and strengthens faith.

Key Takeaway

Trust God during trials to grow spiritually.

Themes

faith suffering trust spiritual growth

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

spiritual philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal crises
  • spiritual retreats
  • mental health challenges

Key Concepts

theology psychology resilience

Questions to Reflect On

  • What trials have deepened your faith?
  • How do you respond when faith feels weak?
A Different Perspective

Suffering may not always lead to growth; some may break.

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