History Main / GodForADay

[[folder:Comicbooks]]
* When ComicBook/GreenLantern Kyle Rayner became Ion, a being with all the power of the entire ComicBook/GreenLanternCorps, he tried to use his new might to feed starving children in Africa, heal his friend's back-injury, restore his girlfriend Jade's powers, etc, until Superman advises him to back down because people around the world have started to worship him as a god. Soon after he sacrifices the power so that the Guardians of the Universe and the Corps can live again.

The character may love it at first, indulge in several whims, fulfill some wishes but then they may find themselves getting DrunkWithPower or finding that BeingGodIsHard they can't handle [[ComesGreatResponsibility all the responsibilities associated with the power]] so well, each well meaning move being a blunder that leads to more to fix. These difficulties may cause a SuddenHumility. If things turn disastrous, expect an Aesop about how RealityWarpingIsNotAToy.

The character may love it at first, indulge in several whims, fulfill some wishes but then they may find themselves getting DrunkWithPower or finding that they can't handle [[ComesGreatResponsibility all the responsibilities associated with the power]] so well, each well meaning move being a blunder that leads to more to fix. These difficulties may cause a SuddenHumility. If things turn disastrous, expect an Aesop about how RealityWarpingIsNotAToy.

-->-- UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln

* When ComicBook/GreenLantern Kyle Rayner became Ion, a being with all the power of the entire GreenLanternCorps, he tried to use his new might to feed starving children in Africa, heal his friend's back-injury, restore his girlfriend Jade's powers, etc, until Superman advises him to back down because people around the world have started to worship him as a god. Soon after he sacrifices the power so that the Guardians of the Universe and the Corps can live again.

[[folder:Videogames]]

A character can be tested and taught to learn their weaknesses and strengths not just by making them suffer burden and limitation but by giving them all the power and ease in the world. A trope for teaching characters a lesson can be making them GodForADay.

The character may love it at first, indulge in several whims, fulfill some wishes but then they may find themselves getting DrunkWithPower or finding that they can't handle all the responsibilities associated with the power so well, each well meaning move being a blunder that leads to more to fix. These difficulties may cause a SuddenHumility. If things turn disastrous, expect an Aesop about how RealityWarpingIsNotAToy

If the character can handle the responsibility but becomes bored with having everything at his beck and call, GodForADay can become similar to VictoryIsBoring in that things are now easy for the character and he wonders how best to use his powers when everything comes so easily to him with his omnipotence. The character's newfound power might also lead to isolation and unfulfilment resulting in a case of being LonelyAtTheTop, in such a situation, the character may end up giving his/her half powers to someone else so that he could have an equal.

* When GreenLantern Kyle Rayner became Ion, a being with all the power of the entire GreenLanternCorps, he tried to use his new might to feed starving children in Africa, heal his friend's back-injury, restore his girlfriend Jade's powers, etc, until Superman advises him to back down because people around the world have started to worship him as a god. Soon after he sacrifices the power so that the Guardians of the Universe and the Corps can live again.
* Subverted with {{Thanos}} of Titan. Whenever Thanos becomes omnipotent (whether by the Infinity Gauntlet, Cosmic Cube or the Heart of the Universe), he is typically able to handle the responsibility, at least initially. However, this is nearly always bad for everyone else as Thanos as a tendency to try conquering or destroying the universe whenever he can. When he loses the power, Thanos often wonders if he was worthy of it in the first place before going off to find something even stronger.

* The Creator/short story "A Darkness in My Soul" ended with the main character gaining God's powers and changing the world, exploring the universe, and granting half his powers to his girlfriend so they might both be gods. The story ends with them returning to Earth and playing war-games against each other with the population out of boredom.

* The DeanKoontz short story "A Darkness in My Soul" ended with the main character gaining God's powers and changing the world, exploring the universe, and granting half his powers to his girlfriend so they might both be gods. The story ends with them returning to Earth and playing war-games against each other with the population out of boredom.

* Noire considers offering this opportunity in one of her blog entries in VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptunia. Keeping with her being the PS3 rep, she says you'd "only have to do everything".

If the character can handle the responsibility but becomes bored with having everything at his back and call, GodForADay can become similar to VictoryIsBoring in that things are now easy for the character and he wonders how best to use his powers when everything comes so easily to him with his omnipotence. The character's newfound power might also lead to isolation and unfulfilment resulting in a case of being LonelyAtTheTop, in such a situation, the character may end up giving his/her half powers to someone else so that he could have an equal.

Compare: SubbingForSanta. Also see GodGuise and AGodIAm.

-->-- AbrahamLincoln

If the character can handle the responsibility but becomes bored with having everything at his back and call, GodForADay can become similar to VictoryIsBoring in that things are now easy for the character and he wonders how best to use his powers when everything comes so easily to him with his omnipotence. The character's newfound power might also lead to isolation and unfulfilment resulting in a case of being LonelyAtTheTop, in such a situation, the character end up giving his half powers to someone else so that he could have an equal.

* Joshua Culvert is given this in the ''Literature/TheNightsDawnTrilogy''.

If the character can handle the responsibility but becomes bored with having everything at his back and call, GodForADay can become similar to VictoryIsBoring or LonelyAtTheTop, in that things are now easy for the character and he wonders how best to use his powers when everything comes so easily to him with his omnipotence.

The character may love it at first, indulge in several whims, fulfill some wishes but then they may find themselves getting DrunkWithPower or finding that they can't handle all the responsibilities associated with the power so well, each well meaning move being a blunder that leads to more to fix. These difficulties may cause a SuddenHumility. If things turn disasterous, expect an Aesop about how RealityWarpingIsNotAToy

* ''Possibly'' the TropeMaker is [[HGWells H.G. Wells']] "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" (1898), adapted into a film of the same name in 1936.

