David Brainerd (1718 – 1747) lived for only 29 years but his passion for sharing Jesus as a missionary to the American Indians, along with his personal diaries, that were filled with his dedication to Christian service and his spiritual highs and lows, have been the source of great inspiration to countless Christians down through the years. According to Dustin Benge: “Missionaries Henry Martyn, William Carey, and countless others have devoured Brainerd’s diaries as encouragement of what God can accomplish through frail but willing vessels of mercy. Though a short life, David Brainerd stands in the pantheon of believers mightily used by God.”1
His conversion to Christ at the age of 21 marked the beginning of a short but powerful ministry of sharing Christ, despite having to endure bouts of great sickness and depression. His zeal for souls to find Christ, perhaps more than any other aspect of his life, can be summarized by the following quote that I shared in yesterday’s devotion: “I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep, I dream of them; when I awake, they are first in my thoughts.”2
David Brainerd died of tuberculosis on October 9, 1747, at 29 years old. But few saints of God have left a more profound legacy of dedication to sharing the gospel despite his few years on earth and his constant battles with sickness. Below are a few of his quotes that I pray may stir your hearts to share Jesus with a lost and dying world.3
“Lord, let me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.”
“Let me forget the world and be swallowed up in the desire to glorify God.”
“Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage lost of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in your service, and to promote your kingdom.”
“Oh! one hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and delights of this lower world.”
“Oh, that I may never loiter on my heavenly journey.”
“Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge.”
“I longed to be a flame of fire continually glowing in the divine service and building up of Christ’s kingdom to my last and dying breath.”
“If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.”
“I love to live on the brink of eternity.”
“I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so I could but gain souls to Christ.”
“I have received my all from God. Oh, that I could return my all to God.”
“My soul often mourned of more time and opportunity to be alone with God.”
2 Top 50 David Brainerd Quotes (2026 Update) – QuoteFancy
3 All of these quotes are from the following website: