Growing up in the buckle of the bible belt has infused many a southern baptist with everyday idioms like "bless your heart" and the like. How many times have you gone to someone with a heavy heart in hopes of receiving some much needed advice and, instead, gotten a horrible cliché (that probably rhymes)? While these knee-jerk responses are certainly well intentioned, they often give the impression of insincerity and thoughtlessness. Many of these go-to phrases do have some small inkling of truth behind them, but too often that truth is overshadowed by the sheer over usage and often, cheesiness of the cliché.
10. “What Would Jesus Do?”
WWJD. Plastered all over t-shirts, bracelets, and various church signs, those four letters were the answer to every possible problem you could have.
Example:
Me: “Mom, what should I wear to school tomorrow?”
Mom: “What would Jesus do?”
Me: “…”
But seriously, don’t ask yourself what Jesus would do, ask Jesus what you should do.
9. “Let Go and Let God”
Obviously, there is some potential here, but we really need to stop over-simplifying people’s situations into a five-word catch phrase that fits on a church sign.
8. “God helps those who help themselves.”
Not only is this not biblical at all, it is very nearly the polar opposite of what the Bible tells us (think 2 Corinthians 12:9). Rather, God reminds us time and time again to rely on and trust Him. That being said, this phrase reminds us that we cannot simply sit back and ask God to do all the work. You cannot say, “ God, give me good grades,” when you haven’t been to class in two weeks and expect an A on your exam. That’s just not how Jesus works.
7. “'Do not be afraid’ is written in the Bible 365 times”
It’s not.
6. “God needed another angel.”
The worst clichés seem to surface during times of grief. Let's face it, we don’t know what death looks like from God’s perspective, so instead of coming up with a cute little way to explain away the pain following the death of a loved one, just give them a hug instead.
5. “When God closes a door, he opens a window.”
I don’t really understand this cliché. Sometimes God closes the doors AND the windows, turns the lock, and draws the curtains. In my experience, when God says no, he usually doesn’t mean try it anyway.
4. “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”
I just have a big problem with everyone assuming that all hardships and struggles originate from Him. How do you know He brought me to it? Are you Jesus? Didn’t think so.
3. “Everything happens for a reason”
My problem with this phrase is not the words themselves, but what they imply: Again, that our God is making us suffer for sport, just to toughen us up, just to see what we’re made of. I’m fairly certain that this isn’t what He meant by Romans 8:28. There isn’t always a silver lining knitted into every bad situation. Sometimes, things are just bad and all we can do is run to Him for comfort, and that is enough.
2. “God will never give you more than you can handle.”
Not only has God never (ever) said that He won’t give you more than you can handle, but He often references our complete and utter weakness and need for Him throughout His Word. And quite frankly, the entire point is for us to not be able to handle something, so we instead run to Him.
1. “Be Strong”
I cannot stress this enough: God does not tell us to “be strong” in the wake of turmoil. God did not tell Job to suck it up and “be strong”. He literally tells us the opposite, that His strength is made perfect in weakness. His strength, not ours.
You mean well, you really do, but its likely advisable that when you're at a loss for words and "Everything happens for a reason" is right on the tip of your tongue, keep in mind that actions speak louder than words and say a little prayer for them instead.
