More Than I Can Handle

One of my biggest pet peeves is a little phrase that gets tossed around in Christian circles. It's supposed to be an encouragement, but I think it usually has the opposite effect. In fact, more than that I don't even believe it's true! Behold the phrase:

God won't give you more than you can handle. 

There was even a fairly popular song a couple years back that family radio stations seemed to play every other song that stated:

"You may be knocked down now, but don't forget

What He said, He said

I won't give you more, more than you can take

And I might let you bend, but I won't let you break

And know I'll never, ever let you go"

 Group 1 Crew - He Said 

     This seems like a nice, encouraging sentiment, no? The problem that I have with this is that I can't find where in the Bible where He said it! God is a loving and good Father who has many wonderful promises for those who believe in Him, but this is not one of them. 

     So where does this idea come from? The statement in the Bible that comes closest to, "God won't give you more than you can handle," can be found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 where Paul writes:

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." (NASB) 

What a wonderful promise that when temptation of any kind comes knocking at our door, He will not allow us to simply be overtaken, but will always offer us a way to escape. He is faithful and He fights with us, so we never have to face temptation alone! 

This is good news, but it's definitely a stretch to take that to say God wont give you more than you can handle. I believe this way of thinking can be damaging when you come across struggles in this life...when life throws so much at you, and you're nearing your breaking point. In that state you may wonder, "If God won't give me more than I can take, why does it feel like I'm downing?"

 I fully believe that God does give us more than we can take at times. Just think, if He didn't, and we could handle everything, we wouldn't need to rely on Him. If God won't give people more than you can bear, why do people even need God?

The whole story of the Gospel is about the weight of our sin being too much for us to handle, so Jesus intervened and took our rightful punishment and gave us grace! 

     And when it comes to situations on a smaller scale, God still lets us go through things that very well could be too much for us to handle alone. This is the whole reason we need our faith - it is what keeps us going when we want to give up; what gives us strength when we're weak; and what enables us to overcome the things that make us feel like we're in way over our heads.  

     As a result of God allowing us to go through these struggles, we learn to depend on Him more fully. When we realize that our means and efforts are not enough, we can come before him humbly, yet boldly. We can surrender our shortcomings and allow Him to work through us and accomplish things in His name, that would never be possible by ourselves. All of this works together for our benefit and for His glory! 

     Once again let's take a look at some words from Paul. When I read down the list of hardships he had to endure, I am inspired by his perseverance. It's easy to think, "Wow! God must really give 'the toughest battles to His strongest warriors!'" But look at Paul's attitude about all of these trials in the last verse:

"Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.  

Three times I was beaten with rods, 

Once I was stoned, 

Three times I was shipwrecked, 

A night and a day I have spent in the deep. 

 I have been on frequent journeys, 

in dangers from rivers, 

dangers from robbers, 

dangers from my countrymen, 

dangers from the Gentiles, 

dangers in the city, 

dangers in the wilderness, 

dangers on the sea,

 dangers among false brethren; 

 I have been in labor and hardship through many sleepless nights,

 in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 

Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 

Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness."

2 Corinthians 11:24-30 NASB

After all he went through, Paul doesn't claim that he was strong enough to be able to handle all of these things, instead he admits his weakness. And in the midst of struggle after struggle, he didn't lose sight of the One who was there with him every step of the way:

 "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB)

So yes, God often does give us more than we can handle. But He promises never to leave us, and through the trials, He cultivates and strengthens our relationship with Him. And finally He give us the strength we need to be overcomes and share in the ultimate victory He won for us on the cross! 

~Rebecca Rae