Why “God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle” Is A Lie
Often times people try to console with “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” While the thought is what counts, I cringe at the thought. So much of the world believes it is in our own strength we prevail, but as Christians we need to shout a louder truth.
So.. what’s so wrong with “God won’t give you more than you can handle”?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient during of the same suffering which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware of our affliction, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great of peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver use you also joining in helping us through your prayers, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed upon us through the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
So many of us believe that God won’t give us anything we cannot handle. But right here Paul tells it best. If God gave us no more than we can handle, why would we need God? If our strength can handle what lies ahead, then what good is God’s strength?
God gives us excessively, beyond our strength so that we might lean on Him, who is capable of more than we can ask, think or imagine. We must lean on Him or we will not make it through. Life without the Rock of Christ, the Strength of Christ, the Hope of Christ would be a life conquered on our own, never conquering through Christ.
So next time you are in over your head remember this: God is giving you much more than you can handle. (Honestly, it actually gives me a breath a fresh air that it IS more than I can handle because knowing I can’t handle it and God can takes the pressure off big time) Not because you’re not strong enough but because He is STRONGER! I also love where it says “..if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation;” So many times through my dad’s cancer and way beyond his death, we received letters after letters from people coming to Christ through it all.
This weekend, Joey Feek, one of my top favorite Christian/country singers, lost her battle to cancer at 40 years old. She said if one person came to Christ, it would be worth it all. Her dad came to Christ through her sickness, as well as many others. We must have this mindset in life. Not “woe is me, here is another storm.” But “OH HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS IS. May others come to my Incredible Savior in salvation through my suffering and my comfort.” As suffering comes, know Christ brings our comfort. Give your sufferings, your afflictions, your pain to Christ, take a deep breath and know it is not too much for Him to handle and He is strong enough to take it all. All to the Glory and Power of our God Almighty!
Lean on His Strength,
xo A
