Faith therefore is not an aesthetic emotion but something far higher, precisely because it has resignation as its presupposition; it is not an immediate instinct of the heart, but is the paradox of life and existence. So when in spite of all difficulties a young girl still remains convinced that her wish will surely be fulfilled, this conviction is not the assurance of faith... Her conviction is very lovable, and one can learn much from her, but one thing is not to be learned from her, one does not learn the movements, for her conviction does not dare in the pain of resignation to face the impossibility.
-Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling
I've read this quote about five times and believe at this point that he's making a distinction between faith and wishing. Wishing is an immediate instinct of the heart and faith is not. A young girl following her heart is lovable, but not faithful. What could one learn from her then? To not be a nihilistic materialist or a pessimistic intellectual. But one cannot learn from her how to achieve union with God. Her wishes can't come true and she must face this. This resignation is death to her, and she cannot fathom committing suicide. Of letting her heart stop. But without doing so, she will not reach her end. She will remain a fat caterpillar instead of becoming the beautiful, soaring butterfly she was meant to be. 'Be still and know that I am God.'
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