My philosophy is: Life is hard, but God is good. Try not to

The words of Anne F. Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne’s pretzels and a woman of enduring faith, speak with the clarity of hard-won wisdom: “My philosophy is: Life is hard, but God is good. Try not to confuse the two.” In this deceptively simple statement lies a profound understanding of the human condition. Beiler acknowledges the inevitability of suffering, struggle, and adversity in life, yet she reminds us that these trials do not diminish the goodness or benevolence of the divine. To conflate hardship with divine malice is to misunderstand the nature of both life and God.

The origin of this quote lies in Beiler’s personal journey, marked by hardship, resilience, and faith. She experienced poverty, the challenges of raising a large family, and the trials of building a business from the ground up. Yet through it all, she maintained a deep sense of trust in God’s goodness, even when life’s difficulties seemed insurmountable. This duality—acknowledging life’s hardness while affirming divine benevolence—is the heart of her philosophy. It is a lesson forged in fire: one learns to persevere without losing sight of hope.

At the heart of Beiler’s insight is the distinction between temporal suffering and eternal goodness. Life, she teaches, is filled with trials that test the spirit: illness, loss, disappointment, and injustice. These experiences are unavoidable, part of the human journey. Yet they are not evidence that God is absent, cruel, or indifferent. By separating life’s hardships from the divine nature, one can maintain faith even in the darkest hours, finding strength and perspective amidst suffering.

History offers vivid examples that echo Beiler’s wisdom. Consider Job from the Hebrew Scriptures, who endured unimaginable loss and suffering. Though he questioned and mourned, he ultimately recognized that the trials he faced did not nullify God’s righteousness. Similarly, the lives of saints, mystics, and pioneers are often marked by struggle, yet each found solace in the goodness of God even when the world seemed to oppose them. Their stories remind us that hardship is not punishment, but a crucible through which character, faith, and resilience are forged.

Beiler’s words also carry practical guidance for the human heart. By discerning the difference between life’s difficulty and divine intent, one cultivates emotional and spiritual resilience. To blame God for every misfortune is to abandon the search for meaning and the exercise of virtue. To recognize that hardship can exist alongside divine goodness is to embrace a life of courage, gratitude, and active hope. One learns to endure without bitterness, to act without despair, and to seek the divine in every circumstance.

The emotional power of her statement lies in its accessibility. Everyone experiences suffering; everyone confronts moments when life seems unjust or cruel. Beiler’s wisdom comforts and challenges: it comforts by affirming that God remains good even when circumstances are harsh, and it challenges by calling the soul to maintain faith, patience, and discernment. To live by this philosophy is to navigate the storms of existence with grace, rather than being swept away by confusion, anger, or despair.

Practically, the lesson is clear: accept the inevitability of life’s hardships, but do not let them obscure the recognition of goodness. Cultivate gratitude, seek purpose amidst trials, and trust in the benevolence that transcends human circumstance. Engage in acts of kindness, nurture relationships, and find meaning in service, knowing that the presence of suffering does not contradict divine goodness. In doing so, one aligns with the wisdom that Beiler embodies.

Thus, the words of Anne F. Beiler endure as both guide and mantra: “Life is hard, but God is good. Try not to confuse the two.” Let them remind us that adversity does not negate grace, and that the human heart can hold both struggle and faith simultaneously. By recognizing the distinction between earthly trials and divine benevolence, we learn resilience, deepen our gratitude, and navigate life with courage, humility, and hope that is unwavering in the face of challenge.