I totally agree with you, Brody.
This is why a lot of the time, if I’m sad or whatever about something, I’d rather deal with it by myself and praying, of course, than run the risk of opening up to someone and them simply saying “everything will be okay” and making it seem like they don’t really care.

honestly, thats why sometimes i hate talking to christians about my “problems.” the cliche answers of “pray” and “everything will be ok” sometimes just aren’t that helpful.

*** Yes, I know this is long, but I needed to comment, sorry in advance***

“The problem is I’m starting to not believe it…” I know exactly what you mean Brody!

Yes, I also know the “when we die (as Christians) everything will be okay),” and I am tremendously grateful to the Lord for that. Christ gave His life for me and He certainly owes me nothing. I get that, I do.

But, sometimes (not always, but sometimes) - in the meantime (since I’m not in heaven yet)I feel such a heaviness it’s hard to breathe. Grief or pain or hopes lost clutch at my throat, trying to choke the life (at least the Spirit) out of me.

Jesus has the final say so and I realize as a Christian, my ultimate victory in Him is secure. But, you know what? I have to admit sometimes I don’t want to hear, “everything will be okay.” I know that, I’m not denying it, but everything is NOT okay right now! God knows that and He wants me to be share my junk and my joys with Him.

Even so, it does help at times to know that I’m not the only one. To have someone that will take a break from telling me it’ll all be okay and instead really listen and hear me and toil with me in prayer and keep reaching out like I have for them at other times (even when I stink at reaching back) and battle through the dark places
with me - Jesus with skin on, ya know?

Melody

P.S.

I know some may comment about this being “a downer” as you said, but I just want to say thanks. Seriously, thanks for posting it anyway because it’s actually helped me in a small, simple way today. It was exactly what I’ve been struggling with and God used it to remind me, “See my Melody…you’re not the only one, remember?!”

P.P.S.

I’m praying for you and Kristin. I know it’s not much, but I wanted you to know I really am faithfully praying for you and your family. No everything is NOT okay, but I am very grateful for the Harpers either way.

I have no idea what it means. I think it’s a way of filling space. I guess when coming from Christians it must mean heaven.

but another way of looking at ok, I guess, is that you will eventually come to peace with whatever is causing you to struggle. I’m not sure about that, either.

I hear you, son. I have been there. But wait, aren’t we as brothers and sisters in the Lord supposed to “lift one another up?” I feel we need to help each other “believe” and hope. It’s as elementary as that. Believe. Is.43 talks to us about that. Please read it. You may say, that seems trite, but we must come as children and believe. James says, the “one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind, let not that man expect to receive anything from the Lord.” We love the Lord for “who” He is not “what” He does. He knows already where you are and your feelings…” He knows you by name and you belong to Him. He is with you when you pass through those waters and Loves you all still. And so do I.
Keep looking up, my son. I love you….Mom

–
God said in His word that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

the truth is, things aren’t always going to be ok from our earthly perspective. sometimes the cancer isn’t healed, sometimes the money doesn’t appear. sometimes the prophet loses his life.

we think we know what ‘good’ or ‘ok’ means. but, it is incorrect to think that things will always end up “ok” in the human, physical sense.

what you can know is that Jesus Christ loves you. He knows you. He lives to make intercession for you. He is with you. He is the God who saves, who speaks, who moves.

i may not know the struggle you’re having, and i certainly don’t know the ‘answer’, but i know that the Lord is with you and has orchestrated all of time and space so that He can have a relationship with you.

you are precious to Him.

Ironic post given my day yesterday. My wife went into labor last night (two months early) while we were vacationing in Hilton Head, SC…many miles away from our home in Fort Wayne, IN! Baby is now two hours away in Charleston where they are working on his undeveloped lungs. I’ve got my two year old little girl back at our condo so my wife can get some much needed rest as I try to “unwind” while catching up on blog reading…

Will everything be ok?

CJ Mills // http://www.visualtrademark.com

I agree that it is annoying to hear people say that to you when you are down and things are bad. My mom said that to me around the time of GMA week on a day when things were really bad. I nicely as I could told her I really didn’t need to hear that. Things weren’t ok.

