30 Jan God WILL Give You More Than You Can Handle
It’s amazing how often, especially over the last few months, I have heard, been told personally, or read “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
That is not biblical. That statement is not the truth.
While in 1 Corinthians 10:13, God does promise us that we won’t be tempted in any circumstances beyond what we can bear, scripture never address the topic of suffering.
So, the promise isn’t that He won’t give us more than we can handle, but the promise is that He meets us and carries us through what we have to handle. We aren’t alone in it — He is with us every step of the way.
God does give us more than we can handle. If He didn’t, we wouldn’t need Him! He gives us more than we can handle for several reasons:
- So we can rely on Him
- So we can grow in our faith
- So we put all of our trust in Him
- So He will reveal himself to us
- So praise, glory, and honor will result
- So we develop perseverance and character
- So we can use His comfort to comfort others
- So He will strengthen, help, and uphold us
- So He can comfort us
- So He will be with us and encourage us
- So His joy can be our strength
- So He can be with us wherever we go
- So He can rejoice over us
- So He can birth something new
- So He can restore, strengthen, support, and make us strong
- So He can be our portion
- So we can see His goodness
This list isn’t exhaustive by any means. God is always at work and on our team no matter what we face! So, the next time you catch yourself saying, “He doesn’t give us more than we can handle” remember that He gives us more than we can handle so that He can help us handle what we are given!
Lauren
Posted at 06:01h, 30 JanuaryDid you hear the Church of the Resurrection sermon?! I heard this in KC two weeks ago!! Parallels much?!? *raising the roof Emojis*
Amanda
Posted at 07:23h, 30 JanuaryYes, yes, and YES!!! I abhor when people make sunshiny little phrases that seem biblical, but are in fact the opposite of biblical. And that one… ughh, that one gets me every time. It’s like “have you READ” the bible? I’m pretty sure most of the characters would disagree with you there. Great post!
Marianne
Posted at 07:33h, 30 JanuaryLove this post! Everything about it. Always thinking of you and praying for you my friend.
Elisha
Posted at 07:41h, 30 JanuarySo good!! I have a plague in my home that says, “God doesn’t give us what we can handle. He helps us handle what we have been given.” And the reason I like this is because James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes from above. God can’t give anyhing bad…it’s not in Him. So Obviously not everything in my life is good and perfect (infertility) which means not everyhing I am going through was given by Him. But praise God He helps us trough it all! :). He helps us handle what sometimes the enemy throws at us or what we as humans with a free will bring upon ourselves. Happy Friday sugars and thanks so much for this post! Because I too hate that phrase. Hehe
Tanya @ the sky and back
Posted at 08:04h, 30 JanuaryYou know, I’ve never liked that saying for a variety of reasons. I think it’s meant to be comforting, but really it just comes off as insensitive. And then also, it’s meant to make you feel like God specifically chose you to bear this burden because you’re somehow stronger than some other people? Uh, ok. I like your version much better: He gives us more than we can handle so that He can help us handle what we are given.
Although, as a person who didn’t grow up with faith and who is always struggling to find my way as an adult in that area of life, I wish I could actually FEEL God more. When I’m going through a rough time (like right now, for example), I always think of that poem Footprints, and I’m like, “Ok God, I think you’re carrying me right now, but it sure doesn’t feel like that!” The thought has crossed my mind more than once that maybe this baby journey is meant to help me find my faith. I would love it if there was both a strong faith and a healthy baby at the end of it!
Kelly @ Southern Komfort Blog
Posted at 09:40h, 30 JanuaryYes yes yes! God allows those difficult times in our lives so that we may fall more towards His love, strength, and mercy. Similar to a parent teaching their child how to handle certain situations by allowing them to experience the difficulties, is much like how God teaches us to handle difficulties. Happy Friday Caroline!
Morgan
Posted at 11:05h, 30 JanuaryThat is seriously the most frustrating comment I ever come across. I couldn’t agree more with you, Caroline. Great word, great post! Thank you for sharing this. Love you, girl!
Stacy Maggard
Posted at 11:06h, 30 JanuaryThis is so good Caroline! I was just saying this line to myself the other day, so I’m definitely going to change the way I say it from now. Thanks for sharing this…so very true.
