I always get a chuckle out of strong, Bible believing, Christians who utter these words; "God never gives you more than you can handle." Fact is, that statement is unbiblical, I'll eat my left shoe if you can find those exact words anywhere in Scripture. Its a misquote of 1 Corinthians 10:13 which reads, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is
faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but
with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may
be able to endure it." That verse makes no promise that we will not be given events, circumstances and trials beyond our ability to bear up under. In fact, we see time and again in the Bible where God is quite happy to give his people more than they are able to handle. Read 2 Cornithians 12:7-8, mind you this is the same Paul that wrote the often misquoted verse I mentioned previously. Paul pleaded with God three times that thorn in his flesh be removed from him. I think its safe to say that he was dealing with something more than his mortal capacities were able to handle.
This should cause us to give thanks though, because if God were to consistently give us difficult things that we could handle then we would have a god who finds us to be without need of his guidance and provision. That is, if we were to receive some circumstance we could totally handle, we would handle it ourselves, and rely upon self to solve all our woes and difficulties. We would therefore have no need for the excellent direction and superior strength of God. Like Paul says in 2 Cor 12:7 we would, in a word, become conceited. That should give you some pause right there, God keeps us dependent to keep us from conceitedness. Even suffering is a blessing from God and a guardrail to keep us from careening off the cliff of sin if understood correctly. If it pleased God to crush his own Son under the undeserved burden of sin, so too can we expect to be crushed under a weight which we are unable to bear. This is where 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 comes in, we are to lay our trials upon Christ, who is ready and able to help us bear our burdens. When we are given those situations which we cannot handle, we must run back to God. We may be prone to buckling under the immense weight of trial, but God is infinitely strong, and infinitely willing and able to help. So next time you catch yourself trying to reassure yourself with the words "God never gives you more than you can handle." remember that you're cultivating the ugly weeds of pride, and removing God from his place of primacy. Now, can you really handle it?
This should cause us to give thanks though, because if God were to consistently give us difficult things that we could handle then we would have a god who finds us to be without need of his guidance and provision. That is, if we were to receive some circumstance we could totally handle, we would handle it ourselves, and rely upon self to solve all our woes and difficulties. We would therefore have no need for the excellent direction and superior strength of God. Like Paul says in 2 Cor 12:7 we would, in a word, become conceited. That should give you some pause right there, God keeps us dependent to keep us from conceitedness. Even suffering is a blessing from God and a guardrail to keep us from careening off the cliff of sin if understood correctly. If it pleased God to crush his own Son under the undeserved burden of sin, so too can we expect to be crushed under a weight which we are unable to bear. This is where 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 comes in, we are to lay our trials upon Christ, who is ready and able to help us bear our burdens. When we are given those situations which we cannot handle, we must run back to God. We may be prone to buckling under the immense weight of trial, but God is infinitely strong, and infinitely willing and able to help. So next time you catch yourself trying to reassure yourself with the words "God never gives you more than you can handle." remember that you're cultivating the ugly weeds of pride, and removing God from his place of primacy. Now, can you really handle it?
