By Erin Elizabeth Austin
I have a confession to make. There is a statement that almost all Christians make which I absolutely cannot stand! It drives me bonkers, and I have to bite my tongue every time I hear someone say it. The statement? “God will never give you more than you can handle.”
Have you ever heard anyone say that? I would love to know who came up with this saying because it isn’t true. I know what you’re thinking.“It’s a Bible verse. Of course it’s true!” While I do agree that everything in the Bible is true, I don’t agree that this statement is in the Bible. I’ve actually searched Scripture for years to find this so-called verse, but it doesn’t exist. It stems from a verse found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
I have a confession to make. There is a statement that almost all Christians make which I absolutely cannot stand! It drives me bonkers, and I have to bite my tongue every time I hear someone say it. The statement? “God will never give you more than you can handle.”
Have you ever heard anyone say that? I would love to know who came up with this saying because it isn’t true. I know what you’re thinking.“It’s a Bible verse. Of course it’s true!” While I do agree that everything in the Bible is true, I don’t agree that this statement is in the Bible. I’ve actually searched Scripture for years to find this so-called verse, but it doesn’t exist. It stems from a verse found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
For years I heard people constantly tell me God wouldn’t give me more than I can handle, and that statement haunted me. I was going through so many difficult things, and it was all too much for me to handle. One of the main reasons why I thought God was a liar stemmed from this saying. Having three illnesses was too much to handle. Having ever increasing medical debt was too much to handle. Having to quit my job, move in with my parents, and apply for disability was too much to handle. Having friends who couldn’t cope with my sickness was too much to handle. Dealing with constant agonizing pain was too much to handle. Thinking I would die before I turned twenty-five was too much to handle. So many bad things happened all at once, and I was left wondering, questioning, doubting in a benevolent God. Either He lied about not giving us more than we can handle or He was choosing to not intervene in my situation, which made Him a cruel, lying dictator. Either way, my problems showed God didn’t care about me, or so I thought. Thankfully, I realized the truth about God before I completely turned my back on Him and walked away. As I studied the Bible, I began to see an important truth.
People often blame God for the bad things that happen in their lives. We say He let us down, but truthfully, God is the only One who will never let us down. Our bodies may fail, people may walk away from their relationship with us, the stock market may plummet, and our boss may decide he no longer wants us to work for his company, but God will never let us down. He is a perfect God who loves each of us more than we can ever comprehend. Instead of blaming God for the difficult things in our lives, we need to turn to Him. He’s the only guarantee we’ll ever have in this life.
We’re going to experience things in our lives that are too much to handle. It’s a fact of life. We live in a fallen world, which means people sin, bodies get sick, and loved ones die. BUT we are not alone! God is always with us. My favorite passage in Scripture is Isaiah 43:1-4. It says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God…You are precious in my sight. You are honored and I love you….”
The secret to “handling” problems comes from turning to God and relying on His strength. He is walking with us through every trial and heartache, but we have to accept the grace and strength He offers us. It is only when we lean on God and gain strength and power through our relationship with Him that we’ll be able to handle the storms of this life.
The secret to “handling” problems comes from turning to God and relying on His strength. He is walking with us through every trial and heartache, but we have to accept the grace and strength He offers us. It is only when we lean on God and gain strength and power through our relationship with Him that we’ll be able to handle the storms of this life.
Whatever you’re going through today, I urge you to lean on God. If you’re dealing with more than you can handle, cry out to God and cling to Him. Let Him be your strength and comfort. I can’t promise that your situation will immediately improve, but I can promise that when you grab hold of God when your life is shattered, He will carry you through this time of pain and hardship. He will fill your mind with peace and your heart with comfort. You may be dealing with more than you can handle, but it’s never too much for God to handle. Let Him handle your situation for you.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:6
© June 5, 2013
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:6
© June 5, 2013
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