BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

God will not give you more than you can handle. Have you thought that, or heard others say this? Most of the time, when people say God will not give you more than you can handle, it comes from a passage from Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
On the surface, I suppose you can skim or breeze through this verse and walk away with that meaning. But if we look just a little closer, we will see this verse is much different.

Like most scripture, we need to look at the verses before and after this verse to get the total message. In the preceding verse (1 Cor 10:12) Paul says, So, if you think you are standing, be careful that you do not fall!” Paul is reminding the Corinthians that the Hebrew people of past generations were exposed to miracle after miracle and continued to live sinfully. He warns them not to go down the same path.
Paul also tells the Corinthians that temptation to sin is normal human behavior. But God is faithful and he won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.

So this often misquoted scripture verse speaks to being firm in the faith and don’t fall prey to being tested. In a way, it echoes part of the Lord’s Prayer when we ask God to leads us away from temptation.

When we dwell on our own personal challenges, sufferings and struggles, we need to turn to God for strength. Our sufferings are not something apart from God, but rather places in which we encounter God. And that’s why the cross is such an important symbol for us. And not the empty cross but the cross with Jesus still on it. On it we see the Son of God suffering pain, humiliation, injustice, and violence, to the point of death.

The cross reminds us not only of the brokenness of the world but also reminds us that in those times of suffering and pain, we are not alone. We encounter a God who stands with us in the suffering; a God who is not apart from that burden and pain but one who is in it with us.

I am reminded of Jesus’ words from Matthew’s Gospel; “Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Our faithfulness is not demonstrated on our ability to bear the burdens that come our way. Our faith is demonstrated by our recognition that we cannot bear the burdens ourselves and trust in the grace of God who bears them with us.

Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn