Right Concept, Wrong Idea #6
We’re taking a look at some well-known thoughts that we tend to
misinterpret biblically.
“God will only give me what I can handle.”
We often assume God won’t load our lives with more than we can
bear. Many Christians make this faulty assumption based on the fact
that God won’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle.
Here’s the proof:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to
mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will
also provide a way out so that you can endure it”
(1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV).
Make no mistake.
God will always provide a way out of temptation.
But temptation is a completely different subject than life’s difficulties.
We often have more than we can bear.
And many times God calls us to do something beyond our
strength.
Check out what the apostle Paul experienced in Asia:
“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to
endure . . . we felt we had received the sentence of death.
“But this happened that we might not rely on
ourselves but on God, who raises the dead”
(2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NIV).
Did you catch that?
Paul thought he was dying!
The pressure was so unbearable, the difficulty so horrific,
he thought he’d never see another sunset.
It was definitely MORE than he could handle!
But what happened?
He relied on God!
Let’s read what he wrote later:
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insult,
in hardships,
in persecutions,
in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong”
(2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV).
Instead of saying that God won’t give us more than we can handle,
let’s try saying this:
God will often give us more than we can handle, but never more
than we can handle when we depend on His strength instead of
our own.
Thoughts?
I love how you just get right to the truth of the matter! We have all heard people mistakenly use the saying and I cringe every time I hear someone say it, but because of circumstances, I don’t always get the opportunity to correct them.
Amen; I say it again, AMEN! This is just what I needed to know, and with time, I will absorb this concept in my heart and share it in love with my family of God.
I got more than I can handle right now, trying to move no help no money lol
Thank you for sharing this truth. We must interpret God’s Word correctly — otherwise, we can be discouraged when we assume a false interpretation. We can always depend upon God’s Word to comfort us and lead us right.
It was good to meet you at Camp Pinerock.
I love this thought so much! Been leaning on God just due to circumstances in my life. It is true. But I could have never said it so eloquently!
Excellent explanation! As you stated, this is a verse that is OFTEN misinterpreted! I appreciate the scripture reference.
This is so true. There are many things in my life that I would not have been able to handle on my own. The footprints poem comes to mind. “that is when I carried you”.