“God will never give you more than you can handle”. How many times have you heard that phrase before, or used it for that matter? I will be honest, I have never liked it because I think it is meant to give us false comfort in thinking the threshold of our endurance must be close, because after all, we are about at our snapping point, right?
Abraham was a favorite of Gods, there was no doubt that God loved Abraham, but Abraham must have been wondering what was going on. God told him he was going to be a daddy with his wife Sarah at a hundred after a lifetime of barrenness, only then to command Abraham to kill that much cherished son on the altar of sacrifice. I would imagine Abraham was grieved beyond what he could handle as he tied Isaac to the altar and raised the knife above him.
Jacob was chosen by God for a big task, he was going to be the father of the nation of Israel, he would become Israel. His life was not easy though, he was deceived by his father in law Laban much in the same way he had deceived his father Isaac to steal his birthright. He had heartbreak as his daughter was raped, then his sons slaughtered a whole community of men. Then his dear son Joseph went missing and it looked as though he had been killed by a vicious animal. He grieved bitterly, and life was never the same, then there was a plague in the land and all was nearly lost, his family could no longer even feed itself, he needed to send his sons to Egypt to buy food. He watched them ride off and he wondered where the blessing God had promised was, he didn’t feel very chosen right now.
Moses had seen God more times than he could remember, first in that strange bush that burned yet was not consumed, that is when he first knew he had been chosen. God had spoken to him many times since, in the form of a pillar of a cloud or a pillar of fire, or even in the evenings when he went out of the settlement to his own tent and the pillar of cloud settled at his door. God would converse with him, giving him guidance, telling him what to do, building him up when he was discouraged. Then, the days up on the mountain receiving the law and the commandments, he had seen God, until after he had gone down and found his people in debauchery. Moses had been so stunned by what he found that he dropped the commandments that God had carved in stone with his fingers, breaking them. God was really mad, he wanted to kill them all, and Moses told God to kill him instead because he was their leader. God relented, God showed mercy, but there was a price, Moses would no longer be able to see Gods face from now on. Moses looked out at these people, led from Egypt through the Red Sea on dry ground, their pursuer Pharaoh and his men slain. They complained about food, so they were fed manna from heaven and quail, everything they needed always provided, yet they whined and complained constantly. Moses did not feel chosen most of the time.
David thought back to the day that he was tending sheep and his dad had sent word for him to come home now. He got back wondering what was up only to find the old priest Samuel waiting with a horn, as David approached, the priest said, “he is the one” and began to anoint him with oil from the horn. He was told that he was chosen by God to lead Israel. He would face lions, bears, and then the giant Goliath, killing them all. He could feel the power of God protecting him, putting him where he needed to be in the kingdom. He was eventually even assigned to work with the King, and the king loved him dearly, that is until he began to try to kill him. David had gone on the run, and been chased by King Saul and his men, determined to kill him. David had run until he had become half crazy, and was at his wits end, now here he stood in the dark with a dagger in his hand and his master and nemesis before him. The king didn’t know David was close enough to cut his throat as he relieved himself, But David knew it wasn’t time, so he was satisfied with taking a trophy, a piece of the royal robe as proof. King David would be a great ruler never to be forgotten in the history of the world, a true man of God. But he probably didn’t feel very chosen as he stood at the back of the dark stuffy cave watching Saul and his men go to the bathroom, he probably felt cursed.
The stories continue in the same pattern, disciples, Apostles, Jesus, etc… People are chosen to do Gods work and that is when the going really gets tough. God uses the hard times to condition us for the task ahead; a battle tested warrior is always a better leader. So be careful with that phrase God will never give you more than you can handle. God Bless-JFT
Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword”.
“God will never give you more than you can handle…”
If you want all that God has for you, then He will always give you more than you can handle. Period. His trials are designed to overload and overwhelm us and bring us to the end of ourselves so that we will eventually mutter, “Sink or swim, live or die, I’m determined to trust You.”
Check out 2 Corinthians 1:8-10. The Apostle Paul and his group so thought they were going to die that their hope was in God who would raise them from the dead. Now, that is hope in the midst of despair.
Oh yeah, great scripture reference. I just think that people who seek God because they want more peace in their lives, more consistancy, etc. are under the wrong impression. On the contrary, making the choice for Christ is likely going to bring discord. The peace comes from within while in the midst of chaos.
Jim, this really encourages me to look at what other chosen ones were going through and most likely thinking. Our lives must look different through His eyes and perspective. I may think about that verse for myself, but I never like to use it for someone else.
God bless you and strengthen you to handle all that comes your way.
Hi Deb,
Yes, I think about the things that I have gone through, and even on a bad day they don’t compare with what Gods early disciples endured, and thy lived so much longer too. It helps me to be grateful for my “mini” trials because I know what they “could” be. God Bless-Jim
Jim, I can relate to feeling forsaken rather than chosen. I am so glad I know better, and that fickle feelings can lie. This was a great post. Oddly encouraging. Peace, Linda
Linda,
I am so glad you were encouraged, that is what i was shooting for.
