God WILL give you more than you can handle

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard (and probably even said), “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle”.

This is a comforting quote. It makes us feel strong. Empowered. That we can overcome the trials, tragedies and struggles in life.

While I know the sentiment behind the quote is meant to comfort and encourage, I’ve been challenged by this quote this year and have actually come to disagree. I think God does give us more than we can handle.

First, this quote is based on a verse in the Bible and is taken out of context. It is talking about temptation and how He is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability but that He will also provide a way of escape so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13)

While there is a similar indication of how God knows your limits, our beloved quote has been misused to basically say that you can overcome whatever life throws your way.

We like hearing that God won’t give us more than we can handle because we like to think we are strong enough to handle it on our own. Whatever trial, circumstance, loss or struggle we are going through, we like to believe that we can be strong enough to overcome it.

Don’t get me wrong – our minds have a lot of power over us and I believe we need to be careful with our thoughts (power of positive thinking, believing in hope and choosing joy). However, I think the root of this quote is a reminder of our self-sufficiency and how we tend to believe we can handle it ourselves. That we don’t need anyone.

I know I am guilty of this – I can be stubbornly independent and struggle with asking for help. Part of it is my fear in being a burden to someone, so I would prefer to deal with things by myself. Why ask for help when I can more easily do it on my own?

---

But what if God does give us more than we can handle? What if you come to a place that is so broken, so messy, so dark, that you don’t know if you can actually handle it?

It is this broken place that is also so beautiful.

It is this broken place where we come to the end of ourselves. When we feel as though we’ve hit the bottom – that is when we realize that we can’t do it on our own. That is a deeply broken and hard place to be. And yet that is when we experience God’s grace the most.

While it sounds terrifying to come to the end of yourself, it is incredibly encouraging and provides a great sense of freedom to know and embrace that you don’t have to face this life alone. And this is what makes me grateful I believe in a God who is infinitely more powerful, faithful and gracious than I am and ever could be.

I’ve been reading this book called “How People Grow” and it offers truly phenomenal insight, wisdom and perspectives into…you guessed it, how people grow. It put into words what I personally have experienced in this past year:

“He had to get to a place where he faced how bad things really were; things were not going to get better until he saw that reality. This is what addicts call “hitting bottom”. It is the realization that one has come to the end of himself….I needed them to get to this death experience to see that their only hope was to turn to God. When they realized that, they were ready for God’s grace. They were ready to turn to God and receive the things he had to offer – things they had never seen or known before.”

The freedom that comes with hitting your low point is built on the foundation of knowing that God is gracious. He loves us. He is good. With the understanding of who God is, we can freely come to Him and know that He will be there to guide us out from our broken places.

You see, God will give you more than you can handle.

• He will give you more than you can handle so you can run to Him.
• He will give you more than you can handle so you can see your need of Him.
• He will give you more than you can handle so you can experience Him.

If we could do everything on our own, what would be the point of God? What would be the point of faith? What would be the point of community? It is recognizing our brokenness and weaknesses that we are able to gain a deeper understanding of God’s grace and strength.

“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.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

---

While the Bible doesn’t promise an easy life, the Bible DOES promise that…

• He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:17, Hebrews 13:5)
• He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22, Matthew 10:30-31)
• He loves you (John 3:16, Ephesians 3:16-19, 1 John 4:8)
• He forgives you (1 John 1:9, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 86:5)
• He strengthens you (Isaiah 40:29 & 31, Isaiah 41:10)
• He gives you wisdom (James 1:5)
• He gives you peace (Philippians 4:6-7)
• He provides freedom (John 8:26)
• He comforts you (Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1)
• He is sovereign (Romans 8:28, Proverbs 3:5-6)

Instead of thinking we need to have it all together, or that we need to handle things on our own (we need each other too – that’s a whole different post), let’s strive to come to a deeper understanding of the One who is perfect, faithful, good, and sovereign.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)