Evangeline
Posted at 12:16h, 30 JanuaryThanks for sharing this perspective. It’s actually very comforting! 🙂
http://www.MakeRoomForMommy.com
Amanda
Posted at 12:35h, 30 JanuaryI love this, and it’s so true. Because honestly? I can’t handle ANYTHING. He’s the one who handles it for me, so I’m just a complete mess. Thank goodness for his mercy and grace renewed every day!
Kelli {A Deeper Joy}
Posted at 12:37h, 30 JanuaryYes yes yes!!!!!!!!!! I’ve always thought the same thing when people told me that. I’m so glad to see you write about it. Thank you Caroline!
Rebecca Jo
Posted at 13:10h, 30 JanuaryThank you for saying this. I HATE when people say that statement about God not giving you more then you can handle… believe me, I can’t handle a LOT that I’ve been handed. Or I should say I did it ONLY because of God – that’s how he works. Where we end, He begins.
Amie
Posted at 14:03h, 30 JanuaryThis is so true! I just need to remember it every day 🙂
Jena
Posted at 14:57h, 30 JanuaryYes about everything in this post! So true, this was a topic at church a few weeks back!
Laura @ Making Baby Provence
Posted at 15:24h, 30 JanuaryYou said it perfectly! I love this post. I was just talking to a co-worker about this today.
By the way, Craig is going to cover this and a few other things in the next series called “God Never Said That.” I tried to find the promo link to send to you, but it’s not on YouTube, yet. I’m so excited to see it!
Erika B.
Posted at 15:25h, 30 JanuaryYESSSS!!! Thank you, friend. This is one of the WORST untruths I hear over and over!!
Natasha Metzler
Posted at 19:09h, 30 JanuaryI have written on this exact same thing because it is so very true! Love that your list here.
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom
Posted at 20:15h, 30 JanuaryYes, that scripture has been misinterpreted/mixed up so often. We need God and sometimes we suffer so we can lean into Him. Look at Job! He suffered beyond what anyone could stand!
Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking message.
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Holly
Posted at 20:52h, 30 JanuaryI 100% agree. I used to believe this until God gave me more than I could handle. It’s so so so annoying!! People would look at me and the stillborns and says that and say “I could never handle that.” Like I could? You are right though, I couldn’t handle it, but He carried me through. <3
Cindy Hasko
Posted at 00:52h, 31 JanuaryPerfect! ‘Love it!
Perfect! ‘Love it!!
Perfect! ‘Love it!!!!!!
x o x o
Beka
Posted at 07:15h, 31 JanuaryI was just thinking about this today and heard a sermon on it too. There was an article circulating around lately how that verse in Corinthians isn’t true … I thought that was so weird and un-Biblical.
I looked up the Greek of the word ‘temptation’ and it does mean tempted to sin but it also means the following: “adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one’s character, faith, holiness”
I think some trials are sufferings and hard times because in those times we are tempted to sin in our attitude and how we handle the trial.
I also love the verse and what you said because on our own we just can’t handle temptations and trials but with Jesus and asking Him for help He carries us through.
Thanks for sharing this!
Natalie
Posted at 09:27h, 31 JanuaryAmen to this!! I struggle when people tell me this, or say it for what they are going through. Amazing post as always! Xoxo
Melissa
Posted at 09:49h, 31 JanuaryI love this post. Such truth right here. I was just thinking this the other day… of course God gives us more than we can handle – that’s why we need Him! Great post. I am going to have to share with my blog readers! 🙂
becky
Posted at 15:09h, 31 JanuaryMy husband and I were just talking about this the other night. People tell us “God will never give you more than you can handle” pretty much every day haha! But we know for sure that he gives us WAY more than we can handle on our own. Makes me wonder how people ever get through this life without Him!
Shelby @ myhopeandmyfuture.blogspot.com
Posted at 16:57h, 31 JanuaryI so needed to read this today. This last year and specifically this past year have been incredibly rough for our household. Thank you for this…
Krystal
Posted at 19:39h, 31 JanuaryI think this all hte time. I know God has given me more than I can handle. My husband tells me that God does not promise there will not be storms, he only promises to carry us through it. Thanks for posting this!
Em
Posted at 20:51h, 31 JanuarySuch an amazing list. Amen and amen.
Sarah J
Posted at 22:10h, 31 JanuaryI actually haven’t thought about this before from this perspective but you are SO SO right! Thanks for the fresh insight!
