When God Gives You More Than You Can Handle

One day last week I drove through the beautiful western New York countryside. The hills were rolling. The day was filled with budding trees, new flowers, and all the sweet awakenings spring has to offer.

Yet my mind was focused on anything but peace. Our family was going through a difficult situation with one of our pre-teen children, and my mother heart was anxious.

Every parent has struggles. After parenting our own 5 children plus 35 foster children, my husband and I have had plenty of angst. But this particular situation seemed over-the-top, and I cried out to God in prayer and frustration.

“God, you are giving me more than I can handle!”

Have you ever felt like God gives you more than you are up to the task of managing?

Bad Advice

Perhaps a well-meaning friend has even said something to you along the lines of, “Don’t worry. Remember, God will never give you more than you can handle.”

This advice, besides lacking in comfort, isn’t true. This is a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 10:13, “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.”

This verse is not saying God will not allow you into any situation beyond what you can handle.

Hear this truth today, my dear friend. God continually allows situations that are beyond your ability to handle.

Instead, God will not put you in any situation beyond what He can handle. Notice God is the One providing the way out. Always, God is faithful.

When you are in a tough situation, where do you turn? Do you lash out at God in anger? Do you turn away from Him entirely?

Consider that God gives you more than you can handle for the very reason that He loves you so much.

This is a hard reality for us to consider, because perhaps it’s easier for us to think of only certain aspects of God, yet read these words from 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Think of your spiritual mentors – women and men you look up to as strong spiritual leaders. These are not people who have had an easy life. Faith is refined in the fire.

Painful Situations Are Full of Temptation

Not every painful situation is because of our sinful choices, but oh how pain is surrounded by temptation on every side.

When you are in those dark moments, wouldn’t you agree that it’s so easy to slip into bitterness, pride, and envy? The world will tell you that these are understandable and even acceptable considering the difficulties you are experiencing, but that’s not what the truth of God’s Word tells you.

Think about the situation I was experiencing with a wayward child. How easy it would be for me to slip into unchecked envy of other parents, and bitter longing for this child to make different choices. How quickly I could cause lasting harm to the mother-teen relationship.

When you are going through a time that you feel God is giving you more than you can handle, you will be tempted with bitterness, selfishness, envy, and other sinful desires. Our enemy works hard during this times of trial, and we are at a point of weakness.

Recognize your vulnerability. Now more than ever it’s important to spend time daily reading God’s word so you can withstanding the flaming darts of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). Surround yourself with Christian friends who will hold you up while also loving holding you accountable.