If God never gives me more than I can handle, then explain what is going on in my life! Have you ever felt this way?
By Lisa Copen, this is a reprint from http://thinkingaboutsuicide.com where Lisa is a contributor. The web site is a good place to turn during those rough days to help you remember that God cares about you and is here beside you even when you don’t feel like it.
Over and over I have heard the saying, “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” But what about the pain. . . the grief. . . the depression. . . the darkness? It is more than we can handle. Much more. There are days that we wonder is life worth living if we have to get up every day and fight to be strong? We look enviously at others who seem to not struggle and wonder why God seems to bless those that can handle so little, and curse those of us who are so strong. Have you asked yourself, “Why is God giving me so much more than I can handle? What happened to that Proverbs about not getting more than I can handle?
As I have dealt with the physical and emotional losses since my twenties when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I have heard this cliche answer from the stranger at the store to my pastor who was grasping to instill encouragement at my hospital bedside.
Have you noticed how people ask, “So, how are you?” and no matter how badly things are, and how honest you may be with them, their answer is, “Well, God doesn’t give us more than we can handle”? In other words, buck up! Hang in there! Find something to get your mind off of it. Get out of the house. Don’t worrybecause God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.
It feels like they are saying, “Obviously you aren’t handling life’s challenges nearly as well as I am.”
Let me tell you something that may come as a surprise. God does give us more than we can handle. Every day He may place us in the position where the pain is too much to bear. Why? Because we were never meant to do this life without Him! He gives you more than you can handle–but not how much you and He–together–can handle.
Hebrews 13:5 tells us, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” And Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we were not created to do this life on our own. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. We do not have to be strong on our own.
There will be days when you may wake up and think, I can’t do this. I cannot keep living this way. Why is life worth living if I can’t meet the expectations of others or even myself? I cannot figure out how to get rid of this darkness that haunts me.
There are no simple answers, except to speak to God about it. You were designed to need to turn to Him a million times a day. God does give you more than you can handle because you were never meant to handle it. It is more than you can handle–much more!
In the video below, vocal artist Matthew West, speaks to a young girl who has experienced 13 surgeries due to one car accident. Her mom tried to encourage her by telling her God wouldn’t give her more than she could handle. Her response–and her journey–became the inspiration for song, “Strong Enough,” which is also included in the video.
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and she lives in San Diego with her husband and son. She is gradually learning how to balance motherhood, family, illness, and ministry, but she still knows it will be a lifetime lesson. You can see the books she has written, including, Why Can’t I Make People Understand? at the Rest Ministries shop.
This was awesome today…I woke up in so much pain I could barely move. This was exactly what I needed to hear. There was one problem however, the Matthew West clip was not included.
I too appreciated this Devotional but was disappointed to not find the Matthew West video clip/story. If possible, could you run that part again? That is a great song, and I was hoping to get the full story on it. Thanks!
Thanks so much for sharing this, Lisa. I don’t know who started this idea of God not giving us more than we can handle, but it isn’t Scriptural. If it is, someone please let me know the reference. It’s my understanding that, as you expressed, God does give us more than we can handle, so that we can see our need for Him. Then we get the privilege of relying on Him to help us through things, and we grow in ways we never could have dreamed possible. Thanks again.
The video is on the original post at thinkingaboutsuicide.com – just search “Lisa Copen” and scroll down the page of her contributions. OP in May (?) if I remember correctly.
Sherry,
Here It is…
1 Cor 10:13 This is the Amplified versions
13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to[c]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong andpowerful to bear up under it patiently.
But I like ‘The Message Bible” translation on this verse:
13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.
Kathy,
As familiar as I am with that verse, I have never heard it referred to as the reference for God not giving us more than we can handle. After researching both Matthew Henry’s notes and John Wesley’s notes, as well as reviewing several different interpretations of it, I have come to the conclusion that the verse is referring to troubles/problems/temptations that are common to everyone – and that God is faithful to us, and will enable us to endure/escape it. The emphasis is placed on the fact that God is with us, and we are not alone. I do not see in this verse that God is the one giving us the trouble.
