There is much suffering in the world. Sometimes it smacks you right in the face. You are beaten up and knocked down. You are emotionally wrecked and distraught beyond comprehension.
There are also times when you are overwhelmed. You feel out of place, and that you have bit off more then you can chew. Or you are confronted with an addiction that no matter how much effort you put into overcoming it, you give in.
Then a well-meaning believer comes along and says, “God will not give you more than you can handle.”
What? Was that supposed to make you feel good? The human part of you would like to give that person a piece of my mind. Are they for real?
This sentiment comes from a verse in 1 Corinthians:
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. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
Notice that this verse is referring to temptation towards sin. In the fuller context, the Apostle Paul is specifically addressing the sin of idolatry. He is not referring to the suffering brought on us by the world.
There are times in life where you will indeed be burdened with more than you can handle – sickness and sorrow, persecution and poverty. You can’t do it all on our own. Consider the words of the Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians (emphasis added):
For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8–9 (ESV)
Sometimes you will be overcome with much more than you can bear. In those moments, you learn to rely upon God. It’s not about being able to handle everything. It’s about God being able to handle everything. While there are many things too big for you, there is nothing is too big for God.
God also gives us the Church to help us in our distress. God’s vision for the Church is not a bunch of perfect people. (I have often thought about putting a sign on the church building door: “No perfect people allowed.”) The church is made up of a bunch of broken people who look to rely on God and each other to navigate the storms of life.
To think that God would not give us more than we can handle puts a great burden on us.
- It leads to guilt and doubt. You think to yourself: “If I am supposed to handle this, why am I so overcome.”
- It leads us to isolation. You think to yourself: “I can’t ask for help because I am supposed to handle this on my own.”
- It leads to anger towards God. You think to yourself: “God, I thought you weren’t supposed to let this happen!”
Sometimes the best thing for us is to be given more than we can handle because we learn to rely upon God and his strength. The promise of God is not to keep us from suffering, but for us to find comfort and peace in his perfect presence when suffering comes along. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil because we do not walk that valley alone.
The ultimate expression of God’s love was to conquer the great enemy that none of us could bear to overcome on our own. It is death. The only one who overcame death in victory is Jesus. Without Jesus, we will be defeated and brought down by death. So yes, we are given more than we can handle. But thanks be to God he doesn’t leave us to handle it on our own.
Questions for Reflection
- What burden do you bear that is more than you can handle?
- What are the dangers of telling someone that God will not give them more than they can handle?
- How do you rely upon God in times of suffering?
- Share your comments below.
Barry Voss says
Excellent commentary Pastor Phil!!
bromette says
I’m in a Ladies’ Bible Study and we are studying Cynthia Heald’s “Becoming a Woman of Prayer.” It reminds us there’s noting TOO big (or too small, for that matter) for the Lord to handle.
Linda Mickler Bolt says
I’m glad to read this, because someone said this in a prayer recently (at a church I was visiting, not my home church) and it is not true. If you’ve spent time in a pediatric cancer ward, you would know that all those parents have been given more than they can bear. Losing a child, watching your child suffer, no matter if your child is young or grown, is more than a parent can bear.
Beth Schulze says
When we are in the midst of hard situations, especially those that continue for a long time, it can feel like we are crushed. God is truly our Rock and refuge and He promises to give strength, peace, comfort, etc, that we cannot generate. I am a cancer survivor who had been diagnosed in 2011 and went through surgery and radiation. Then six months later I was hit by a car while biking and shattered my right arm. I had a year of rehab. I experienced God as my hope and my Rock during these dark days. I believe He carried me when I could. To on my own and that is the whole point. These situations cause us to flee to Him and He loves to give us what we need.
dansbyphotography says
False….. GOD Takes, and Takes and Takes…. Then when you get used to him taking he throws something at you that you would never see coming…. MORE Hardship, more struggle, more pain…. I believe he has forgotten how to hand out blessings.
Phil Ressler says
I will talk about this tomorrow. The question I would ask you is do you know God is the source of the hardship? There are other places from where suffering comes. The other question is what are you asking God to bless? I don’t know your situation, but I do know that no matter what the situation there are blessings everyday in life – but do we recognize them?
Christine Giles says
I was so relieved to read that it is the world that gives us the problems and not God! Lots of times people have said to me and members of my family that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. But the message about turning to God to help one bear what is being thrown at us is very timely. Thank you and may God bless you Pastor Phil.
JOAN says
Thank you again for another great explanation – relying on God to help us wth our burdens. I depend on Him as my first resource, not my last resort. I am a cancer survivor & I know He directed my timely diagnosis, care and healing. . also – please read my reply (yesterday) to those who may have misunderstood my viewing of the 10 commandments as promises. I am able to obey them because I have Christ in my heart. BUT, as I am human, sometimes I might inadvertantly mess up. It is those times that I ask forgiveness & I know am forgiven. thank you.
annie says
Thank you! In reading about child sex slaves such as in boka Haram in Africa and many other unfortunate places. Look at the poor woman who was a sex slave in Cleveland, Ohio for 14 years by Ariel Castro and had to abort 6 of her babies via beatings. Pretty sure God isn’t thinking “yeah these ladies can handle this”. That would be nonsense.
Pastor Loy Schlote says
I just had a conversation with a member this past week and reminded her that God will not give her more than He can handle. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. His grace is made perfect in our weakness.
Beth Saltalamacchio says
I am so glad you said that it is possible for us to be overwhelmed by life. I have always found that statement about God not giving us more that we can handle hard to believe. It made me feel like there was something wrong with me if I felt overwhelmed. Now I understand that I can handle much more if I rely on God. No matter how hard life is, that can make it better. Thank you for your wisdom. It helps me a great deal.
Jan Watt says
After having too many friends commit suicide, I believe that in that fragile, depressed place, life has given that person too much to handle. I don’t believe that committing suicide is a sin either since the person is mentally ill. I also believe that most people have thought about suicide at least once in their lifetime. So I disagree with your lesson today.
Phil Ressler says
Hi Jan – not sure how you disagree. Sounds like you confirm what I said.
Katie says
Thank you for addressing this false statement. I have heard it so many times as i battle with depression, ptsd and panic attacks. Abuse at 10 years old was more than i could handle. As an adult now ,there is a lot that is more than i can handle. When pastors and mentors and family have told me this, i would be disheartened and it would further my depression. Knowing the truth sets me free to cling to Jesus and let Him handle it.
Jen says
Thank you for this! I cringe when I hear people say this. They usually mean well but speak in ignorance. I especially appreciate the verse from 2 Corinthians that speaks so clearly that subsumed, life does give us more than we can handle. I do think that sometimes God causes things to happen in our lives do that we get overwhelmed and are driven back to him. He did it all the time with the Israelites when they got distracted from obeying him!
Tammy says
Exactly!!
Zizi says
I agree Annie, so would all the starving families and children that die from abuse and neglect