Emotional Mayhem

✋❤👂👄👈👉💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭💭✊❤👂👄👈👉 We have heard them all. Friends, pastors, even writers are notorious for quoting pithy and overused sentiments when we are struggling in our lives. A crisis erupts, we share our pain, and then we endure a barrage of sayings that come across as sanctimonious, judgmental, and can cause additional pain rather than empathy or understanding. Some of my least favorites include being told God allowed something to happen for a reason that I or others will never understand. For me, this reduces God to an out-of-control force who haphazardly orchestrates our lives. I do not believe this. Another common saying is that God is refining me so that I will be stronger, persevere more, and have more faith. That too, is full of error regarding faith. Who when diagnosed with cancer appreciates being told God has "given them" cancer because basically that person lacked strength or faith? Have you shared with a Christian friend that you