Tears fell from my eyes as I hung up the phone from my physician. He was compassionate and kind, and I could tell he felt bad that there was only so much he could do to ease my pain and suffering while we searched for answers.
Friends had been texting, “Have you heard anything?” “What’s the latest?”
I sat for a moment blinking back the tears as my phone pinged to alert of another message coming in.
“I can’t handle any more,” I typed in response to a friend’s request for an update.
That’s just it. People, Christians included, often say that God won’t give you any more than you can handle, but that’s just not true. We’ve gotten it all wrong.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God won’t give us more than we can handle. It says he won’t let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, and that he will provide a way out of temptation so that we can handle it.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
But that’s talking about temptation, not enduring the trials and hardships of life.
I would go so far as to say that God absolutely does give us more than we can handle! But He does so for a purpose.
To those who so often say to me, “I don’t know how you handle everything you’ve been given,” I don’t. Repeatedly God has brought me to the place where I can’t handle it on my own.
I can’t do it without Him.
Neither can the new bride who loses her husband in an automobile accident.
Neither can the couple who are torn apart by pornography, or adultery, or bankruptcy, or whose child has been diagnosed with leukemia and lays pale and motionless while receiving chemotherapy.
Neither can the gentleman whose bride of 50+ years no longer recognizes him because Alzheimer’s has stolen her memory.
Life is hard. Life is weighty. Life is overwhelming. We can’t do it alone, without Him.
That’s why Jesus comforted us with the promise that, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Jesus doesn’t ask us to carry the load by ourselves. Jesus beckons us to find our refuge, our strength, our peace in Him when life is just more than we can handle on our own.
When you feel like giving up, giving in, and letting go, God is holding on to you. When we experience difficulties that are too great for us to handle, they remind us that we must depend on God.
“For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13).
“The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).
When you’re weak, God wants to be strong for you. He wants to be the rock that you lean on, the strong tower that you run to. The times that overwhelm us show us that God is our source of strength.
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him” (Psalm 28:7).
“But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble” (Psalm 37:39-40).
When you feel weak, lost, and scared, not even sure where your next breath will come from, take God’s hand and know that He’s going to help you through it, one moment at a time. The times that are too difficult to handle on our own teach us to trust God even when we cannot see.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:4).
When all you can do is cry, God is a safe place to do that because He promises to dry your eyes. When we are faced with difficulties that are more than we can handle on our own, we have an opportunity to experience God as our refuge.
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 18:30).
So, does God give us more than we can handle on our own? Yes. But He makes us a promise that is worth holding onto:
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2).
We will go through the hard times, the fiery times, the overwhelming times, but never alone, and never without His helpful, guiding hand.
The question is, will you trust Him with those heavy, overwhelming burdens that are more than you can handle?
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Hope Prevails Book and Hope Prevails Bible Study {hope for overcoming depression}
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Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the new companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
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That misuse of Scripture is one of my biggest pet peeves! Lifting you up to Father, friend! xoxo
Ahh yes, my friend. It always gives me pause because as those who teach and preach, we are called to a higher standard. Oh how I want my words to be in alignment with HIS truth!
Wise, comforting words. Bless you!
Thank you Stacie! If it helps anyone, it’s worth sharing. #HopePrevails!
Amen! This is wonderful, hope-filled, truth. Thanks so much for your honest words. ❤
Thanks Laura. It’s not always easy to share the raw and the real, but we overcome the enemy by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony! And if it’ll help someone else, it’s worth it!
Yes & Amen to answer your question, I do trust Him in the “more than I can handle”…& I have had many occasions…I enjoyed your exegesis of 1 Corinthians10:13, an overly misquoted popular verse in Christian circles Michelle…well done!
We met a little while ago in the blogging world, you may remember, I am a fellow therapist (whom lost her daughter, son & husband) & you kindly prayed for me.
The greatest challenge hasn’t been losing my loved ones, although in each of their passing & the overwhelming devastation I thought so at the time, but as I came into that final place of acceptance & knowledge in Him, I have moved forth in His peace & comfort.
The greatest challenge for me has been living with chronic health conditions…which has no foreseeable end to it, without a miracle! Chronic pain from Fibromyalgia is one of these conditions, so leaning into God’s love & strength is a daily joy for me, I can’t do it without Him!
How is your health Michelle? We didn’t get to hear if you’re okay!
Jennifer
Jennifer,
Now that you gave me some context, I DO remember. I can understand how after the trauma settles a bit and you begin to cope, how the health issues can be such a challenge. Multiple family members are dealing with health issues, and I have my own challenges all the while trying to stay on schedule for the next book. I’m so grateful he loves me on my unproductive days as well as those days I just tick off everything I wanted to accomplish! May I pray for you here?
Father, I lift up Jennifer to you. You know the emotional and mental and the physical pain she has endured. You have never and will never leave her or forsake her. I thank you that she is leaning in to you, and she knows from where her help comes from. Father, I ask for a touch of your healing hand for Jennifer with her chronic issues. Heal her, Father. Give her strength. Lift her up on eagles’ wings. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Thank you Michelle, your prayer touched my heart today…
May I pray for you here & now,
Heavenly Father, you have called Michelle to this ministry of writing, publishing & blogging to encourage others, so I pray Lord that you will flood her whole being with your peace, serenity, energy & strength for the challenges she is facing at the moment. We pray this in the the name of the Lord Jesus Christ & in the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen!
When you think about it, basically everything is more than we can handle. I mean, who has all the answers to parenting, being a good friend, making wise choices with our time and money, planning for the future, even knowing the best thing to do in our occupation. The idea we have that we are in control or can ‘handle it’ ourselves is an illusion that comes dashing down with the entrance of the slightest bit of the unexpected. But thanks be to God who reminds us again and again, that we can come to Him and find peace and rest. thanks!
You’re absolutely right, Karen. Every day I become more and more aware of my sheer dependence on Him. And I’m ever so grateful for his unfailing love, peace, and rest! Blessings friend.
This is one of those Christian cliches I’ve been annoyed by over the years. Thanks for sharing truth gracefully and eloquently. I’ve chosen your post as my G&T feature this week. I continue to pray for you and your family, friend.
Thank you for the support and the feature, Aimee. And we are so very appreciative of the prayers. We are still battling health issues for multiple family members, and now that I’m on deadline for the next book, the enemy is up to big tricks. So we are very grateful for the prayers of friends like you.