It’s crazy how many things go around as universally acknowledged truths when in actuality, they’re just some random person’s thoughts that people think sounds good.
In Christian circles, quotes become doctrine, and people get…confused.
A lot of people say, “God will never give you more than you can handle.”
Okay…well, if this is true, then why does cancer happen? Why do loved ones die without being saved? Why do disabilities happen? Why do thousands of casualties happen when fighting for freedom? Why do school shootings happen? Tsunamis? Hurricanes that wipe out entire cities?
So apparently, I can just “handle” all these bad things? Um, no, I can’t.
I can’t handle these things because I’m human. God never meant for us to handle these things alone, because welcome to the universe, we’re fragile.
However, it doesn’t stop there.
When bad things happen that we cannot handle, we are forced to rely on God.
Hard times come – trust me, I know – and in them we have a choice. We can either say, “I’m going to do this by myself,” or “God, the only way I’m going to get through this is by trusting You to help me.”
I can either rely on my strength, or God’s.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Romans 8:37
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
We are more than conquerors because Jesus is the conqueror. We weren’t the ones who did the conquering. He is, and gives that victory to us.
I read a blog post recently on a favorite blog of mine by Phylicia Masonheimer. It got me thinking, because I’ve thought this way for a while now.
I love how she phrases this point.
“God gives us more than we can handle because what we can’t handle drives us to dependence on Him.” – Phylicia Masonheimer, Why God WILL Give You More Than You Can Handle. http://phyliciadelta.com/why-god-will-give-you-more-than-you-can-handle/
When we depend on Him, our relationship with our loving Heavenly Father is strengthened. It’s not because He wants to control us. He loves us, and wants us to know Him.
He created us, and saved our souls.
Life throws us more than we can handle all the time. He’s not the One who tempts us (as it says in James 1:13-15).
He has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”
Deuteronomy 31:8
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
It all comes down to this. Are we going to rely on ourselves, or on God?
Are we going to trust ourselves, or God?
Are we going to depend on ourselves, or on the only One who can handle our troubles?
*aj
Scattered Journal Pages 
For a moment, I thought you were saying you could handle confusion in doctrine. 🙂
This is so true. We need His help.
I always find your posts encouraging, Amanda. God is using you.
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Whoops! I suppose that in itself is confusing. 😉
Thank you so much, Bria. That is encouraging to me!
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Haha, I thought the same thing…
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YES AMANDA! If there was ever a time we need to be able to think clearly and discern God’s word accurately it’s now. Many of us accept spiritual thoughts and truths without sometimes knowing the Biblical context, I know I have done this, so here is something that I want to remember.
The Apostle Paul points us in the best direction. He says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and He also says, ” we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Thank you for your faithfulness and encouragement to keep us thinking clearly and discerning truths accurately. You do a great at laying things out!
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Thank you for your comment! In this day, true doctrine gets confused with random people’s thoughts and quotes, and if we don’t know the Bible for ourselves, we may make the mistake of believing anything with the label “Christian.” 🙂
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God won’t give us more than we can handle with His help. Key modifier that can’t be left out. 😉 Without His help, it can be hard to handle every day things. Great post!
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Exactly, haha. I read that line in the ARC of The Crossways yesterday, and thought about that. “Wait…is that right?…Oh, yes, yes it is.” 😉 Thank you!
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I guess that is in there. 🙂 It’s definitely something Adriel struggles with. You’re welcome!
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Very true. A lot of things turn into this little phrases, don’t they?
As always, great post!
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“It is a truth universally acknowledged…” Yes ma’am, they are changed into little phrases. It’s quite unfortunate, but I suppose we can set things straight! 😉 Thanks for reading.
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