Stuff I Wish You’d Quit Saying: Sending Good Thoughts
Stuff I Wish You’d Quit Saying: Sending Good Thoughts
I have a dear friend who is on her 2nd round of chemotherapy.
She is brave.
And she is wise.
Oh my, she is strong.
She loves Jesus and a good portion of her support group is believers in Jesus. On chemo days she lets us know, via Facebook that she’s headed in for a treatment and asks us to lift her up in prayer.
However, in the comment section, I am noticing more and more of the “network” saying: “Sending good thoughts your way.”
And I am fully aware this might ruffle some feathers but… WHAT!?!?!?!
I found myself pretty worked up over this… and then, I said it.
An acquaintance announced he and his wife were divorcing. I don’t know anything about his belief system. I don’t know the circumstances surrounding his situation. So I offered, warm thoughts.
Is that like manifesting mental hot cocoa?
Where did this come from?
I know my brain. It has no special powers, but I chickened-out under the pressure to be politically or religiously correct. Truly, if I was able to manifest warm thoughts or cancer healing arbitrations I would best serve the land at John-Hopkins or St. Jude’s. And really I don’t have to give a lecture about the healing power of Jesus, but why am I afraid to voice my belief in prayer?
And I have entirely pondered this.
Am I so foolish I believe that if the prayers aren’t answered I will have to speak for my “useless petitions?”
Because honestly, wouldn’t it make more sense to say “Praying for you!”? Rather than, “manifesting brain power to send you good thoughts and healing. TBH, I left one of my kids at #Chickfila last week and didn’t notice until bedtime! Oh, I didn’t mail my electric bill and I spoke to a MOPS group with a lollipop stuck to my butt… And, I wore two different shoes to church on Sunday! Hope you don’t die! #blessed”
I am afraid I am a victim of my own Achilles heel. There is so much damage that can be done to Christianity via social media, but what fear is there in boldly stating; “PRAYING! Praying for you, my love! Lifting your name up to my Lord and God of all!!!!”
So I get unfriended.
And, I look foolish, obviously, I am doing that anyway.
So …
May your floors be sticky and your calling ordained! PRAYING FOR YOU! Love, Jami
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
You must read: Three things every Christian must stop saying!
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oh my goodness! Awake here in the early hours unable to sleep so I try reading email to get me back to sleep. Instead I am LAUGHING!!! I think the Chickfila was funny, but the lollipop stuck to the butt has me ROLLING with laughter! A great way to start the day….thanks!
Love you! I just sent you a brain coffee…. ☕️
This is so true though, I was going to make one of my habits “positive affirmations” until I really started thinking about it and realized it was a new age thing, so yeah, again, God has taught me so much through this series! Loved what you shared here and it is so true, sometimes we don’t even realize when we are selling out. I’ve caught myself doing the same things
xoxo
Rebecca
I have often thought the same thing. Your thoughts mean absolutely NOTHING! Who cares what you think! Your prayers mean EVERYTHING…….take that back. The ONE we pray to means everything. (I love your writing, your sass, your style, and your faith!) thanks for sharing
Thanks Rachael!
There’s just too much yes to deal with here. Sending good thoughts=please don’t bother to me. I’ve found that even non-“religious” people seem to receive it when you say you’ll pray. And so I do. Even if I know they aren’t Christians or are Jewish or Muslim or anything else. Because my prayers go right to the source of prayer answers…Jesus!! Keep speaking truth sister!
Love this Jami….and it’s SO true!!
Matthew 10:32-33 – Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.
This drives me crazy too, especially coming from friends that I know who are believers. I mean, honestly, it’s more of an insult. First to God, He’s not important enough to you to stand up and say you’ll pray and seek His face for this person in need, but second an insult to the person because we are basically telling them they aren’t important enough to us to stand up for what we believe on their behalf and speak out to be a witness and also lift them in prayer.
Not to mention that yes our thoughts hold no super powers…. duh…I would super-power-brain-wave my children into obeying everything I said if that were true!
Yes oh my goodness it’s like you read my mind. And I wasn’t even sending you the thoughts!
Bahahaha!
So on target!!
Yes yes yes!!! I see the same even from some of my friends from church. Praying is what we do and I have friends & some family members who do not believe (and a few who have walked away) I respond to difficult situations in their lives with prayer. I have not had anyone respond negatively so far.
All glory to God!
Thank you Jami for speaking truth!!
Blessings Julie!
What powers do my thoughts have? Only power over the way I behave. I once said, “My thoughts are with you” to a friend, who replied (without snarkiness), “We really appreciate the prayers.” It was a smack in my face reminding me of what I need to be saying and doing.
Honestly here, I get irritated when I see :Sending good Vibes….or…Sending Warm Thoughts….
oh my…its so silly, you can THINK yourself all you want, and thinking is good, do not get me wrong….but PRAYER Is an ACTION WORD….Thinking is important, but its more like building a Plan up in your head. The plan is good to think about, and that project never happens until you USE Those things that you were thinking about and then put it all into action….however, when you PRAY…Because it is an ACTION …..Something happens RIGHT AWAY!!! RIGHT NOW!!!! Thats right, Prayer makes mountains move in your life and the lives of others. While, I can THINK About HOW to get around the mountain, with PRAYER, God will PROVIDE A way to that other side right now…..He heres us instantly and he takes action on the prayers from his children. God loves us all very much!! I spend tons of time thinking, yeppers, I do…but after I think about things I bring those things to God in Prayer to put thought into ACTION With my Prayer.
wow, this is an incredible blog my friend.
Laughed so hard. Just the image you have says it all. Thanks for saying this!! One of the many, many reasons I get a little crazy about the idea of “sending good thoughts” is because I take saying “praying for you” seriously. If I say I’m praying for you, I’m doing it right on the spot. Because I want to keep my word, and because God is accessible right then and there. If I say “sending good thoughts,” yeah, I’m not even picturing a cup of hot cocoa. I’m thinking “don’t wanna offend, don’t wanna be weird, uncomfortable with your hardship…” Nah. I’d rather humble myself and pray!!
Thanks for the wisdom and your typical humorous-truthful tact!
…add to that, “Let me know if I can do anything.”
This has always bugged me too! I’m glad you spoke up about it!
I have felt this way for a long time. I love how you explained it. Thanks!
I have thought about this so many times when I hear people say “sending you good thoughts”
I know they mean well but honestly , Do they really think they are doing something Of benefit?
Sounds snarky, I know but think about it. Good thoughts? Prayer? He is the source of power and healing. We are not that power.
Gods words are powerful and He means what he says, He created the heavens and the earth with his breath. Created woman from a rib, moved mountains, healed the sick, defeated the devil, and not with good thoughts!
It was just great to hear you address this, Jami. He is the only source of real help and hope.
Jesus is Jesus !