“I gave in, and admitted that God was God.”
Image credits:Aronsyne,”Lewis, age 48″,CC BY-SA 4.0,C.S.-Lewis – C. S. Lewis – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963
- Born in Ireland
- Writer, scholar
- Had a major influence on fantasy literature and religious thought through his many works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and The Poetics of Christianity
Quote
“I gave in, and admitted that God was God.”
Explanation
In this brief but powerful quote, C. S. Lewis reflects on the pivotal moment of his spiritual conversion—when he stopped resisting and finally acknowledged the sovereignty of God. Lewis, who spent much of his early life as an atheist, describes the moment of his acceptance of God’s existence as one of surrender. He didn’t come to this conclusion through mere intellectual assent but through a personal reckoning, a humbling recognition that God is God—above all other forces or ideologies. This moment of surrender was not just an intellectual decision but a profound shift in his entire worldview and spiritual orientation.
Historically, Lewis’s conversion from atheism to Christianity is one of the most significant aspects of his life and writing. As a young man, he was skeptical of religious belief, seeing it as incompatible with reason and science. However, through his interactions with other Christians and his growing philosophical reflections, Lewis eventually gave in to the idea of God’s authority—not as a concession to tradition, but as a realization of divine truth. His journey from intellectual resistance to faith is central to his most famous works, including Mere Christianity, where he explores the rational foundations of belief in God.
In the modern context, this quote can speak to anyone grappling with the idea of faith—especially those who may resist or doubt the existence of a higher power. Lewis’s experience shows that admitting the truth of God’s sovereignty often requires a personal surrender and a willingness to acknowledge that, in the end, we are not the ultimate authority in our lives. In a culture where individualism and self-determination are highly valued, this quote challenges us to consider the possibility that true peace and meaning come not from asserting our own control, but from submitting to a higher purpose and recognizing God’s role in our lives.