I don’t at all believe in the whole prosperity gospel deal which is where I think that saying is popular with right now in Christian circles.

But at the same time. God does care for us and provide for us. Even if it is hard and painful and not what we think it should look like. (my lastest blog post gives you how my situation finally worked out). it wasn’t easy. i have wanted to give up more than ever before in the past two months but i’m glad i didn’t. quitting for me would have been a lame way out.

i don’t know the details of your situation brody but i think i can identify a little since i do work in the same industry and i will pray for you since God knows the details.

Its what people say when they need to fill the space, when they don’t know what else to say but still want to help. (even though it really is pretty weak)

I think everyone’s always so scared of the “not ok” parts of their own life that they’re constantly trying to tell themselves that it is ok.

Not everything in anyones life will always be ok. Thats a fact of life. Accept it, live it, and deal with it. As you do that, the people who are just telling you it will be ok need to be (as good friends should) embracing you and experiencing it with you. Taking on your burdons and living life together. Thats community. And thats what makes things “ok”, not just saying that they will be.

Life, even for a Christian, is a series of ups and downs. I think sometimes it’s just a reminder from someone who’s currently up to the one who’s, conversely, down that there is hope. Other times it’s just a worthless cliche by someone who doesn’t have anything better to say.

I wrote a song about it. Check it out at http://www.theartofwhimsy.com/music/call%20it%20blue.mp3
If that link doesn’t work just go to http://www.theartofwhimsy.com and check out the music link. The song’s called “Call it Blue.”

I suppose it depends on who is telling me. Sometimes pain is too deep for that to do any good. Sometimes you don’t need instruction, you just need presence. But then again, sometimes you don’t even need that. But sometimes, from the right person, “everything is going to be okay,” works just fine.

i’m just going to say it: everything is NOT okay!

who says as christians we’re supposed to be just buzzing w/ confidence and positive vibes?

oh yes, yes, the lines of “we all struggle w/ ups and downs, BUT…” or well “it’ll work out if God’s in control.”

i think He’s in control even when it’s not alright and what IS okay is to feel that it’s NOT okay. we’re human- and frustration, hurt, anger, sadness are all God created emotions.

i don’t know you or your situation, but know that what you’re feeling is exactly what you should be feeling…and just don’t be afraid to tell God just that. i think he’d like it…

I’m with Gene on this. I’m out of a job right now, and my family keeps saying ‘God will provide a job. It will come. You won’t go without; it’s gonna be okay.”

I want to scream when I hear this. I know SOMETHING will come at some point. But I may have to choose to settle for something part-time or something way below my skill set. In the mean time even with scrimping and not driving all over to preserve gas/money, I still may end up broke.

The truth is, though, I have gone through this before…and I survived it. I shed a lot of tears and prayed a million prayers and heard a thousand “it’ll be okays”. And even though it didn’t seem “okay” in my eyes, time proved God did provide. I learned to accept help from family, which I was not ever willing to accept before.

Perspective is key. As much as I yell inside at times when I hear that “okay” phrase, the people telling me love me and will do whatever they can within their means to assist.

Probably depends on the situation…

Words get over-used and generalized and then lose meaning. CS Lewis wrote about that in Mere Christianity(atleast I’m pretty sure it was that one…)…So I think that is said to cover too many situations and without more communication it comes off as lame.

It will be okay. It may be better tomorrow, it may take 20 years to feel settled, you may never feel settled…but it will be what it will be, and you will pull through, because the only alternative is to leave, and that’s not up to us anyways.

God doesn’t work like us, so it’s super hard to see through the fog sometimes, but I think the only time things will ever be consistent will be in Heaven. Until then, we’re battling it all out here on earth together.

I think it should also be okay to respond to a seemingly insincere “it’ll all be okay” with your doubts at the moment about that or how much it kind of sucks to hear that when you feel how you do. But real friends are there through all of it. And God’s plan is seriously stronger than we know! Strong doesn’t always mean pleasant, but in the end, He only does what is BEST for us.

dang. I just can’t condense very well. Hopefuly it makes sense!