7 Quotes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer to Inspire Your Faith

Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas, takes the reader on a journey of both history and heart. As Tim Keller writes, “The English-speaking public needs to know far more about his thought as well as his life.”

It is my hope, that in pondering these quotes, you, too, will want to know more about the German Christ follower who, because of his faith, gave his life for that faith.

“In the whole of world history, there is always only one really significant hour, the present.”

“Pain is a holy angel who shows treasures to men which otherwise remain forever hidden.”

"When you read the Bible, you must think that, here and now, God is speaking with me.”

“Every word of Holy Scripture is quite personally a message of God’s love for us.”

“Quite personally, since I have learned to read the Bible in this way, and this has not been for so very long, it becomes every day more wonderful to me.”

“It is not your love that sustains the marriage but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love.”

"Anyway, what do happiness and unhappiness mean? They depend so little on circumstances and so much more on what goes on inside us."

In the final pages of this book, the author quotes from Bonhoeffer’s memorial service, which, due to the upheaval in Nazi Germany, took place in London:

"Millions have seen Bonhoeffer's death as tragic, and as a prematurely ended life. We can be certain that he did not see it that way at all. In a sermon he preached while a pastor in London, he said "No one has yet believed in God and the kingdom of God, no one has yet heard about the realm of the resurrected, and not been homesick from that hour, waiting and looking forward joyfully to being released from bodily existence … that life only really begins when it ends here on earth.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

February 4, 1906 - April 9, 1945

Place of death: Flossenbürg Concentration Camp

Living with Eternal Intentionality®

In considering these quotes, which one in particular inspires you?

Why?

Anxiety Pandemic

“I went to the doctor, and he told me I am suffering from anxiety.” These words from my friend reverberated on the other end of the phone, and this individual is not alone. Anxiety now climbs to its own pandemic proportion. And, the outbreak does not limit itself to one age group or gender.

Moms struggle to coordinate bizarre school schedules; families attempt to manage internet access; the news warns of impending doom; and the elderly—failing to thrive—suffer in isolated silence. 

Yet, we hear whispers of hope from The Ancient Wisdom.

 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be make known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Are there any among us who do not long for such respite?

In reading the prayerful words written by Scotty Smith*, I sensed a place for them in our considerations today. May this rich resource minister to you right where you are.

A Prayer of Desperation for Peace

Dear Jesus,

I’ve memorized this Scripture, taught it, preached it, and prayed it for many struggling friends. Today, however, I’m desperate to lay hold of it for myself. I am anxious, so I need grace to obey this command. I know you’re not asking me to pretend and pose, for knowing you is the end to that way of life. And I know you’re no asking me to be a stoic, for you are gentle and humble of heart.

 Jesus, it was you who turned the chaos of an unformed world into the beauty of creation. Please do the same with all the chaos swirling around me and in me. Replace my angst and confusion with order and beauty. 

For the things that grieve me, bring your tear-wiping hand. For the things that offend me, keep me from a critical and selfish spirit. For the things that alarm me, grant me the perspective of heaven and gospel sanity. Please don let me get bitter.

For the things over which I have no control, give me a fresh vision of the occupied throne of heaven. For the things I do have control over, grant me wisdom and strength to act accordingly. Please help me steward my anger, my sadness, and my weariness to your glory. I don’t want to waste this moment or these feelings.

Jesus, I have no reason to doubt either your mercy or your might. You gave your life for us upon the cross. You have risen to make all things new. You are unremittingly advocating and praying for us. No one loves us more that you do. I have seen you do astonishing things before. Do astonishing things again. I am weary and worn down.

 Set the peace of God as a sentinel in my heart and mind. Great King of glory and grace, guard and protect my heart from the lies of Satan, the whisperings of gossip, amid the cynicism of naysayers. I pray with hunger and hope, in your most trustworthy name. Amen.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

 What is your greatest source of anxiety?

 How can you gain traction, one day at a time, to be set free from this menacing Anxiety Pandemic?