Have you ever met someone who was older, admirable, wise and of good charachter before, only to find out later that his/her life had always been smooth sailing? I have never met a Godly person with these qualities that didn’t earn them through trials, pain, testing. When confronted with them, if we recognize them for what they are, our hearts should swell in knowing that God loves us enough that he is still shaping us. God Bless-Jim
When God gives me more than I can handle, I often discover in hindsight that it wasn’t really true. After all, I lived to tell about it! : ) After nursing my husband back to health after breaking his hip, I watched him walk out the door today and drive away to the store.
Caring for him was definitely more than I could handle, but by God’s grace and His love for us both, the impossible happened. I’m always blown away that God wants to help me if I pray.
Linda,
I am so glad to hear that story, that your husband has recovered. I am also glad that you were able to be his care giver, it means a lot when someone you love cares for you. One thing that I have learned is that there is not really a better way to become closer to the Lord than through serving others. God does want to help you, he loves you gives you strength you never knew you had. It reminds me of a scripture, Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us
God bless-Jim
“Back in the day”, I used to want to slap those well-meaning saints who quoted me that verse. I mean, really–I’d just tried to kill myself, does that sound like I was “handling” things??? But I didn’t know diddly then, even though I was a saved Christian–for some of us, attaining any degree of maturity is like those folks who make college itself a career. But I no longer beat myself up about how stupid I used to be–I’m still stupid about some things, on some days. But I’ve learned a heck of a lot in the last 10 months–and my mantra is “better late than never”! And also, “praise God that He never gives up on us”, even when we repeatedly give up on ourselves. So, it’s unlikely I’d use that scripture to “encourage” someone–I’d tell them my story, all that Jesus did for me from His unfailing love that never runs out. God bless you Big (you’re on my blogroll now, if you’re interested–again, thanks to Deb!)!
Oh Caddo,
Of course I am, I am so honored, thank you, i am glad you have come over and become a friend too. Being a Christian is like many other things when concerning maturity, and I think people who say lines like that are well meaning, and they are trying to comfort those that they are saying it to, but here is a thought. How do you think one of the many Christian families that die at the hands of machete weilding muslim extremists in Nigeria would respond, or Christians in N. Korea (40,000) in prison or killed just for their faith? Sometimes our faith can handle death, and we won’t be tested beyond that.
God bless you Caddo-Jim
Okay–drum roll, please–I’ve nominated you for the “Genuine Blogger Award”. Don’t know if you “do” awards, but–no obligation, just be blessed!!
Oh, and by the way–I’m having issues with the “links”; not sure if it’s me or WordPress…….
Wow, once again, I am honored. Sure, if someone is kind enough to give me something, the least I can do is take it. It is embarrasing though, Linda K. actually gave me two awards, but i don’t know how to put them on my sidebar. So if you have any tips for me, i would love to know.
God Bless
Jim
Brother Jim–make it easy on yourself: make a page for awards, and haul all those awards over there. No muss no fuss, no craziness trying to copy and paste and widget-ting to the sidebar. Seriously, that’s harder than doing the “hokey pokey” for me–but it’s possible you’re an expert hokey-pokey-er, I don’t know you that well yet… God bless you always!
okay, now you have me laughing my head off, hokey pokey, havent heard that since jrhigh about a hundred years ago.
Brother Jim–Greetings of Joy! I’m so glad I got you laughing your head off–it’s good for you! But before you get to old (100 yrs plus jr high) to enjoy the party anymore, I have a secret message for you. I got another award–the one I really “coveted” (mea culpa for my sin)–it’s the “King of Kings Friendship Award”, so maybe that mitigates the coveting. Anyhow–for reasons you can read in my “acceptance speech” over at my blog, I didn’t do a “nominations list”. However–since you do not seem opposed to awards, and this one is just so wonderful because it celebrates us being friends in Christ–and new brother and sister–I’m letting you know that it’s yours if you want it.
I’m making this super easy for you: go read my blog, click on the “K of K” picture (that’s “Right click”), save it to your desktop for easy access; then, wherever you want to put it on your blog–upload (?) with your image feature on your dashboard (for posts)–voila! If you have more questions/issues–you’d best contact the “support” folks at WP. This is the best I can do for blog hokey-pokey-ing.
Have an excellent day–God bless you abundantly!!
Wow, you don’t look anything like I thought you would! No, I don’t know what I pictured–except I thought you might be intimidating (a lot of men are, you know). Glad you picked up your awards–my UPS guy is out sick with malarial heebeegeebees. See ya ’round, bro–
Hey, bro–another award for you (yawn): The Reader Appreciation Award! Only if you’d like it–come on down at your leisure. God bless you!
Brother Jim, are you alright in there?? This sister is missing you, sending prayers of blessing for you!
Hi Caddo, current post pretty much explains everything
between surgery, being in school, and my wife and I having our anniversary, my blog has suffered. When I am in school it is hard to write as much, because I still work 45-50 hours a week at my job, and we still have two of our four girls at home. It is funny, when I am not in school, I can do everything and write 3-4 times a week, but that school is the tipping point that overwhelms, you know? Anyway, thanks for being concerned, I am fine, just sore and studying hard trying to get caught up on my reading for class. take care, and God bless-Jim