God will never give you more than you can handle . . .

As a child I always enjoyed hearing this. I found comfort in it, actually. But as a child I also believed we all went to heaven, and so many other things about God. But as a child I was a fan, not a follower. When I was saved and entered into a relationship with Christ, I began to read the Bible and learned to filter out stuff like this . . . but we’re all called to have discernment. 

Saying “God will never give you more than you can handle” is such an unbiblical cliche and not one that is justified by the Bible verse that reads, “ 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”, which is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV). That verse is taken out of context so much, it is talking about temptation, that we won’t be tempted more than we can bear. Again, temptation. And it says that God is faithful to not let us be tempted beyond our ability and He will provide a way to escape that temptation. Because HE WILL, so we still depend on Him for that.

Now show me the verse in the Bible that says, “God will never give you more than you can handle”.  Was it the verse in Never Happened 24:7 where you saw that?

Everything in life is more than we can handle. We live in a fallen world, where spiritual warfare abounds and consumes us all. And so we hope, because we have faith. We put our trust on who Jesus is & His work on the cross, because that’s what faith is. When we have faith it’s all of us for all of Him, where we wholly trust a known God because we base our lives, our eternity, upon Him. 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Life is hard. Some days are great and some are, yes, unbearable. But I know that when my days are “great” or even just “okay” they’re still days where God has made a way for me through all things. They’re especially days where God has interceded on my behalf. And I know when my days are “hard” or downright “impossible” from a heavy burden that He’s STILL in control and He’s STILL making a way for me, and that He’s STILL good! Because He IS always good, no matter what I am going through. He is the God of the hills and valleys, and He is still on the throne!

And friends to be a bit rash but put it into perspective, when we tell someone, “God will never give you more than you can handle”, we’re also telling them:

God allowed your baby to die because you can handle it.  What mother and father can handle that?

God allowed you to suffer life altering illness because you can handle it. You’re just in bed 24hrs a day ‘existing’ now because you can handle it. 

God allowed a child to be assaulted because they can handle it. You were sexually/physically/mentally assaulted as a child because you could handle it. 

God allowed the tornado to rip up your room, because you can handle it. Everything you’ve worked for your entire life is in that house, the one place your family feels safe, but that’s gone now because you can handle it. 

These are just some examples. And you may want to counter that with something like, “But did you die?” or “You got over it” or “We moved on” or something similar but what about those who “couldn’t handle” it? The ones who turned to alcohol, drugs, other sins, walked away from their families, or just decided to end their lives or the life of another? So let me tell you something, things that spark fear, incite hate, paralyze with depression, chain with illness, or cause you to think about the very thing that happened, over and over, whether it’s something that made you sad, mad, depressed, worried, anxious, or what not . . . that’s not something you have a handle on. Not only that, but going back to those examples I gave, can you even? I mean really, can you imagine how HURTFUL that would be for people to be on the opposite side of your well wishes? “I know your baby died, but you can handle it.” We must stop! And it’s far too great a burden to think we can handle such heavy burdens, that’s why He says we don’t have to do this alone.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

I once came home and sat my eldest daughter down for a talk one day after I had over heard an old friend telling her that God wouldn’t give her and her family more than they could handle when referencing to profound medical issues two of us had and the extravagant financial burden those medical problem have caused. I explained to her that we loved our friend, we were blessed that she was praying for us, that we’re thankful for all her kind words, but I gently explained to my daughter that the thinking was fundamentally wrong when looked through the lens of what the Bible tells us and I referenced the verse in Corinthians about temptation being something that is taken out of context and used when people say stuff like that. I told her that God would never give us any more than He could handle, because even in our hardships and our heavy burdens, He is incapable of changing & so He is still on the throne. He is still good.

So it’s okay if you want to tell people, “God will never give you more than HE candle”, because then you’d be right . . . and it would be comforting too. But death and life are in the tongue.

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you  and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. ` Isaiah 54:10 (ESV)