*Everyday Prayers, 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith Written by Scotty Smith Published by Baker Books

God in the Storm

Guest Post by Rudina Bakalli in Albania

We tend to think of rest as the absence of problems or an improvement in our circumstances. And yet we live in a broken world, which together with our flesh and Satan are at war with us. How then do we rest? Is the expectation of rest realistic?

Psalm 46 is a Scripture passage that God has often brought to my mind. The psalmist speaks about the terror of war, the roaring of oceans, and the very earth-shaking.

Recently, my home city in Albania was shaken by the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced in 20 years, damaging 569 houses and injuring around 160 people. There was panic in the city as people were running to save their lives. Today a heavy thunderstorm follows the damage from the earthquake, flooding our home and the neighboring buildings. And yet, verse 10 says, “Be Still and know that I am God.”

You Only Need to Be Still

These words “Be Still” are also found in the story of the Exodus. When pursued by the pharaoh, Moses told the people: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you only need to Be Still.” (Exodus 14:14) When we read this, we don’t feel much tension because we know the rest of the story. The Israelites, on the other hand, had no idea of what would happen next!

Jacob’s descendants had been in Egypt for 400 years. Their lives changed as the political powers changed. Previously rescued from famine as honored relatives of Joseph, they were now suffering as despised slaves. God had foretold this to Abraham ( Genesis 15:13-16); thus from His perspective, nothing is missing or out of order. But the Israelites didn’t experience it that way.

At first, God’s message of freedom through Moses brings joy and worship (Exodus 4: 31). But as the plan fails to meet their expectations, we see them accusing and blaming Moses for the worsened conditions arising from Pharaoh’s hard heart (Exodus 5:20-21). Even Moses cries out to God with the complaint that He is not keeping His word.

What happens next is the unfolding of dramatic and unbelievable events as we see God fighting for His people and demonstrating His authority over all of heaven and earth. At the Red Sea Moses asks them to Be Still as God will fight for them.

Honest Conversations with God

Can you relate to the Israelites in this story? Have you found yourself facing increasing trouble and challenges even though you have been faithful to God? Have you ever felt so disappointed that you start to question if you heard God right or if He even cares about you anymore? I have.

The past few years have been very difficult for me. I faced health challenges, difficult situations, and three major transitions. What was once familiar seemed to vanish. I encountered one battle after another, some deeply heartbreaking. At times, I felt hopeless, confused, angry, and unprotected; at other times the amount of grief and loss seemed unbearable.

As I look at Moses’ life, I see that God’s words spoken in God’s presence are what mattered when the challenges came. They became his source of strength, providing confidence, motivation, and faithful perseverance. In his honest conversations with God, Moses did not bury his doubts or try to sort them out by himself. Instead, he took them to the Lord: When feeling inadequate and unsure of his identity: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” When feeling insecure and lacking in knowledge: “Now they may say to me “What is His name?” What shall I say to them?” When feeling fear of failure: “What if they will not believe me, or listen to what I say? For they may say ‘The Lord has not appeared to you’.” And so on.

I love Moses’ encounters with God. It is marvelous to watch his relationship with God move toward intimacy as he journeys from Egypt to the border of the Promised Land. Moses wrestled with God in each fear, question, and request. His rest did not come through personal affirmation or a sense of success. His rest came from God revealing Himself through words and deeds as the God of the Covenant, the Faithful One!

How Well Do You Know Him?

Rest is not so much about the absence of trouble or adversaries, but about who God is to us. Our trust in God is dependent on how well we know our God. If we do not know Him intimately and deeply, we cannot trust Him, and thus we cannot rest.

What keeps you awake and doesn’t let you rest? What do you do with it? Is that thing your dwelling place or the threshold to intimacy with God? The first option keeps us restless, but the latter brings peace beyond understanding and leads us to victory.

I have been on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ since 1996. Currently, my family and I live in Tirana, capital of Albania, where my husband and I serve to lead the Global Church Movement area team for Eastern Europe and Russia.

We have 3 beautiful children, and a playful English Setter dog, who keep me active and growing! I run a blog in Albanian http://shigjete.com/nobodys-child/ with the hope of reaching non believers by inviting them to taste how good God is, and exhorting believers to live in a deep, sincere commitment to Jesus.