Life has it’s ups and downs for everyone. There are those times of great highs, a birth in the family, a new job, something that brings us great joy and happiness. Then there are periods of living in the valley so to speak, times when things aren’t what we had hoped for. When life throws us an unexpected curve we try to deal with it the best we can. We will “pull ourselves up by the bootstraps” and try to overcome our emotions and the hurt that we may be experiencing. After all God will never give us more than we can handle. Right?
Far too often we try to “man up”, because of some false idea that we can handle what ever comes into our lives. This attitude is formed by believing that the Lord is not going to allow in our lives situations that we cannot handle. To back up this thought many will take out of context the Bible verse, 1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I know that the word “temptation” many times in the Bible means a trial, but in the context of 1 Corinthians 10 it clearly is talking about the temptation to sin. God will always give us a way out from the temptation to yield to sinful behavior. The verse immediately preceding warns us to not be too cocky about our own self righteousness. 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Many people have said that God will not give us more than we can handle, I have even said it myself. However, the truth is, that He regularly will allow us to be tested beyond our personal limits so that we will look to Him for the grace and strength we need to deal with our trials. When Paul prayed for the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh; God didn’t tell him to “man up” or “quit your complaining.” No He said, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Paul’s response is an amazing admission of not possessing the strength himself and the need to trust in God’s power to handle his weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Our Lord never intended for us to carry our burdens ourselves. He desires for us to turn them over to His will and trust in His strength through our trials. He will give us the power we need to endure and we will “come forth as gold.” The Apostle Peter said it best in 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Whatever you may be going through this hour, depend on The Lord’s strength to get you through. Because, it is more than you can handle.