More than I can handle...

"Hello??.... Oh! Hi, God!... you want me to endure WHAT?!?!?!?!!? "


(... insert tragedy, problem, challenge, discomfort)

And, just for good measure- let's throw in a couple of well meaning friends who pat you on the back and offer these gems of comfort, "Just remember, God never gives us more than we can handle."

There are 2 major problems with that sentence. One, God does not give us the problems, tragedies and challenges we face. He allows them- yes. But He does not give them to us to put our feet to the fire and see how we'll fare. Second, I don't know about you, but I know a lot of people who have been dealt a hand that is quite a bit "more than they can handle."

How do you tell the parent of a sick child or, even worse, one who has lost their child to death that it's not more than they can handle?


Or someone facing cancer, illness, bankruptcy, divorce, betrayal, fear, loneliness, despair that it's not more than they can handle?

Here is what I think we ought to offer to people when they face trials- or when we ourselves find ourselves in the midst of insurmountable challenge...

Take courage! You can endure (handle) this with Him by your side and through relying on His strength.

Let's offer truth! Not rhetoric. The truth that is found in His letter to us...

"The Lord is my Shepard, I have everything I need." Psalm 23:1

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27

"I will never fail you, I will never abandon you." Hebrews 13:5

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4


I don't know about you, but these promises of TRUTH sound a lot more appealing to me than a hollow cliche that someone made up a long time ago and as a society we've taken on to verbalize as the "gospel truth." I've been told, more than once in my life, "You know, God never gives us more than we can handle... it's in the Bible." Ahh, No. It's not.


But God does promise His peace, His comfort, His encouragement. And more than anything, I think we would do well to remember that our life on earth is not our final destination. It is so hard to understand that concept- for this life on earth is all we know! But the truth is that "This life is but a vapor that appears for a little while and vanishes away." (James 4:14) Our real life is the one we experience for eternity, in Heaven, with Christ.

But while we are here, we will face challenges of many kinds. Because God designed it that way? No. Because we live in a fallen world that has been given over to Satan. But only for a short time. His power is short lived, and he knows it and tries to make the most of it. But keep heart! Know that the story has already been written- the battle has been won- and the victory over the grave has been fulfilled.

There is nothing that this world can throw at us...no challenge, problem, tradegy or even death- which is the "worst" this world can deal us... that God cannot redeem and use for His glory if only we open up our hearts, trust Him and allow Him to.