We often quote sayings that sound wise but aren’t necessarily rooted in Scripture. They’re the ones we often hear in church, during Bible studies, or even in regular conversations, those catchy sayings that seem to offer comfort and insight.
Many of us use them without a second thought, convinced they reflect biblical wisdom. But as we dig deeper into Scripture, we begin to see that some of these expressions are not just oversimplified – they can unintentionally twist the true meaning of the Gospel.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 12 commonly used sayings that may need further thought, exploring why they might not reflect God’s word as accurately as we hope.
God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle
This often misquoted version of 1 Corinthians 10:13 has led many Christians to feel guilty when they find themselves overwhelmed by life’s struggles. The actual verse says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” This specifically refers to temptation, not to all of life’s challenges, and assures us that God will provide a way to overcome temptation.
The truth is, God allows challenges that feel beyond our strength – and that’s exactly the point. These difficult experiences remind us to rely on His power. It’s not that tough times won’t come, but rather that God remains with us through each one, and His strength shines brightest when we’re at our weakest.
If It’s Meant to Be, It Will Be
This common saying implies that our decisions and behaviors don’t matter in the grand scheme of things, and that everything is already predestined based on God’s plan. This idea takes away human responsibility and free will from the bigger picture.
The Bible offers a more complex understanding of God’s control and human choice. While God holds ultimate authority, He also gives us the ability and duty to make our own decisions, urging us to make thoughtful choices that align with His will instead of just sitting back and watching things happen.
When God Closes a Door, He Opens a Window
This saying is often meant as encouragement during disappointing times. However, it creates unrealistic expectations about how God works in our lives. It suggests that God always provides an immediate alternative when one opportunity falls through, which isn’t always the case in real life.
In the Bible, we see many examples of individuals who faced closed doors and had to endure waiting periods—sometimes for years—before new paths appeared. Sometimes, when a door closes, God instead invites us to wait, mature, or deepen our faith amid the disappointment.
Heaven Gained Another Angel
Often shared to comfort those in grief, this phrase reflects a misunderstanding about both human and angelic nature. When humans die, they do not become angels; angels are distinct beings created by God for unique purposes.
The biblical vision of the afterlife is even more extraordinary: believers become perfected versions of themselves, receiving glorified bodies and entering into God’s presence. We keep our human identity and personality, transformed yet not changed into entirely different beings.
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Though widely quoted, this saying isn’t found anywhere in Scripture. In fact, it contradicts the core message of grace woven throughout the Bible. It implies that God’s grace depends on our own actions, inadvertently encouraging a works-based approach to faith, rather than acknowledging our need for God’s grace and assistance.
The comforting reality is that God reaches out to those who can’t help themselves. He extended His love “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). This doesn’t imply we should neglect responsibility, but rather emphasizes that His love and support aren’t something we earn. God alone initiates our salvation and is the foundation of our faith.
If It’s God’s Will
This phrase is often used as a spiritual-sounding way to avoid responsibility or defer decision-making. It can become a passive approach to life that neglects the role of wisdom, counsel, and active decision-making in the Christian life.
The biblical model shows us that discerning God’s will involves actively seeking wisdom through reading the Bible, prayer, godly counsel, and the use of our God-given reasoning abilities. James 4:15 suggests saying “if the Lord wills” with humility, not as a way to avoid making decisions or taking action.
Let Go and Let God
At first glance, this phrase might seem like a call to trust God completely. However, it can promote a dangerously passive approach to faith. Some may interpret it as a call to step back and let God do everything simply. This contradicts the biblical model of active partnership with God in our spiritual journey.
Rather than abandoning all responsibility, true surrender involves listening to God’s guidance while also making diligent efforts to move forward in faith. Faith often requires us to take steps toward healing or growth while trusting God to guide us along the way.
Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin
Though this phrase attempts to balance truth and grace, it often comes across as condescending and creates a false divide between individuals and their actions. It can subtly foster a sense of judgment rather than encouraging humility about our shared need for grace.
Instead of this catchphrase, we should focus on Jesus’s approach to people – meeting them where they were, showing genuine love and concern, while speaking truth with grace and compassion. Jesus demonstrated that true love isn’t about maintaining a careful distance between sinner and sin, but about building relationships that have the power to bring true transformation.
Everything Happens for a Reason
While God can bring good out of any situation, this oversimplified statement can trivialize suffering and suggest that every tragic event is directly orchestrated by God. It can make those experiencing grief or trauma feel that they should find some divine purpose in their pain immediately.
The biblical view of suffering is much more complex. While God can redeem any situation, the Bible acknowledges that we live in a fallen world where bad things happen that are not part of God’s design. Jesus himself wept at Lazarus’s tomb, showing that it’s appropriate to grieve and lament without immediately trying to find a reason for everything.
God is My Co-Pilot
This phrase implies that we share equal control with God, which contradicts the call to fully surrender our lives to Him. Treating God as a “co-pilot” suggests He’s only involved in certain aspects of our life or only when we invite Him in, rather than Him being Lord of all.
Instead, God calls us to give Him full authority, allowing Him to lead and guide us completely. Life isn’t meant to be navigated by our own wisdom, with God in the passenger seat. Rather, we are to trust Him as the sole pilot, surrendering our path and direction to His guidance.
Forgive and Forget
This oversimplification of forgiveness sets up unrealistic expectations and adds guilt for those going through healing. While Scripture commands us to forgive, it never suggests that forgiveness requires forgetting the offense.
True forgiveness is about letting go of the desire for revenge and showing grace to the one who caused harm, while still keeping wise boundaries. It’s entirely possible to extend full forgiveness, remembering what happened and taking steps to protect ourselves moving forward.
Money Is the Root Of All Evil
This common misquote of 1 Timothy 6:10 leaves out crucial context and changes the meaning entirely. The actual verse states that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” which significantly differs from suggesting that money itself is evil. The Bible teaches that money is morally neutral – it’s our attitude toward it that matters.
The Power of Biblical Truth
Popular sayings may make spiritual ideas sound simple, but they often miss the depth of biblical truth. It can sometimes cause unintended harm for those facing real struggles. Instead of relying on these cultural clichés, let’s ground our words of encouragement in the wisdom of the Bible.
The Christian faith offers far deeper wisdom and more nuanced truth than any bumper sticker slogan can capture. Going beyond these simplified sayings allows us to engage with God’s Word in a richer, more thoughtful way, expressing our faith with greater sincerity. Let’s commit to speaking the truth in love, even when that truth is complex and challenging.
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Vidivir is a dedicated high school teacher and a loving mother of three. With over a decade of experience as a blogger and article writer, she has honed her craft in storytelling. As a devoted church lector and servant of God, she combines her passion for writing with her faith, aiming to inspire others through her words.