Apparently, it's God's will I'm having a rough time

[prolesunited]

I don't want to get into the details, but I've had a couple setbacks in recent months. For now, I have to just sit back and wait for certain things to fall in and out of place until I'm back on solid ground in my life.

Anyway, I was sharing some of this with a co-worker I am friendly with. She's very understanding and empathetic. I told her the thing I was having the most trouble was not being in control of the many factors in what's going on. I'm very Type A, so it's challenging to say the least.

She ended with, "Maybe it's God's will for you. He wants to teach you something, that you're not always in control."

On a philosophical level, I can see truth in that statement for my personal growth, but do I believe God is up there pulling the strings to mess up my life to teach me a lesson. Noooo!

I just wanted to scream or say something really nasty and cynical, but bit my tongue because she really just wanted to be nice.

What do you say to people when people try to blame God for the bad things in your life? Or, the ridiculous things people say at funerals, like God needed another angel.

Or conversely, when good things happen, they attribute it to God, as if your hard work or preserverance had nothing to do with it.

Why do they act as if being a play toy for such a whimsical God is a good thing?

[flamingyouth]

1. Would it be God's will if you punched her in the face?

I. Hate. It. When. People. Say. Stupid. Shit. Like. That. :grr:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

26. No. That would be FREE will.

and I hate that stupid ass statement too.

[progressoid]

28. Well, you gave me my first laugh of the day. Thanks.

[Spinzonner]

2. I say say nothing

You wont change them and starting an argument or at least a disagreement serves no useful purpose.

I just look at people like they must have lost their minds and walk away.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Just grin and bear it and chalk it up to them being insensitive idiots

Though I would be tempted to say "I don't think God is so malicious".

It's an awful thing to say to someone who's in the shitter that "it must be God's will". I figure, if someone is telling me their life is in the shitter, it's because they want some empathy, not because they want me to find the root cause of it.

Some are just assholes, most, I think, are people who simply don't know what to say and don't know that it's okay not to say something, so they instead say something, and it's usually not very helpful.

Most of the time, I don't think it's malicious at all. Her response, I think, was well meant, trying to give you some comfort (albeit she didn't manage that desired outcome at all). At least she said, "Maybe it's so you learn that you aren't in control".

Truly hateful Christians would say shit like "You must fiund out why God is punishing you" or "Yeah, lots of us in America are being punished for voting for Clinton" or some other such bullshit.

[prolesunited]

18. She's not hateful

and I have never seen any evidence of her being particularly religious. It was a well-meaning statement on her part, but I just wanted to vent about it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

25. And well you should vent!

I've had times that I've been angry about soething that someone said, but I knew that the anger I was feeling was far and above any anger that was deserved at the time, so instead of yelling unjustly at the person who made me angry, I vented to someone else.

Then I felt better.

:-)

[prolesunited]

27. DU is certainly

cheaper than therapy.

And, I do feel better. :-)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

4. I'm going to call bullshit on that...

Life produces shit, and most of us get shit on. God has nothing to with it. Free will on the other hand does.
Duckie

[Karenina]

8. Those are the WEIRDEST

Boots and blades...

[YellowRubberDuckie]

11. Apparently there's this new trend of people streaking...

but selling their bodies as billboards. I thought the pic was hilarious.
Duckie

[Karenina]

19. Looks like Dance blades

on hockey boots! OH, the humanity!!!

[miss_kitty]

5. maybe it God's will you reflect on shit your sincere well-meaning

co-worker throws down. Gack :puke: It is annoying when people say that. I almost had to slam my fingers in a door while I was typing the subject line!

[Misunderestimator]

6. I heard that so many times growing up from "well-meaning"

people from church about my mother who was invalid. Really... it gets old. If anything, that constant hollow assurance probably laid the groundwork to convince me that there was no god.

[Bouncy Ball]

7. I *really* wish people would stop saying that.

I understand what they are TRYING to get across, but it never fails to come across incorrectly.

Besides, it's kinda insensitive. Yeah, your dog just got run over by a car, I guess God just wanted your dog to suffer and wanted to break your heart, right? I mean that's essentially what they are saying.

If you are interested, process theology has an interesting take on God's will and stuff related.

[zanne]

9. Sometimes, people don't know what to say...

So they say something stupid. But they're really just trying to make you feel better.

[prolesunited]

20. I know

Given the person it's coming from, I took it in the spirit it was intended. The whole God's will stuff just bugs me in general.

[Fenris]

10. That's sort of admitting God's kind of a douchebag, isn't it?

[LiberalEsto]

12. Some might call it karma, not God

but that can be equally annoying to hear.

Here's to better days ahead for you!



:hug:

[MissB]

13. Hope things turn around for you.

Your co-worker is a fucknut.

[KG]

14. hard to keep from smacking people who say stuff like that in the teeth

ain't it?

:eyes:

[coloradodem2005]

15. If I had a nickle for every time I have ever heard that...

...I'd be a rich man. God, I can't stand that. People wonder why I have problems with organized religion.

[Blue-Jay]

16. Screw "god's will"

You've been through worse situations in the past, and still managed to be better for it. The difference now is that you have an ally, a friend, a mate, and a partner who will never let you fall. (That's me, by the way)

No matter what happens, know this: I will be by your side no matter what the situation is. Always.

-J-

PS - Get back to work, you slacker!

[prolesunited]

21. OK, once I wipe away the tears

<insert lots of mooshy stuff here>

Love you! :loveya:

[Blue-Jay]

22. *muah*

Love you, too.

Hurry home, kiddo.

[youthere]

17. Dang. Her God is a real asshat.

[Bonhomme Richard]

23. I can't believe that God would take time out.................

of his busy day just to screw with you.

[prolesunited]

24. I guess I must be pretty special

:P