Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sounds like one of those silly things religious people say in situations where they don't know what to say. I wouldn't spend much time trying ro figure it out. They probably didn't think too much about it before they said it.

+1. I'm not Christian but it sounds like a ritual phrase or a phrase that is generally meant to be positive and in any case not literal.

As another PP said, I think you're feeling stressed and down, OP - very understandably - and taking something negatively that was no doubt meant to be positive. I am sure your friend is not praying for things to stay the same. That would be crazy. They are praying for everything to improve and for you to have the strength to keep going. That's how I'd interpret the carrying part.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I can think is that silly trope of the footsteps on the beach.

Right but even that silly trope the idea is that he's picking you up and putting you down. That the bad times come and then they go. Except the bad times don't seem to be going. I feel like they're praying for them to continue, except this is a nice person who I assume meant to provide comfort, and I can't believe they actually meant "Oh, I'm going to pray that things stay this bad!" So, I'm trying to figure out what they did actually mean.

-- OP

If you had real problems and loss, the last thing you’d have time to do is over analyze a friend’s words in this way.

Footsteps is not a silly trope.

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

Op is probably setting up a thread to disparage the Footsteps poem, or something. Op isn’t even giving details anymore; “something is going on today.” A “friend” makes a remark and instead of taking a friend’s words as positive, they take the time in the midst of incredible loss (with children) to micro-examine some words.

Anonymous wrote:I would think they mean that God is carrying you as in giving you strength to persevere through tough times. God doesn’t always clear the way I’m our earthly struggles but He does help us through it.

+1 He is with us every step of the way.

OP, your friend/acquaintance did not pray that things stay the same or get worse for you and your family. I'm not sure why you are interpreting a statement re: God giving your strength/comfort that way.

That you had that reaction and seem to be ruminating on it suggests to me that you need more support. Seek out a therapist or a pastor, if you attend church.

I hope things get easier soon. Best to you.

Honestly, it sounds like one of those silly things religious people say in situations where they don't know what to say. I wouldn't spend much time trying ro figure it out. They probably didn't think too much about it before they said it.