Please, please please please, please PLEASE

Do not say, “everything happens for a reason” to a person experiencing trauma or who is any sort of crisis

PLEASE!!!! Plz. You think you’re helping but you’re not.

And here’s why

When you say, “everything happens for a reason,”

you are telling a person, who may or may not believe in God,

(who will certainly not want to after speaking to you)

that the all-powerful God, who is supposed to be an all-loving God, has personally orchestrated their suffering

And wow!

The last thing I want to hear when suffering is

don’t worry! Remember God? He’s the one that did that terrible thing to you!

Do we see why this would be problematic??

Instead, you MAY say,

“God brings good out of bad situations.”

Which is, in fact, true, and a far better understanding of God

Of course, if someone is telling you about something they are currently experiencing, please don’t say it then either

Just listen to them, and support them, and give them a hug if they want one.

And later, when THEY note that something good has happened, then you may say it.

That is all. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Happy thanksgiving. Today, I’m thankful for my safety, and to the many, many wonderful family and friends who have been loving me and supporting me and praying for me so well in this last week.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart">