Please Don't Give Me a Christian Answer


There's a place for a solid Christian answer. But there's also a place just to weep, with no answers at all.

"The right word at the right time is like golden apples in silver jewelry." Proverbs 25:11 (NIRV)


But I don't love packaged Christian answers. Those that tie everything up in a nice neat bow. And make life a little too tidy.

Because there just isn't anything tidy about some things that happen in our broken world. Like the shooting that happened in Aurora, Colorado; it's awful and sad and so incredibly evil.

And God help me if I think I'm going to make things better by thinking up a clever Christian saying to add to all the dialogue. God certainly doesn't need people like me — with limited perspectives, limited understanding, and limited depth — trying to make sense of things that don't make sense.

Is there a place for God's truth in all this? Absolutely. But we must, must, must let God direct us. In His time. In His way. In His love.

And when things are awful we should just say, "This is awful." When things don't make sense, we can't shy away from just saying, "This doesn't make sense." Because there is a difference between a wrong word at the wrong time, and a right word at the right time.

When my sister died a horribly tragic death, it was because a doctor prescribed some medication that no child should ever be given. And it set off a chain of events that eventually found my family standing over a pink rose draped casket.



Needing time to wrestle with grief and anger and loss.

And it infuriated my raw soul when people tried to sweep up the shattered pieces of our life by saying things like, "Well, God just needed another angel in heaven." It took the shards of my grief and twisted them even more deeply into my already broken heart.

I understand why they said things like this. Because they wanted to say something. To make it better. Their compassion compelled them to come close.

And I wanted them there. And then I didn't.

Everything was a contradiction. I could be crying hysterically one minute and laughing the next. And then feel so awful for daring to laugh that I wanted to cuss. And then sing a praise song. I wanted to shake my fist at God and then read His Scriptures for hours.

There's just nothing tidy about all that.




Suddenly, this little pigtailed girl skipped by me and exclaimed, "I hate ants."



Yes, there is a place for a solid Christian answer. Absolutely.

But there's also a place to just weep with no answers at all.

God help us to know the difference.


Reflect and Respond:

Instead of words of encouragement, it may involve serving them and making sure their physical needs are met during this difficult time. Allow God to lead you as you try to serve your friend best.

Power Verses:
Romans 12:15-16a, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another." (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 10:12, "The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs." (MSG)

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