I appreciate your sharing that verse, however. Now I have some idea of where the phrase originated.
sherry, yes, I have read the same commentaries on these verses and I believe this cliche is often given that scripture as a reference point, I agree with you!
Sherry, I agree with you, but had never really thought about it that much…Matt 5:45 says that rain falls on both the just and the unjust, which I interpret as ‘life happens’ and not always the way we want it to, and I believe this scripture promises us His strength to carry us through these trials and temptations, and that His grace is sufficient I believe as we walk this journey that we have to travel He gives us the strength to carry through. 2 Cor 12:7-10 says that Paul had a thorn in the flesh that he begged God to remove…I like the way The Message Bible words this particular scripture into something I can truly relate to…
” 7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”
So regardless of what life throws at us He will provide what we need to overcome! You are a blessing Sherry and I appreciate the fact that you don’t take anything at face value and urge us to find ‘truth’ rather than just accepting the cliches others throw our way.
Kathy, so true, thanks for your input and research too!
Thank you, Kathy, for your kind words, and for understanding exactly what my motives are here. It must be a “God” thing! Have a great day!
Thank you…this ministry is such a blessing, I look forward to the devotionals and they always seem to be just what I need, when I need it.
When I feel overwhelmed (which can happen often with this Environmental Illness I face), I’ve been encouraged by the passage in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11…
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
This passage describes how I have often felt under the pain & hardships I have faced. Here Paul expresses a similar experience to what Lisa indicates in this article, there are times we can be “under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure”. I agree that these experiences of being overwhelmed give us an opportunity to learn to “not rely on ourselves but on God”. I believe it also reinforces how God uses the prayers for each other in the body of Christ to be a part of His deliverance for us. His desire for fellowship and us to love one another is evident. We are not to do this life alone! I love His ways. They are so good!!
And a big AMEN to that Diana!
Hi,
Thanks for this devo. Funny how God knows exactly what you need to hear & the perfect timing of it.
I absolutely love Matthew Wests song, Strong Enough. Just when I was at my lowest point, there this was.
You & your ministry are such a blessing to so many.
God Bless You!
Because the people who say such things have never faced real illness. My mother said this all the time. She never even got the flu. And made fun of me being sick all the time. THen she got cancer. First she ignored the symptoms for 18 months. When she was in 1/4 the pain and suffering that I have, she gave up and quit fighting it. Throwing up just once was too much for her.
It is easy to judge others when you have never walked a mile in their shoes.
It is true that there is no passage in Scripture that states that God won’t give us more than we can handle. It only states that in regard to temptation~ We wil not be tempted beyond that which we are able to bear that God won’t give us a way out. I also don’t know where the believe got started that God not giving us more than we could handle was Biblical.
I had a pastor’s wife quot this vere that is not in th eBibleone time. God purposely does give us more than we can handle to teach us to”Cast our cares upon Him”. If life was easy and managable and not a struggle, how would we ever get to know God up close and personal? Would I understand the depth of my need for God. I am stil learning this but sure have grown in it.
wow. this really makes sense to me .. i mean, i always felt better after knowing of the verses referenced above, BUT to also be reminded that we werent meant to travel this one alone. Thank you for this <3
I was truly blessed this week,,,I have CRPS and one of the side effects is that the bones in my feet & ankles have fused together, messing with my balance & forcing me to walk with a cane. I went forward for prayer and my ankles released completely and the bones in myfeet have been popping & cracking all week & loosening up. Now I can point my feet & stand on my toes,,,something I have been unable to do for years, & I put my cane away. I still suffer from chronic pain but at least I can move now!
all that i would want from God is for him to bless me very much to meet a good woman to share my life with, which is certainly not too much to ask for what is normal today.
Amazing blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?
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Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go
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