--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing that we need to say is…" description: "\"The first thing that we need to say is that God is grieving, too. Uh, a lot of people try to make it sound like 'well everything that happens is God's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/rick-warren-230_choose_the-first-thing-that-we-need-to-say-is-t_297616.jpg" --- # The first thing that we need to say is that God is… ![“The first thing that we need to say is that God is grieving, too. Uh, a lot of people try to make it sound like 'well everything that happens is God's will.' That's nonsense. God allows everything, but God does not choose everything.” quote by Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/rick-warren-230_choose_the-first-thing-that-we-need-to-say-is-t_297616.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/rick-warren-230_choose_the-first-thing-that-we-need-to-say-is-t_297616.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/rick-warren-230_choose_the-first-thing-that-we-need-to-say-is-t_297616.jpg) > “The first thing that we need to say is that God is grieving, too. Uh, a lot of people try to make it sound like 'well everything that happens is God's will.' That's nonsense. God allows everything, but God does not choose everything.” [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God experiences sorrow like humans and permits events without endorsing them, separating divine allowance from divine will. **In simple terms:** God can grieve and allow things without choosing them. Key Takeaway Recognize that not all events reflect God's desire. Themes theology free will suffering Mood reflective somber Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal loss - global crises - ethical decisions - spiritual counseling Key Concepts Divine providence human agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between God's allowance and God's choice? - What does this mean for personal responsibility? A Different Perspective It may be hard to reconcile divine love with observed suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allows God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allows-god-568090/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [First thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-thing/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Grieving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-grieving-2849307/) [Grieving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grieving/) [Grieving Uh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grieving-uh-2849308/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Happens God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-god-316430/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [The first thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-first-thing/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. 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