Mia @ MakeMeUpMia
Posted at 11:16h, 02 FebruaryI am one that has been guilty of saying this, I didn’t really realize it wasn’t true until more recently AND Craig’s next series is all about “God doesn’t say that” 😉 Looking forward to it!
Eryn
Posted at 09:29h, 04 FebruaryYes!!!! My mom and I have been talking through this lately. My most recent post refers to this and Ive been saying this over and over!
Erin | It All Matters Mom
Posted at 13:03h, 06 FebruaryWhen I saw your title, I thought this was the slant you would take. 🙂 I absolutely agree. We never have anything bigger than what God can handle — and He can handle anything and carry us through any storm — no matter how long it rages. Thanks for the wonderful reminder. I’ll be sharing it on Facebook so more can enjoy it.
Lysa from Welcome to My Circus
Posted at 17:06h, 07 FebruarySuch a great post! I get so tired of hearing that opening statement too. It seems as if I hear it all the time. I wish we could ban it from the English language all together if I’m being truthful here!
Rhonda
Posted at 23:54h, 10 FebruaryGreat post; thank you!
Jolleen Ruiz
Posted at 09:20h, 30 JuneSo true! We have to be put in these situations or we wouldn’t need Him. It’s something I have to remember. Thanks!
Jennifer DeFrates/Heaven Not Harvard
Posted at 11:10h, 30 JuneTerrible! Simply terrible isn’t it when we take God’s word and twist it. We’ve discouraged people for so long by believing this garbage. Everything is beyond my ability to handle appropriately without Him.
Marissa
Posted at 11:15h, 30 JuneYES! I have this exact conversation often with some women in bible studies… God wants us to turn to Him and if we think we can handle it all, we are less likely to do so. I grew up being told, if I don’t willing bend my knee to God, He will break them so I have to. While it’s a little harsh to hear, the underlying message is that I do need Him, and I can either willing to turn to Him right way or stubbornly wait until I have no other choice.
Thanks of sharing this… I’m going to share it on my facebook page, because I love this!
Marissa
Reading List
Shellie Bowdoin
Posted at 11:44h, 30 JuneHis strength is perfected in our weakness!
Shellie
http://www.thefabjourney.com
Leslie
Posted at 19:37h, 30 JuneSuch great points. Love your post. To Him be the glory!
Cathy
Posted at 19:52h, 30 JuneLove this, and the list that you have shared! I have shared some of these things recently with a friend!
Cathy
Nicole
Posted at 21:09h, 30 JuneWhat an amazing list, and a great reminder that we can turn everything over to God and HE can handle it! Thank you!
Nicole =)
Anya YaYa Reed
Posted at 05:14h, 29 SeptemberGreat interpretation of the scriptures. It’s always good to know that if we exercise faith in God he will take care of us and give us what we need at the right time. I recently experienced this and at times my faith was weak, but God saw me through it and blessed me as well.
Coupon Diva (@RealCouponDiva)
Posted at 14:03h, 11 OctoberGod will be with us no matter what 😀
Denise
Posted at 20:35h, 11 OctoberThis is a truth we had to deal with a lot…. First with my cancer…..my husbands health and a flood destroying our house.
Rhiannon Skeen
Posted at 20:38h, 11 OctoberHow true this is.I think we often times say that so we feel like God won’t overload us, but it is in those times of testing that our faith is developed and made stronger. Great post!
Fashionable Librarian
Posted at 13:43h, 12 OctoberThe statement is true and not true if you really think about it..He pushes us but in the end he gives us the tools to deal with whatever is it as we stand in faith.
Rebekah Harris
Posted at 19:26h, 21 AprilSo so true! It is so amazing how when we are experiencing trials that God comforts us and sustains us all the more!
Allison
Posted at 21:36h, 17 JuneI am sending this to my hubby right now. We have this discussion alot! We hear that all the time..He won’t give us more than we can handle…yes He will! I am so glad you addressed this.
Jane Allen
Posted at 04:20h, 22 JuneI agree with you 100%. I honestly don’t know how I would have gone through messy life situations without Him. He carries me through. Right now, He’s my hope. I trust in Him and even though things are not the way I currently want them, I know, He’ll show up for me, in due time. I’m glad I found your blog. I’ve been encouraged, just by reading some of your posts.