More than I can Handle

"Don't worry. God won't give you more than you can handle."

I hear that a lot. It's a great sentiment. It's comforting. It's soothing. It's reassuring. And it's wrong.

Most people use 1 Corinthians 10:13 to support this thinking. If you read it carefully, you will see that this verse is talking about temptation, not trials.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.

I believe God lets more come at us than we can handle on our own. If he didn't would we really need him? Would we learn to depend on him if we were capable in our own power? I'm thinking Goliath was more than David could handle. Pharaoh was more that Moses wanted to handle, not to mention leading an entire nation through the desert. Not sure Joshua could have taken on Jericho with divine intervention. Gideon and his mighty army of 300 men probably thought taking on the Midianites was a crazy idea. Job lost everything - seems like too much to me. And Mary? Let's just say being responsible for God's only Son could be a huge source of anxiety and seem like a ridiculous task. The storm was way too much for the disciples to handle - good thing God was with them. Don't get me started on Paul; he faced way more than any man could handle.

Each of these people had 2 things in common: An impossible task and confidence in God's promises. So it should be with us. We are not alone. We don't have to face anything alone. God promised, and we should trust in those promises.

So, when you are tempted, look for a way out - it's there - and if all else fails, do what Joseph did and RUN! When your giant looks huge, the army too vast, the task too heavy, the fight impossible, the pain unbearble, remember nothing is impossible with our God. He is with you and the battle belongs to Him.