* There was a ''WesternAnimation/{{Flintstones}}'' episode, ''Boss For A Day'' where Fred is envious of his boss and the Great Gazoo turns him into a boss. He finds that it's actually a burden, since he has to deal with higher-ups, stay late in meetings, etc.

->''"Most men can survive adversity. If you want to test a man, give him power."''

* Subverted with {{Thanos}} of Titan. Whenever Thanos becomes omnipotent (whether by the Infinity Gauntlet, Cosmic Cube or the Heart of the Universe), he is typically able to handle the responsibility, at least initially. However, this is nearly always bad for everyone else as Thanos as a tendency to try conquering or destroying the universe whenever he can. When he loses the power, Thanos often wonders if he was worthy of it in the first place.

!! Examples:

* Noire considers offering this opportunity in one of her blog entries in VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptunia. Keeping with her being the PS3 rep, she says you'd "only have to do everything".
* The plot of ''BruceAlmighty'': Bruce thinks that God does a rubbish job because...he was passed up for promotion in favour of his {{jerkass}} rival, he got fired after a breakdown, a gang of thugs beat him up and vandalised his car and [[RantInducingSlight his dog wasn't toilet trained]]. [[SmiteMeOhMightySmiter Rather than smiting him like a mighty smiter]], God gives Bruce the job. Bruce gives himself some frivolities, screws over a few people who annoy him, gets laid and has some really good coffee but alas God-like powers don't get you love and answering yes to every prayer just makes things worse.
* When GreenLantern Kyle Rayner became Ion, a being with all the power of the entire GreenLanternCorps, he tried to use his new might to feed starving children in Africa, heal his friend's back-injury, restore his girlfriend Jade's powers, etc, until Superman advises him to back down because people around the world have started to worship him as a god. Soon after he sacrifices the power so that the Guardians of the Universe and the Corps can live again.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' - in the episode "Hide and Q" Q gives such powers to Riker and makes, unknown to Riker, a bet with Picard: Picard thinks that Riker will reject Q's offer and bets the Enterprise herself on him against Q offering to never bother them again. Picard wins after Riker finds every gift he tries to give to his friends rings hollow.
-->"But it's what you've always wanted Data, to become human."
-->"Yes, sir. That is true. But I never wanted to compound one... illusion with another. It might be real to Q,... perhaps even you, sir. But it would never be so to me. Was it not one of the Captain's favourite authors who wrote, "This above all: to thine own self be true?" Sorry, Commander, I must decline."
* Another wager with godlike entities: Rachel of the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' was given the chance to become the ultimate fighting machine by Crayak. However such things are not much fun for a BloodKnight and it leaves only the satisfaction of sadistically snuffing out your enemies which is a road she doesn't feel comfortably going down when Crayak starting saying she is NotSoDifferent.
** It doesn't help that she would have to kill her cousin in exchange for getting the powers.
* ''Possibly'' the TropeMaker is [[HGWells H.G. Wells']] "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" (1898), adapted into a film of the same name in 1936.
* In the cartoon ''[[WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons]]'' episode "Day of the Dungeon Master," Eric the Cavalier is given the practically limitless power of the Dungeon Master. He screws up a lot by being rather pompous but he actually ends up becoming very sagelike himself and even gets the capability to send everyone back to the real world but they stay because it would require him being left behind on his own.
* There was a ''WesternAnimation/{{Flintstones}}'' episode, ''Boss For A Day'' where Fred is envious of his boss and the Great Gazoo turns him into a boss. He finds that it's actually a burden, since he has to deal with higher-ups, stay late in meetings, etc.
* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "Appointment in Samarra", Dean is given the job of being {{Death}} for one day. He tries to let a little girl with a heart condition live, only to discover that letting someone live "against the natural order" sets off a cascade of other deaths, and he has to give up before the day is over, admitting that it's harder than it looks.
* Creator/ShelSilverstein toys with this in a poem called "God's Wheel" where God gives someone a chance "to be God awhile and steer the world." After a barrage of questions about the working hours, pay, etc., the offer is withdrawn.
--> "Gimme back that wheel," says GOD.
--> "I don't think you're quite ready yet."

* Joshua Culvert is given this in the ''{{Night's Dawn Trilogy.}}''

* There was a ''{{Flintstones}}'' episode, ''Boss For A Day'' where Fred is envious of his boss and the Great Gazoo turns him into a boss. He finds that it's actually a burden, since he has to deal with higher-ups, stay late in meetings, etc.

* {{Shel Silverstein}} toys with this in a poem called "God's Wheel" where God gives someone a chance "to be God awhile and steer the world." After a barrage of questions about the working hours, pay, etc., the offer is withdrawn.

* Joshua Culvert is given this in the ''{{Night's Dawn Trilogy.}} [Spoiler: Specifically, it's the End Game. A singularity gives him the ability to return the dead to the Beyond by reorganzing human space.]

* Joshua Culvert is given this in the ''{{Night's Dawn Trilogy.}} [[Spoiler: Specifically, it's the End Game. A singularity gives him the ability to return the dead to the Beyond by reorganzing human space.]]

* When GreenLantern Kyle Rayner became Ion, a being with all the power of the entire GreenLanternCorps, he tried to use his new might to feed starving children in Africa, heal his friend's back-injury, restore his girlfriend Jade's powers, etc, until Superman advices him to back down because people around the world have started to worship him as a god. Soon after he sacrifices the power so that the Guardians of the Universe and the Corps can live again.