It is NOT ok to tell confused people they are ok. I understand that it feels good to be the person speaking positive affirmations. However, it is much more important to speak truth than to say happy things.

You are encouraging a person who’s thinking about stepping into a minefield. “It’s ok to not know where to step yet,” you say with a smile. “Just start walking! You can figure it out as you go along!”

Instead of offering support, you should shut-up. You aren’t qualified to give advice when it doesn’t occur to you that the wisest thing to do is NOT WALK THROUGH A FIELD FULL OF EXPLOSIVES. The worst possible counsel you can give is to tell someone without a goal, “Full speed ahead!”

A much better use of your time is examining your own heart. Why do you feel compelled to speak? What is motivating you to assure lost souls that it’s okay to be lost? You’re actually causing harm.

You’re the person in the grocery store who tells the crying child, “It’s okay that you can’t find your Mommy right now,” and then walks away congratulating yourself for your compassion. If the child decides to climb into a stranger’s van, would you celebrate her decision? I mean, she has a goal now. You ought to applaud her life choices.

Before you tell someone they’re doing just fine, you should be doing just fine yourself. When you think a path through a minefield is just as good as a path away from the minefield, don’t try to lead other people.

“Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

(Matthew 15:14)