“God will never give you more than you can handle!”
The woman before me proudly proclaimed this truism with great confidence, knowing that her wisdom had been derived directly from the Bible. One problem: It’s not in the Bible. More than that, I would submit it is contradictory to the Bible, and, I would suggest, comes from the pits of hell.
Let me explain.
You cannot find any verse that remotely backs this commonly held truism. Perhaps somewhere along the line, 1 Corinthians 10:13 was corrupted by a bad interpretation or poor recall: “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.”
Clearly, Paul was talking about temptation with sin. There is no one to blame for our sin but us. Even if temptation comes, God will not allow the Christian to be tempted to the point that he cannot resist. Thus, God is faithful in that He will never allow overwhelming temptation to reach us. This is, indeed, good news, but it in no way communicates that He will not allow too much stress, pressure, anxiety or pain.
Although this seems like bad news, in the end, God promises something far greater — the gift of His very presence in our lives.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you,” states Deuteronomy 31:6.
Psalm 46:1 reads: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
And, finally, John 14:18, 19 and 21: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me … and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
These are a few verses that point out that the Lord will be with His children; truly that His manifest presence would be tangible and bring great comfort to all those who call upon His name.
Here is the point: He absolutely gives us more than we can handle, so that we will have to turn to Him. These are the moments when we will call upon His name. That we utter the words, “Lord, I need you!” Although moments of trial and pain are never something we enjoy, there is something amazing that pours from the heart of God: His very presence.
He desires our attention, affection and connection, but not because He needs anything from us. But, He knows that we will miss out if we are disconnected from Him — the one who made us, who redeemed us, who has a purpose for our lives.
Around the next corner could be the next trial. Know that our sovereign Father has allowed it that we might know Him better and that He might pour out His Spirit afresh and anew upon us.
Scott Lawry is the pastor of Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Plant City. For more, call (813) 758-9383 or email to srlawry@epcpc.org.