Believers: if someone you know has a sick child and they are angry at God?

Question

how can you comfort them when they cannot understand what you are saying? Or can you?

Answer 1

Witness to the good news. If you must use words -- you already failed.

In short -- start with behavior and silence. Be there. Hold their hand. Squeeze their shoulder. Let them know they simply aren't alone.

Answer 2

Amazing how Christians are such hypocrites when it comes to everything. You heard from Christians that something is "all part of God's plan" or that it is "all because of God's will" or that "we cannot understand God's plan, or we should not question God's plan or will". Then you come up with some statement such as this. Obviously everything is a part of your God's plan, so therefore someone suffering, some child being sick, etc are part of your God's plan. Quit being a hypocrite and pick a side. You can not say in this instance that it is not God's fault, because the jerk caused it - it was part of his plan. Of course that person should be mad, mad as hell at that jerk for doing this to them. And no they should not understand what you are saying because you contradict yourself at any chance you get. That is one the things that drives me crazy about Christians, is that you can not help but contradict yourselves in the same sentence and you somehow lack the ability to identify that. It either is part of God's plan or not, and who are you measly human to determine what you think it is. You lack the mental capacity of your God to judge what you think your God is doing, that is an insult to him (if he were anything but a fantasy). Can you pull that wool that is over your eyes away for a second and see how you are? Does anything that I am saying make sense to you? You can not have one moment where something bad happens and say it is not God's fault, then the next moment state that something else is all part of God's plan.
Tell your friend that they are allowed to be angry at God, at whomever they feel they need to be angry at. To hold that up inside is wrong and causes more problems. They need to yell at your God, give him/her/it the finger. Spit on churches in the holy water, etc. Your God is a jerk.

Answer 3

Many people blame God for what is happening to their child because of the lies and false teachings of most of the religions of the world. Many so called christian religions are very guilty in this respect. But, if you show someone why suffering exists today and that it is only a temporary thing they can gain a measure of true comfort.

Answer 4

People tend to get mad at God when they do not understand what is going on. With a child, when they are terminally sick and you pray and you pray, and the child does not heal and dies, then the parent blames God(not all but some do)because they feel like God has forsaken them.
Not true, God has not caused sickness on earth, sin has, but most feel that since God is all powerful, then why does He not step up to the plate and heal all who are sick?(who knows what plans God has for us that He seen fit to cut the life off at a young age)
Innocent children and adults die everyday(at young ages) and we will never understand why? All we can do is allow time to try to heal us and be the best shoulder and ear to that person who has suffered this great lose.

Answer 5

Babysit the kid for an hour or two while they take a much-needed break, listen to them rant and rave and cry without giving any helpful advice, hug them, bring them extra vegetables from your garden, play video games with the kid! There are so many ways to comfort that have nothing to do with God or religion.

Answer 6

Do you mean that they speak a different language? Just be there and slow your love with your eyes and a gentle touch (only if it is part of their culture to touch). Maybe bring them a drink.. like tea or whatever they can drink in their religion. Some nonverbal communication is universal. Some is not and means different things in different places.

As to the anger. That is normal. It is OK to be angry with God. We all do from time to time. You can only be angry with someone that you have a relationship with, so I would not worry about that part of it. Don't feel that you have to defend God. He doesn't need it, and this is not the time. Show only love. Do it with your eyes.

Answer 7

Don't comfort them with words. DO things for them. Sit with the child, make them a meal, clean their house. That's a great way of showing love when someone is upset.

Answer 8

Well I am an atheist as you know. I don't think that "It is part of God's plan" or "God was just calling them home" can cut it.

I never found comfort in either of those things.

To me a good ole "stuff happens" does it.

Answer 9

What does a sick child and anger towards God have to do with each other?

Answer 10

At a time like that, they just need someone to blame. Anger is easier than sadness. Eventually it will fade. Just being supportive and giving them a sounding board with positive reinforcement will help the most.