I've caught myself many a time trying to comfort someone else by reminding them that God won't give them any more than we can handle. Recently, I found myself trying to take encouragement from that statement too. It is biblical after all, isn't it?
Wrong! The verse doesn't exist! At least not in God's Word. There is nothing in Scripture that promises what my human nature wants to believe:
- that I can personally handle everything that happens in my life
- that God has equipped me with everything I need to deal with every situation-therefore, I have no real need for anything else
- God is limited to my strength
Do you see where the focus lies? On me. On my strength, on my capabilities. At the center of this theology, I am the core. It's no wonder I have difficulty squeezing a drop of comfort from such a "verse!"
God knows exactly how much I can handle, but oftentimes He chooses to display His glory by placing me in situations far above my ability to handle them so that He can come in and show Himself. Sometimes, He has to bring me to a point where I realize that I just can't do it on my own.
It is when I confess, "I need you, Lord!" that He is glorified, freely pours out His grace, and enables me to get over the hurdle He has divinely placed along my path.
"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Better put, God won't give you anything HE can't handle! That is how God works, because His Glory and our own good is of utmost importance to Him.
Linking to: The Better Mom, These Five of Mine Plus Two
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Love it! Thanks for the encouragement... to look beyond myself and keep looking to Him. Yes, He very well has given me many things that I cannot handle... handle without Him. Handle without getting on my knees in prayer and supplication. Because ultimately, it's all about Him!
ReplyDeleteWow! I never thought of it that way. Very good. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that post. I've had some people say that very thing to me as we've faced a trying period of illnesses and hospitalizations. I have to say, each time, it made me feel hurt and angry not encouraged. I could not handle the stress and strain that I was under, and I didn't feel that God wanted me to just deal with it. God wanted me to cry out to him and He was glorified in my weakness. God is all-sufficient and I am at my best when I live in humble acknowledgement of that. : )
ReplyDeleteThese are some good thoughts on a common misunderstanding. I think we take this adage from the 1 Cor. 10:13 verse you quoted which only says he won't give us more TEMPTATION than we can handle IF we take His way out of it. That way we have no excuse if we give in to temptation.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are so right. We CAN'T handle many things in life and we shouldn't handle anything in life without His strength and power.
Thanks for making me be more careful about what I say! Gail
This is so very true!! I have been saying this for years. Thank you for sharing this. It is such a nice reminder.
ReplyDelete"God won't give you anything HE can't handle!" Absolutely. God isn't about only giving us what we can handle. He longs for those moments when HE is all that I have and all that I desire. HE alone wants to be what carries me through the darkness.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad it doesn't rest on ME to be able to handle everything! What a precious truth that God is ready and willing to show HIS strength through our weakness if we will just let Him!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the reminder!
Amen! Great post.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, on going back to the Word to see if it was a truth or what "we" think was a truth!
thanks for sharing!
love this! so true. it is not about what we can handle... truly, **I** can't handle having 4 children! :) but when I humbly ask God to help me, HE DOES!
ReplyDeleteI guess saying "God won't give us anything we can't handle" Doesn't really make sense, but I guess I always just think in my head the part where you need to rely on God and he will take you through it. Because WE can't handle it, but through God, we will get through it.
ReplyDeleteSo well said, Jacinda. I've often thought this, and you have articulated it so well. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I've heard that too and always questioned that. Because if we could handle it, why would we turn to God. I know I'm weak and I can't handle everything, but I serve a Mighty God Who can!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I've always questioned that statement. If I could handle everything, then what would be the point of going to God? I can't handle it, but I know I serve a Mighty God, who can and will!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully put! I'd never thought about how UNBiblical the statement "God only gives you what you can handle" is until talking to my aunt a couple weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteAs she reminded me, God always gives grace to handle what he gives us, but *often* gives us what we can't handle in our own strength, so that we are forced to rely on His grace.
A big AMEN to that! A song by Fanny Crosby-one of my favorites- just popped into my head: Day by Day. It is all about trusting in God and finding His strength and Grace within the trials.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Jacinda
Fabulous post! With GOD, all things are possible... even dealing with a horrible situation. Thanks for this reminder!
ReplyDeleteSpot on. Well said.
ReplyDeleteOh Jacinda, I so needed this right now. My miscarriage was the icing on the cake of two really hard years, and since then, I can't handle anything. My poor husband. I'm an emotional wreck - yet, I've never felt so closer to God or so reliant upon Him. And knowing He is stronger when I am at my weakest is so encouraging. Thank you, dear sister!
ReplyDeleteSo true. Without HIM we are nothing...
ReplyDeleteThe truer statement would be that God won't give us anything we CAN handle on our own. His desire is for us to realize our need for Him! Excellent post! And I have a sweet friend that I am going to send this link to! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteSo true!I know personally, it comes down to fear, a fear of what He will allow me to go through even if He's with me. I automatically think to Job and how God allowed everything to be taken from him. It's so selfish on my part. I know that and it's something I have to confess more often than I'd like to admit. However, I also know that the greatest intimacy with God is during those times in the valley. Thank you for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteAmen! May we always rely upon God, not people, when it comes to handling our difficult problems.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! I actually wrote something along these same lines back in October. Here's the link: http://he-holds-my-right-hand.blogspot.com/2011/10/does-god-give-us-more-than-we-can.html
ReplyDelete