God doesn't give us more than we can handle...
Right?
Okay, I have to write this post. Its been building in me for years. Everytime I hear somebody say "God doesn't give us more than we can handle" I have to bite my lip. I know that it's something people say to comfort others or themselves, however, the verse is taken way out of context. I saw this once again tonight on a message board. The way people use this phrase makes it seem like God is up there saying "hmmm...I got this cancer, who can bear it? No..not him...ah! here's somebody who can bear it, guess I'll give it to her." The confusion stems from this verse:
In actuality, this verse is saying that there is no such thing as a temptation that is impossibe to say no to, that there will always be a way to escape sin.
There are many, many things that we can't bear in our weakness. However, the good news is that 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us that God's grace is sufficient and that in our weakness God's strength is made perfect.
So really its not a question of if we can bear something with our own strength, its a question of will we rely on God's strength and grace to handle it?
Okay, I have to write this post. Its been building in me for years. Everytime I hear somebody say "God doesn't give us more than we can handle" I have to bite my lip. I know that it's something people say to comfort others or themselves, however, the verse is taken way out of context. I saw this once again tonight on a message board. The way people use this phrase makes it seem like God is up there saying "hmmm...I got this cancer, who can bear it? No..not him...ah! here's somebody who can bear it, guess I'll give it to her." The confusion stems from this verse:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
In actuality, this verse is saying that there is no such thing as a temptation that is impossibe to say no to, that there will always be a way to escape sin.
There are many, many things that we can't bear in our weakness. However, the good news is that 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us that God's grace is sufficient and that in our weakness God's strength is made perfect.
So really its not a question of if we can bear something with our own strength, its a question of will we rely on God's strength and grace to handle it?
posted by Amie at 7:24 PM
12 Comments:
Very true. Thanks for addressing that. I get caught in that same mode of thought and often need a reminder that it is not me that is strong but God and His mercy;)
Yup yup yup. God won't give us anything HE can't handle... and that's kinda limitless, eh?
Yeah, that one is up there with the people who say "God helps those who help themselves" and I always say - "You know that was Benjamin Franklin, right?"
Good post. You go girl!
God won't give us anything HE can't handle
Thanks blest, thats exactly what I was trying to say!
So glad you wrote that Amie. So true. That verse is often misunderstood. We can handle anything that comes our way through HIS help and comfort.
Thank you! I needed to read that...
Amen
Amie, I couldn't have said that better myself.
Hi Amie,
I just came to your blog via Eph2810 and I just wanted to say amen!
God's strength and grace was the only thing that gave me strength over the last three years as I went through Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments, two major surgeries and a divorce after 29 years [not by choice]
What could have destroyed me, did not,because of my Fathers strength and grace, I was able to handle it and it drew me closer to Him, Hill Country Thoughts, writing and a column was birthed out of it.
We indeed serve an awesome God who walks with us daily, hand in hand, as we come to Him.
Thank you for an awesome post and for sharing. I come away blessed and encouraged in the Lord.
Blessings from the Hill Country of Georgia.
Paul
Amie,
I used google and typed in "God doesn't give us more than we can handle.." in hopes I could find the exact verse in the Bible on the subject. Not only did your comments give me the correct verse, it also gave me the clarity I so desperately needed. I needed to talk to my daughter about the current rut in her life (results of bad choices) and your thoughts helped me to clarify that God will never allow her to have too much "temptation" than she can bear. This is helpful info to know for anyone who is feeling down on themselves about choices they've made. Often when we make these bad choices over and over, we get so down on ourselves that we start thinking we lack the character and strength to ever make the right choice. That thinking is wrong and its a cop out. According to God, everyone who has an authentic relationship with Him has the character and strenght to make the right choice whenever we're tempted. That's His promise. Your clarity on this was very helpful. Thank you.
-Scott
In a culture filled with moral depravity and sin-inducing pressures, Paul gave strong encouragement to the Corinthians about temptation. He said: (1) wrong desires and temptations happen to everyone, so don't feel you've been singled out; (2) others have resisted temptation, and so can you; (3) any temptation can be resisted because God will help you resist it. God helps you resist temptation by helping you (1) recognise those people and situations that give you trouble, (2) run from anything you know is wrong, (3) choose to do only what is right, (4) pray for God's help, and (5) seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted. Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory (see also 2 Timothy 2:22)
here's a revelation for you...this saying has driven me nuts...we always think about the bad things, but God has shown me that sometimes, the things that he doesn't give us that we can't handle may be good things.... like he might be holding a relationship back from us because we can't handle it. And we are dying inside focusing on the hurt, rather than focusing on Him.We often wonder why God gives some people more than He gives us.But we fail to realize that we haven't been faithful with what He has given us. Read the story of the 3 servants in Matthew 25:14-30. God will give us "more to handle" IF we take what He does give us for His Glory!!! God wont give us 5 bags of gold(talents) if we are just going to bury it !!!! But if He knows we will double it...He WILL bless us!!!!
The saying that God only gives us what we can handle ran through my head for 2 hours constantly while I was in hard labor delivering my 3rd son. This was just a year ago. I believe it truly helped me get through that hard delivery, especialy since I had no time for medications or an epidural!
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